New Delhi: The defense ministry will collaborate with a private company working in the space sector for the design and development of a "miniaturized satellite" capable of carrying multiple payloads of up to 150 kg, officials said on Tuesday.
The collaboration will occur after a contract signed with SpacePixxel Technologies.
Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the ministry, signed the historic 350th contract here on Tuesday.
"The contract was signed with SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for the design and development of a miniaturized satellite capable of carrying electro-optical, infrared and synthetic aperture radars and hyperspectral payloads of up to 150 kg," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The 150th iDEX contract was signed in December 2022 and within a span of 18 months, the 350th contract was signed, he said.
The contract was exchanged between Additional Secretary (Defence Production) and CEO of Defense Innovation Organization (DIO), Anurag Bajpai, and Founder and CEO of SpacePixxel Technologies, Awais Ahmed Nadeem Alduri, in the presence of Secretary of Defense, Giridhar Aramane, and other senior civil and military officials. of the ministry.
SpacePixxel has been actively working to build and launch high-resolution hyperspectral imaging satellites to provide detailed Earth observation data, according to the statement.
"This 350th iDEX contract enables innovation in space electronics, where many payloads previously deployed on large dedicated satellites are now being miniaturized. The small modular satellite will integrate multiple miniaturized payloads as required, providing benefits such as faster deployment and economical, ease of manufacturing, scalability, adaptability and lower environmental impact," he stated.
In his speech, the Secretary of Defense appreciated the unwavering commitment of new defense innovators to push the boundaries of technology and safeguard the nation.
Emphasizing the importance of combining indigenization with innovation, he said national capabilities provide a basis for fostering innovation by offering a platform for experimentation and development.
Innovation drives indigenization by driving the creation of new technologies and solutions that can be produced domestically, the Defense Secretary said, ensuring all possible support to innovators at every step.
The ministry said iDEX, which received the Prime Minister's Award for Public Policy in the Innovation Category in 2021, has become a "game-changer in the defense ecosystem."
Established by DIO under the Department of Defense Production, iDEX has launched 11 editions of the Defense India Start-up Challenge (DISC) and recently introduced the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence. technologies.
"In a short period, iDEX has successfully gained momentum, fostering a flourishing startup community within the defense sector. It is currently collaborating with over 400 startups and MSMEs.
"So far, 35 items worth over Rs 2,000 crore have been cleared for procurement. iDEX has facilitated creation of numerous employment opportunities and played a pivotal role in developing the defense ecosystem," he added. .
The collaboration will occur after a contract signed with SpacePixxel Technologies.
Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the ministry, signed the historic 350th contract here on Tuesday.
"The contract was signed with SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for the design and development of a miniaturized satellite capable of carrying electro-optical, infrared and synthetic aperture radars and hyperspectral payloads of up to 150 kg," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The 150th iDEX contract was signed in December 2022 and within a span of 18 months, the 350th contract was signed, he said.
The contract was exchanged between Additional Secretary (Defence Production) and CEO of Defense Innovation Organization (DIO), Anurag Bajpai, and Founder and CEO of SpacePixxel Technologies, Awais Ahmed Nadeem Alduri, in the presence of Secretary of Defense, Giridhar Aramane, and other senior civil and military officials. of the ministry.
SpacePixxel has been actively working to build and launch high-resolution hyperspectral imaging satellites to provide detailed Earth observation data, according to the statement.
"This 350th iDEX contract enables innovation in space electronics, where many payloads previously deployed on large dedicated satellites are now being miniaturized. The small modular satellite will integrate multiple miniaturized payloads as required, providing benefits such as faster deployment and economical, ease of manufacturing, scalability, adaptability and lower environmental impact," he stated.
In his speech, the Secretary of Defense appreciated the unwavering commitment of new defense innovators to push the boundaries of technology and safeguard the nation.
Emphasizing the importance of combining indigenization with innovation, he said national capabilities provide a basis for fostering innovation by offering a platform for experimentation and development.
Innovation drives indigenization by driving the creation of new technologies and solutions that can be produced domestically, the Defense Secretary said, ensuring all possible support to innovators at every step.
The ministry said iDEX, which received the Prime Minister's Award for Public Policy in the Innovation Category in 2021, has become a "game-changer in the defense ecosystem."
Established by DIO under the Department of Defense Production, iDEX has launched 11 editions of the Defense India Start-up Challenge (DISC) and recently introduced the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence. technologies.
"In a short period, iDEX has successfully gained momentum, fostering a flourishing startup community within the defense sector. It is currently collaborating with over 400 startups and MSMEs.
"So far, 35 items worth over Rs 2,000 crore have been cleared for procurement. iDEX has facilitated creation of numerous employment opportunities and played a pivotal role in developing the defense ecosystem," he added. .
