‘Rukmini’ keeps eye on dancing ‘dragon’ at sea – Times of India – Times of India

NEW DELHI: With China increasing its naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region amid the ongoing Sikkim stand-off, the Indian Navy is keeping an eye on the 'dragon' with the help of its 'eye in the sky', Gsat-7, the Navy's own dedicated military satellite that was launched on September 29, 2013.

The 2,625-kg satellite, named 'Rukmini', has helped the Navy monitor the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as it has a nearly 2,000 nautical mile 'footprint'. The multi-band communication-cum surveillance satellite, which is operating from the geo-stationary orbit (at 36,000km altitude), provides real-time inputs to naval warships, submarines and maritime aircraft and networking capabilities to its naval assets on the high seas.

With the help of the shore-based operational centres, 'Rukmini' (also called INSAT-4F) has not only helped the Navy keep an eye on both Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal but also helped the force increase its communication and surveillance capabilities from Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait, which together is equivalent to almost 70% of the IOR.

Read this story in Gujarati Rukmini, which provides wide range of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to high bit rate data communication, has given the Navy an integrated platform and helped it overcome the limitation of 'line of sight' (the straight path of signal when unobstructed by the horizon). With the help of this 'eye in the sky', the Army, too, gets vital inputs about over-the-land movements.

Here is the original post:

'Rukmini' keeps eye on dancing 'dragon' at sea - Times of India - Times of India