MoD signs ₹4,106 crore contracts for GSAT-7C satellite and Varunastra torpedoes

GSAT-7C and Varunastra: what happened?

Picture a fighter pilot, an AWACS aircraft and a ground station that all need to talk securely while hundreds of kilometres apart. A dedicated satellite makes that possible. Below the sea, a submarine is only a threat if you can find it and strike it. These two contracts cover both jobs, and both are built in India.

• 15 Oct 2026: contracts signed in New Delhi in the presence of Additional Secretary and DG (Acquisition) A. Anbarasu (PIB).
• GSAT-7C is indigenously designed, developed and made. It will give IAF assets secure, resilient and seamless communication.
• Varunastra is a ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo developed by DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL).
• It can engage enemy submarines at long ranges and has advanced manoeuvring capability.

What is the GSAT-7 family?

• GSAT-7 (‘Rukmini’), launched in 2013, was India’s first dedicated military communication satellite, built for the Navy.
• GSAT-7A, launched in December 2018, serves the Air Force.
• GSAT-7C was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council in 2021 to strengthen the IAF’s network-centric operations.
• NSIL, set up in 2019 under the Department of Space, is ISRO’s commercial arm and now signs such contracts with users.

What does each contract deliver?

Which policies and laws apply?

• Union List Entry 1: defence of India; Article 246 gives Parliament exclusive power over it.
• Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: gives first preference to indigenously designed and developed equipment.
• Positive Indigenisation Lists: items the services must buy from Indian industry.
• Indian Space Policy, 2023: defines the roles of ISRO, NSIL and IN-SPACe.

What are the challenges?

• One satellite is a single point of failure if it is jammed or attacked.
• India’s fleet of military satellites is still small compared with China’s.
• Torpedo orders must be delivered on time; production capacity at public sector units can lag.
• Underwater warfare also needs sonars, helicopters and submarines, not torpedoes alone.

What should be done next?

• Build a constellation and ground backups so that communication does not depend on one satellite.
• Speed up the Space-Based Surveillance programme and the Defence Space Agency’s plans.
• Bring private suppliers into torpedo sub-systems to add capacity.
• Use Varunastra’s success to explore exports to friendly navies.

What can Prelims ask?

• Varunastra: heavyweight, ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo; designed by NSTL (DRDO), Visakhapatnam; made by BDL.
• GSAT-7 (2013): Navy. GSAT-7A (2018): Air Force. GSAT-7C: Air Force (contract 2026).
• NSIL: CPSE under the Department of Space, set up in 2019.
• Defence Space Agency: tri-service agency set up in 2019.

How to write about defence indigenisation in Mains

Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): Indigenisation of defence technology is central to strategic autonomy. Examine with recent examples. (GS-III)

• Intro: ₹4,106 crore contracts for GSAT-7C and Varunastra, 15 Oct 2026.
• Why: secure communication, anti-submarine warfare, fewer import risks.
• Enablers: DAP 2020, indigenisation lists, NSIL, DRDO labs.
• Gaps: production capacity, satellite numbers, timelines.
• Conclusion: steady orders plus R&D build real capability.