Sriharikota, November 2, 2025—At 19:28 IST, ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) roared off the Second Launch Pad, successfully injecting the CMS-03 communication satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). Weighing 4,750 kg, CMS-03 is India’s most advanced multi-band maritime communication satellite to date, designed to dominate the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with secure, high-throughput connectivity.

This launch builds critical space infrastructure for the Netra AEW&C fleet and strengthens strategic reach outlined in the Agni-VI MIRV program.

CMS-03: Technical Powerhouse

Built on ISRO’s I-4K bus, CMS-03 features:

• Bands: 24 X-band + 32 Ku-band transponders (military + civilian)
• Coverage: 5 million sq km—Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Andaman EEZ, up to Gulf of Aden
• Throughput: 20 Gbps aggregate (vs. 8 Gbps of GSAT-7A)
• Anti-Jam: Frequency hopping + beam nulling against adversarial spoofing
• Lifespan: 15+ years with onboard propulsion
• Orbit: 83°E geostationary slot (co-located with GSAT-7R)

ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath confirmed, “CMS-03 is a force multiplier—enabling real-time drone control from Port Blair to Djibouti.”

LVM-3 M5 lifts off with CMS-03—flames illuminate Sriharikota night sky (ISRO Photo)

Navy & IAF: Secure Beyond-Line-of-Sight Comms

CMS-03 replaces aging GSAT-7 (Rukmini) transponders and introduces:

• UHF/VHF Relay: For P-8I Poseidon and MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs
• Encrypted Video Feed: Live ISR from Andaman-based Heron Mk-II drones
• SATCOM-on-the-Move: For INS Vikrant battle group during Malabar 2026

It integrates with the Indian Navy’s Network for Spectrum (NFS) and IAF’s IACCS, enabling tri-service data fusion from Ladakh to Lakshadweep.

Disaster Response & Humanitarian Reach

Beyond defense, CMS-03 allocates **30% bandwidth** for:

• NDMA/NDRF: Real-time coordination during cyclones (e.g., Bay of Bengal ops)
• Fishermen Safety: Distress beacons + weather alerts via NAVIC
• UN Peacekeeping: Comms support for Indian troops in South Sudan

This aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

CMS-03 footprint: 5M sq km X/Ku-band coverage—Andamans to Gulf of Aden (ISRO Graphic)

Countering Jamming Threats

With China’s Yaogan electronic warfare satellites active over IOR, CMS-03 includes:

• Dynamic Beam Steering: Shifts coverage away from jammer source in <3 sec
• Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Ready: Future upgrade via ISRO’s QSAT (2027)
• Redundant Ground Stations: Hassan, Bhopal, Port Blair, Mauritius

This ensures 99.9% link availability even during contested ops.

QUAD & Regional Partnerships

CMS-03 enables:

• Secure Data Sharing: With US INDOPACOM, Japan MSDF, Australian Navy
• Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): Fusion with Singapore’s IFC and Maldives’ radar grid
• Exercise Malabar 2026: Live drone relay from Diego Garcia to Visakhapatnam

It supports the QUAD Satellite Initiative announced in Tokyo, September 2025.

Gaganyaan Prep: Human-Rated Comms Backbone

CMS-03 serves as a testbed for:

• Voice/Video Link: Between Gaganyaan crew and Bengaluru MCC
• Biomedical Telemetry: Real-time health data from orbit
• Re-entry Tracking: Via X-band downlink during 2026 uncrewed mission

This paves the way for Gaganyaan-1 (uncrewed) in Q3 2026.

Roadmap: CMS Series & Beyond

ISRO’s future constellation includes:

• CMS-04 (2026): Ka-band for 5G maritime broadband
• GSAT-7C (2027): Dedicated Navy stealth sat with laser comms
• IO-SAT (2028): LEO constellation for low-latency drone ops

Conclusion

CMS-03 is more than a satellite—it’s India’s digital shield over the seas. From securing INS Vikrant’s strike group to guiding NDRF boats through cyclones, this X/Ku-band sentinel ensures New Delhi’s voice is heard loud and clear across 5 million sq km of blue water. As QUAD exercises intensify and Gaganyaan nears flight, CMS-03 lays the orbital foundation for India’s space-powered defense and disaster resilience.

Stay connected: We’ll bring you live updates when CMS-03 achieves full operational capability in January 2026.