Indian RISAT: An Israeli spying machine
Afshain Afzal
Few days back, Chairman Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), G
Madhavan Nair confirmed that India’s Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT),
which was launched on April 20, 2009 has begun sending images. The
300-kilograms satellite, RISAT in a 550 kilometers height orbit with an
inclination of 41 degrees to the equator and an orbital period of about
90 minutes. The launch marked the covert operational use of the
Indo-Israeli jointly developed Advanced Mission Computers and Advanced
Telemetry System, which guided the vehicle from lift-off till the
injection of the two satellites in the desired orbit. RISAT is a dual
purpose ‘civil and military’ acquired from Israel for surveillance that
can take 1 meter resolution images at night and through clouds.
It is interesting to know that why India acquired an Israeli satellite
when it was already in possession of military reconnaissance satellites
‘Technology Experiment Satellite (TES)’ weighing over 1000 kilograms,
which was equipped with optical sensors and powerful telescopic cameras.
Unofficial reports suggest that the satellite turned blind during night,
under heavy cloud and in monsoons. It is also being said that the images
of this satellite are hazy and is not effected tool for analyzing
military movements. India was utilizing the facilities of Canadian
all-weather satellite before the RISAT was sent to the orbit. For the
latest defence purpose imageries, India was commercially purchasing it
from different countries including Russia, Israel and US. RISAT is
equipped with spying capabilities and capable of taking high-resolution
images through clouds due to its inbuilt night vision device. This spy
satellite, which will basically target Pakistan, Afghanistan Iran,
Bangladesh, China and other target countries of interest will help
Indian, Israeli, Italian and US intelligence agencies to keep a watch on
real time movement of important personalities, groups and other
strategic cum tactical developments. Although India is tight lipped and
claims that RISAT would be mainly used for disaster management purpose
but pictures taken by the said satellite can be used for any clandestine
purpose including defence.
RISAT has a unique feature as compared to India’s other remote-sensing
satellites as it uses the Israeli developed Synthetic Aperture Radar
(SAR), equipped with many antennas to receive signals that are processed
into high-resolution pictures. Reacting to media reports terming RISAT a
spy satellite or defence surveillance satellite, the ISRO Chairman
Madhavan Nair dismissed reports labeling RISAT a spy satellite and said
that it is an imaging satellite that can identify features on ground and
has a global coverage and that India will use it only for its own use.
Irrespective of India’s official stand, no one can deny that the
satellite’s synthetic aperture radar gives it day-night capability and
the ability to look through clouds and fog, thus giving it defence and
spying applications.
Indo-Israeli military and intelligence collaboration is reaching to a
danger mark. The successful launching of an Israeli procured
sophisticated surveillance satellite ‘RISAT’, is directly threatening
the very existence of some Middle Eastern and Asian countries including
Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh as well as China. India is
fooling the world when it claims that the satellite “will enhance ISRO’s
capability for earth observation, especially during floods, cyclones,
landslides and in management of disasters.” Although ISRO Chairman has
officially denied that the satellite would primarily serve intelligence
purposes but he himself has admitted that “spying depends on the user of
the satellite.”
At many occasion in off-the-record statements, India has attested to the
fact that the satellite was meant for military surveillance of India’s
borders and coastal areas, to prevent terror attacks and infiltration.
India has reportedly made secret agreements with US, UK, Israel and
Italy with regard of selling sensitive imagery for the utilization of
defence and security agencies. Although RISAT is a dual purposes
satellite but India must make it clear, whether IRSO will use it for
military purposes and sell its imageries commercially. In that case
there may be countries who would think about developing Anti Satellites
(ASAT). There are reports that Israel has intentionally launched RISAT
through India to camouflage its missions against Muslim world. The
similarity of RISAT with Israeli TecSAR satellite which was launched on
January 21, 2008 has put a big question mark on ISRO’s claim of
indigenous development. There can be no doubt that RISAT’s prime
objective is to keep an eye on Pakistani and Iranian nuclear and missile
development programmes. Another prime target of this satellite is China.
The policy makers in India are much perturbed over Indian intelligence
reports, especially RAW, that mass infiltration of militants from
Pakistan into India territories has become a constant feature. The
government of India feels helpless in tackling with bundles of
intelligence reports that Pakistan is attempting to disintegrate India
union. India considers that its new spy satellite ‘RISAT’ will help its
security agencies to keep close surveillance of India’s borders and
neighbouring areas, the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, coastal and
maritime areas etc. One thing good about the ‘RISAT’ is that India would
be able to realize very soon that its intelligence agencies including
RAW had been bluffing Indian government that infiltration of Pakistani
and foreign mercenaries is taking place and Pakistan is the prime cause
of unrest in India.
It is pertinent to mention here that it will be India’s mistake to
presume that its joint conspiracy in Asian and Middle Eastern regions
would be a success story. Just to remind India and Israel, Soviet Union
had technological edge over its revivals but today it is a history.
Similarly, Israel and many other powerful countries united against tiny
state of Palestine but six decades of efforts could not bring fruits.
India needs to keep the example of Soviet Union in its mind and
concentrate on its own home grown problems rather than wandering what
other states are doing. Pakistan is hopeful that once India finds out
the truth that Pakistan is not sponsoring terrorism inside its
territories, there would be bright chances that Pakistan and India may
come closer and resume Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) which may
lead to the resolution of all the pending irritants including right of
self determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir. |
