Space Tech Redefining South Asian Maritime Security Amidst India-China Capabilities Expansion

Read The Diplomat, Know The Asia-Pacific The future of maritime security in the Indian Ocean will be defined not by control of sea lanes alone, but by the ability to monitor, interpret, and act in real time. The Indian Ocean is an increasingly contested strategic theater, and as competition intensifies, its nature is evolving as well. Maritime power is no longer confined to fleet size, overseas bases, and control over choke points. The effectiveness of modern navies increasingly depends on maritime domain awareness, real-time threat detection, and the ability to project power across vast oceanic spaces. As they enable better navigation, communications, and surveillance, space-based assets are becoming critical to ensuring maritime security and projecting power. Recognizing this shift, India has begun integrating space capabilities into its maritime framework. China, too, is expanding its orbital presence over the Indian Ocean. This dynamic is further accentuating the asymmetries in South Asia. As most South Asian littoral states have limited capacity to monitor and respond to evolving threats independently, they rely largely on external powers for maritime surveillance. The maritime domain is undergoing structural transformation driven by automation, digitalization, and remote-control technologies. Consequently, both civilian and military operations increasingly rely on satellite-enabled connectivity and real-time data integration. Amid these technological shifts, non-traditional security challenges are on the rise and major powers are increasing their military presence in the Indian Ocean region. Traditional surveillance platforms are increasingly inadequate as systems such as maritime patrol aircraft and surface vessels alone cannot provide persistent, real-time coverage across vast oceanic spaces. As a result, integrating space-based surveillance capabilities into the maritime sphere has become increasingly important. The integration of space technologies improves real-time surveillance, navigation precision and connectivity. Satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical imaging enable persistent coverage irrespective of weather conditions or time of day. Similarly, satellite-based navigation systems provide more accurate positioning data, thereby making vessel movements safer and more efficient. Together, satellite-based systems enable tracking, detecting unusual behavior and interception. Among South Asian states, India stands out as the most advanced integrator of space-based capabilities. Ever since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which exposed significant gaps in surveillance and coastal security, India has been investing in space-based intelligence systems. In 2009, India launched Radar Imaging Satellite-2 (RISAT-2) to address real-time imagery requirements. India then launched GSAT-7, a dedicated military communication satellite for the Navy. GSAT-7 has enabled secure, resilient communication across various naval platforms, including warships, submarines, and aircraft. The operational significance of these capabilities became evident during the 2017 Doklam standoff. GSAT-7 has reportedly been used to monitor the movements of Chinese submarines in the region, too. In November 2025, India launched another advanced communication satellite for its Navy: GSAT-7R. India’s capabilities are not limited to data collection, but now extend to data fusion. India established the Information Fusion Center-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in 2018. IFC-IOR integrates data from various sources such as the space-based automatic identification system, coastal radar networks and maritime cloud networks. The processed information is then shared with India’s partners across the region. The Indian government has also sanctioned a project to launch 52 military satellites in the next five years under its space-based surveillance program. These initiatives indicate a doctrinal shift in Indian strategic thinking. India’s Maritime Doctrine 2025 included space as part of its operational framework, alongside land, sea, air, and cyber domains. Meanwhile, China is also expanding its orbital footprint in the Indian Ocean region. Chinese research vessels operating in the Indian Ocean region have frequently made headlines. For instance, Chinese vessels such as the Shi Yan-6 and Shen Hai Yi Hao are reportedly involved in mapping undersea terrain. Complementing these maritime activities are China’s Yaogan reconnaissance satellites, which provide all-weather, day-and-night high-resolution imagery over large parts of the Earth’s surface. In addition, Shentong and Gaofen satellites play a critical role in enabling space-maritime integration. Shentong satellites facilitate secure command and control, intelligence sharing and real-time communication across naval platforms. Gaofen satellites, on the other hand, provide high-resolution, all-weather imaging that enhances maritime domain awareness. Additionally, China has developed its own navigation system, BeiDou. The system achieved global coverage in 2020. Some of BeiDou’s features, such as inter-satellite communication and reduced vulnerability to jamming or disruption, make it suitable for military applications. Its integrated architecture enhances China’s ability to maintain autonomous positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services in conflict zones. Importantly, China’s space capabilities are not confined to its own forces. Countries such as Pakistan have increasingly incorporated BeiDou into their military and navigation systems, reflecting a broader diffusion of Chinese space infrastructure across South Asia. This has significant strategic implications, as regional actors are becoming embedded within Chinese technological and intelligence networks. Thus, China’s presence in the Indian Ocean is not limited to ports, bases, or naval deployments but extends as a constant overhead presence. While India and China expand their space capabilities, most South Asian littoral states remain structurally constrained. Countries such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives are strategically located along major sea lines of communication, yet lack even basic sovereign space-based surveillance capabilities. Sri Lanka’s engagement with space remains nascent and is yet to translate into meaningful integration with its security architecture. The country made its first space flight in 2019 with the launch of Raavana-1, a small research satellite. Subsequent developments, including the KITSUNE satellite and the BIRDS-X Dragonfly nanosatellite launched in 2025, reflect incremental progress. Importantly, these capabilities do not yet extend to operational maritime surveillance or security applications, leaving Colombo dependent on external partners for domain awareness. However, recent policy developments signal growing recognition of the strategic advantages of space domains. The Cabinet’s approval to formulate a National Space Poli