Defence Ministry signs 350th iDEX contract for advanced miniaturised satellite
The Ministry of Defence’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative marked a milestone today by signing its 350th contract with SpacePixxel Technologies Private Limited in New Delhi. This contract will lead to the creation of an advanced miniaturised satellite, designed to carry a range of payloads including electro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture radar, and hyperspectral sensors, all within a 150-kilogram limit.
The agreement was formalized with a signing ceremony attended by Additional Secretary of Defence Production Anurag Bajpai and Founder and CEO of SpacePixxel Technologies, Awais Ahmed Nadeem Alduri. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, along with other senior officials, were also present at the event. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane commended the dedication of defence innovators who are pushing the boundaries of technology to enhance national security.
He emphasized the crucial role of indigenization and innovation, noting that domestic capabilities lay the groundwork for developing and experimenting with new technologies. “Innovation and indigenization are interlinked, driving the creation of new, domestically producible technologies,” stated Aramane.
This landmark iDEX contract will drive advancements in space electronics, enabling the miniaturisation of payloads that were traditionally deployed on larger satellites. The new modular small satellite will be capable of integrating multiple miniaturised payloads based on requirements, offering significant advantages such as quicker and more cost-effective deployment, ease of manufacturing, scalability, adaptability, and reduced environmental impact.
