The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the CMS-03 military communication satellite for the Indian Navy on 2 November 2025, officials confirmed on Thursday in Bengaluru.
The 2,650-kg satellite, funded by the Ministry of Defence, will be launched aboard the LVM-3 rocket and placed in geostationary orbit. Designed for a seven-year mission life, CMS-03 will enhance India’s maritime capabilities by supporting surveillance, reconnaissance, navigation, and weather monitoring functions essential for naval operations.
ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Director A. Rajarajan announced the launch date while speaking at the curtain raiser event for the Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025.
Gaganyaan mission nearing completion
Providing an update on India’s first human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said that nearly 90% of the project work has been completed.
“Key technologies are ready. The rocket has been human-rated, and systems such as the orbital module, crew escape mechanism, and environmental control systems are in place,” Narayanan stated.
ISRO plans to conduct three uncrewed test missions before launching the crewed mission in 2027, which will carry three astronauts into low-Earth orbit for three days.
The space agency will deploy Vyommitra, a semi-humanoid robot, on the first and third uncrewed flights to validate the spacecraft’s safety and life-support systems. The ISRO chairman reiterated that astronaut safety remains the top priority throughout the mission.
Expanding India’s space capabilities
Narayanan also discussed the need for a stronger surveillance infrastructure in orbit. He revealed that India currently operates 57 satellites, but plans are underway to triple this number within three to four years to strengthen communication, observation, and security networks.
Speaking on India’s NavIC navigation system, he said that four satellites are operational, while three more are under development and will be launched within the next 18 months to complete the constellation.
Narayanan also confirmed that the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, launched in July 2025, is performing well, with both Indian and US payloads functioning as expected.
