Next year the Air Force will launch ‘Pixel’ satellite, border surveillance will become easier

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
Ahmed said here, “We will send the satellites into space before the end of 2025. We have set a target of mid-2025.” he/she said that the job of Pixel is to build the satellite and hand it over to the Air Force and the Air Force will operate the spacecraft. he/she said, “When it comes to IDEX (Innovations for Defense Excellence) for the Air Force, operation is not our concern. The main work of the satellite will be to keep an eye on the borders, illegal testing etc. but we will not operate the satellite. “

Air Force signed a deal with Pixel
The Ministry of Defence’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 to supply 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 sufficient to develop 24 satellites.

(With agency inputs)