Vice Admiral Swaminathan said the Indian Navy depends on space‑based systems for surveillance, targeting and sensor fusion.
He added that the Navy will operate in a "very complex technological environment" and urged domestic players to integrate with the service.
Swaminathan cautioned that the Navy’s reliance on foreign providers for battle‑damage assessment imagery, as during Operation Sindoor, undermines data ownership.
Chief Pawan Kumar Chandana explained that a recent study found ten times more satellites are funded than launch slots available, a gap worsened by SpaceX’s exit.
India is slated to launch a constellation of 52 satellites; Chandana said Skyroot could handle some of those launches, aiming for a monthly cadence.
The Navy will issue procurement guidelines next month to formalise the partnership, and Skyroot will submit launch proposals accordingly.