SOURCE: AFI
In a significant boost to India’s defence and space technology sectors, Bengaluru-based space startup Pixxel has signed a new agreement under the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX SPARK grant scheme to develop advanced hyperspectral and mid-wave infrared (MWIR) payloads for the Indian Air Force (IAF). These cutting-edge payloads, designed for airborne and space-based imaging systems, are poised to enhance India’s security-grade imaging capabilities for both strategic and operational purposes, particularly in monitoring enemy airbase activities.
The agreement, announced on June 12, 2025, underscores India’s growing emphasis on leveraging indigenous technology to strengthen its defence infrastructure. Pixxel’s hyperspectral and MWIR payloads are expected to provide the IAF with advanced tools for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), with potential applications in tracking takeoffs and landings of enemy aircraft at airbases. While these systems offer significant advantages, they also come with certain limitations that highlight the complexity of modern aerial surveillance.
Pixxel’s hyperspectral imaging technology divides the electromagnetic spectrum into hundreds of narrow, contiguous bands, creating a “spectral fingerprint” that enables precise identification of objects and materials. This capability allows the IAF to differentiate between aircraft materials, detect specific gases emitted during combustion, and even penetrate certain types of camouflage that might deceive traditional cameras or the human eye. By analyzing how different materials reflect and absorb light across the spectrum, hyperspectral imaging can also compensate for atmospheric conditions such as haze or smoke, enhancing visibility in challenging environments.
Complementing this, the MWIR payloads focus on detecting thermal energy, particularly the heat signatures generated by aircraft engines during takeoff and landing. These sensors can identify the intense heat of engine exhaust plumes, making them highly effective for monitoring airbase activity, even in low-light or nighttime conditions. This capability mirrors systems like the U.S. Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), which is designed for missile warning and tracking but applies similar principles to detecting large aircraft.
The integration of these payloads into the IAF’s airborne and space-based platforms will significantly enhance its ability to monitor enemy airbases. Modern satellites, with spatial resolutions as fine as 30-35 cm, can detect and classify individual aircraft, while AI-powered analytics enable rapid identification of military assets. Constellations of satellites, such as those being developed by Pixxel, provide frequent revisits over target areas, increasing the likelihood of capturing transient events like takeoffs and landings. This persistent monitoring capability is critical for gathering actionable intelligence in contested regions.
For the IAF, these payloads could be used to track the operational tempo of enemy air forces, providing insights into aircraft movements, deployment patterns, and potential threats. The ability to detect heat signatures and identify specific materials also enhances situational awareness, enabling the IAF to differentiate between decoys, camouflaged assets, and operational aircraft.
Despite their advanced capabilities, hyperspectral and MWIR payloads face certain limitations. Satellites, unlike ground-based radar, cannot provide continuous, real-time monitoring of a single location due to gaps in coverage between passes. While larger satellite constellations and taskable satellites are mitigating this issue, transient events like takeoffs or landings may still occur outside of observation windows. Additionally, optical and some infrared sensors are susceptible to cloud cover, though longer-wavelength thermal IR and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems offer all-weather capabilities.
Continuous tracking of fast-moving aircraft in flight remains a challenge for satellite-based systems, as this is typically the domain of radar and Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) systems. Enemy forces may also employ tactics to reduce their aircraft’s thermal or spectral signatures, such as operating at night or using specialized materials to evade detection. Furthermore, the vast amounts of data generated by hyperspectral and high-resolution IR sensors require sophisticated AI and machine learning algorithms for processing and analysis, adding complexity to real-time intelligence extraction.
Pixxel’s collaboration with the Ministry of Defence under the iDEX SPARK scheme highlights India’s commitment to fostering innovation in its defence and space sectors. By developing these advanced payloads, Pixxel is not only strengthening the IAF’s ISR capabilities but also positioning India as a leader in space-based defence technology. The integration of AI-driven analytics and high-resolution sensors will further enhance the effectiveness of these systems, enabling faster and more accurate intelligence gathering.
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