SOURCE: AFI
In a groundbreaking development for India’s space technology sector, Sisir Radar Private Ltd. and XDLINX Space Labs have announced a strategic partnership to build and launch India’s first privately developed L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite by 2027. Powered by Antaris software, this mission marks a transformative milestone in India’s remote sensing capabilities, promising to redefine Earth observation for defense, commercial, and environmental applications. This collaboration, announced on May 26, 2025, via posts on X, underscores the growing role of India’s private space industry in delivering cutting-edge solutions for global challenges.
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a powerful imaging technology capable of producing high-resolution imagery regardless of weather conditions, cloud cover, or darkness. Unlike optical sensors, SAR uses radar waves to penetrate obstacles like clouds, smoke, and dense foliage, making it ideal for all-weather, day-and-night monitoring. The L-band SAR, operating at a wavelength of approximately 24 cm, offers unique advantages over shorter-wavelength systems like X-band or C-band SAR. Its longer wavelength enables deeper penetration through vegetation and soil, making it particularly suited for applications such as agricultural monitoring, disaster management, and subsurface analysis in dry terrains.
Sisir Radar, led by former ISRO Director Tapan Misra, brings unparalleled expertise to this venture. Misra, a key figure behind ISRO’s RISAT series and the Dual Frequency SAR on the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, has already demonstrated innovation with Sisir Radar’s development of the world’s highest-resolution L-band SAR, achieving 0.2-meter resolution on a drone platform. This new satellite mission builds on that success, aiming to deliver 1-meter resolution in Stripmap mode, far surpassing the current industry standard of 5-10 meters for L-band SAR.
XDLINX Space Labs, a Hyderabad-based space-tech startup founded in 2022, complements Sisir Radar’s payload expertise with its proven track record in satellite platform development. Having successfully launched the JANUS-1 6U Nanosat in February 2023, XDLINX specializes in cost-effective, modular satellite platforms for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Their XDSAT-M600 platform, set to host the L-band SAR payload, will also integrate multi-spectral optical sensors, creating a hybrid satellite capable of capturing both SAR and optical data simultaneously. This dual-sensor approach enhances data correlation and analytical utility, addressing a long-standing challenge in remote sensing.
The partnership leverages Antaris’ cloud-based satellite software platform to streamline mission design, integration, and operations. Antaris, a U.S.-based space software provider, enables rapid development and deployment of satellite constellations, reducing costs and timelines compared to traditional satellite manufacturing. This collaboration, previously established in 2022 with GalaxEye and Ananth Technologies, reflects a growing trend of international partnerships in India’s space sector, combining global software expertise with indigenous hardware innovation.
The satellite, scheduled for launch in Q3 2027, will operate in a low Earth orbit (LEO) and provide global coverage with a revisit time of just a few days. Its L-band SAR payload, combined with optical sensors, will deliver sub-meter resolution imagery, enabling applications such as precision agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, disaster response, and defense intelligence. The ability to image through dense foliage and adverse weather conditions will be particularly valuable in tropical regions like India, where cloud cover often hampers optical imaging.
This mission represents a pivotal moment for India’s private space industry, which has seen rapid growth since the government’s 2020 reforms opened the sector to private participation. With nearly 200 startups now operating in the space domain, companies like Sisir Radar and XDLINX are driving innovation in satellite manufacturing, launch services, and downstream applications. The Indian Space Policy 2023 and the establishment of IN-SPACe have further catalyzed this growth, fostering an ecosystem where private entities can collaborate with ISRO and global partners.
The L-band SAR satellite aligns with India’s strategic priorities, particularly in defense and disaster management. Its high-resolution imaging capabilities will enhance India’s sovereign ISR capabilities, supporting applications like border surveillance, maritime monitoring, and rapid response to natural disasters such as floods and landslides. Commercially, the satellite’s data will serve sectors like insurance, urban planning, and agriculture, providing precise insights into crop health, soil moisture, and infrastructure stability.
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