French aerospace and defence major Safran has signed contracts worth more than €5 million, approximately ₹45 crore, with Indian space technology company Dhruva Space to support India’s planned Space-Based Surveillance-III (SBS-III) programme. The agreements were announced during the first International Space Summit in Paris and form part of a broader expansion of India-France cooperation in the space sector.
Under the contracts, Safran Space will provide technologies including communication systems, inertial navigation units, optical payloads and ground stations for the planned SBS-III space-surveillance constellation. The programme is expected to comprise 52 satellites, with deployment planned between 2027 and 2030. The systems supplied under the agreements are intended to contribute to the satellites and associated infrastructure required for the surveillance network.
The development comes as India continues to expand its sovereign space capabilities and strengthen the role of private companies in the country’s growing space sector. Dhruva Space has emerged as one of India’s prominent private space companies, while Safran brings established expertise in aerospace and space technologies to the partnership.
The agreements also build on the long-standing space relationship between India and France. The two countries have cooperated in the space sector for more than five decades through partnerships involving the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and France’s space agency CNES. Safran has also previously contributed to India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission and has expanded its industrial presence in India.
The SBS-III programme is significant for India’s future space-surveillance architecture. A constellation of 52 satellites is expected to strengthen the country’s ability to monitor objects and activities in orbit while supporting wider requirements for space situational awareness. The programme also reflects India’s increasing focus on developing advanced space capabilities through a combination of domestic industry and international technological partnerships.
The Safran-Dhruva Space agreements therefore represent another step in the expansion of India’s private space ecosystem and the broader strategic partnership between India and France. With satellite deployment planned from 2027 through 2030, the cooperation is expected to support the development of India’s next-generation space-surveillance capabilities.