India's Technology Development Board backs Astrome's AI signals-intelligence satellite network

Nov 12, 2026
The government body will provide ₹64.05 crore of the ₹128.11 crore project to build microsatellites that detect and analyse radio signals with AI-based ground processing.

India's Technology Development Board has agreed to provide ₹64.05 crore to Bengaluru-based Astrome Technologies to develop a constellation of AI-powered electronic intelligence (ELINT) satellites, Analytics India Magazine reported. The money comes from the government's Research, Development and Innovation Fund as optionally convertible debt, covering half of the project's estimated ₹128.11 crore cost.

Astrome plans microsatellites of about 50 kg each in low Earth orbit. Each will carry a payload that detects and analyses signals across a broad frequency range, with AI-based software on the ground processing the data and links between satellites to share it. More satellites are meant to give wider coverage and more frequent observation of areas of interest.

The project aims to take the technology from early lab stage (TRL-4) to flight-proven (TRL-9). "Through the RDI Fund, TDB is supporting Indian enterprises working on frontier technologies," said TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak.

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