SRIHARIKOTA: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday night, October 30, launched the navigation satellite NVS-03 aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket. The satellite carries an indigenously developed atomic clock alongside imported ones and is expected to help restore the country's NavIC regional navigation system, The Times of India reported.
The mission is a major boost to India's strategic capabilities, as the country's armed forces have so far relied on foreign navigation systems such as the American GPS and Russian GLONASS for certain operations.
NavIC had been reduced to three active satellites, one short of the minimum four required for the system to function. According to the report, the armed forces are currently not using NavIC for missile navigation, precise positioning, coordinating warships at sea, or guiding troop movements and combat aircraft.
Dependence on foreign-controlled systems carries risks, as access could be restricted, degraded or cut off during a conflict. India experienced such limitations during the 1999 Kargil War.
With the launch of NVS-03, NavIC is expected to become usable for both strategic and civilian applications across India and up to 1,500 kilometres beyond its borders.
Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh congratulated ISRO in a post on X on Friday night. He said the launch reflected India's growing strength in space technology and its commitment to developing an indigenous navigation system. He also credited the space reforms introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described the launch as “another proud moment for India”.
The Times of India reported that a fully functional NavIC system would help Indian security forces maintain strategic autonomy and operational capabilities without depending on foreign-controlled networks. A four-satellite constellation would support secure navigation, mobility and targeting data.
NavIC was originally designed as a seven-satellite constellation, supported by ground stations operating around the clock. The system's coverage includes satellites in geostationary and inclined geosynchronous orbits.
The constellation gradually shrank to three operational satellites as replacement missions faced setbacks. NVS-02, launched on January 29, 2025, failed to reach its intended orbit following a signal loss in an engine pyro valve.