New Delhi: The Indian Air Force may launch a satellite purchased from space sector start-up Pixxel by mid-2025, which will strengthen its capabilities to monitor the country's borders and beyond. The Air Force has signed a contract with 'Pixel Space' in Bengaluru. 'Pixel Space' was founded by young entrepreneurs Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal of BITS Pilani.
The first satellite will be launched by the end of 2025
“We will send the satellites into space before the end of 2025. We have set a target of mid-2025,” Ahmed said here. He said Pixxel's job is to build the satellite and hand it over to the Air Force and the Air Force will operate the spacecraft. “When it comes to IDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) for the Air Force, operations are not our concern. The main job of the satellite will be to monitor the borders, illegal testing, etc., but we will not operate the satellite,” he said.
The Air Force signed an agreement with Pixel
The Defence Ministry's initiative 'Innovation for Defence Excellence' aims to create an environment to promote innovation and technology development in defence and aerospace by involving industry. Pixel has signed a contract with the Indian Air Force under IDEX for the supply of small multi-payload satellites. Under this contract, Pixel will develop small satellites weighing up to 150 kg for 'electro-optical', 'infrared', 'synthetic aperture radar' and 'hyperspectral'.
Pixxel has raised $71 million in funding since its founding in 2019 and the company believes the amount is enough to develop 24 satellites.
(With agency inputs)
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