India Partners with Startups to Develop Bodyguard Satellites for Space Asset Protection

India is collaborating with private startups to develop 'bodyguard' satellites aimed at protecting its high-value spacecraft from orbital threats amid rising geopolitical tensions. Initial test launches are planned for early 2024, with further deployments expected by late 2026 or early 2027. This initiative follows a near-miss incident involving a foreign spacecraft and concerns over satellite support provided by China to Pakistan during a 2023 border conflict. The satellites will employ technologies such as robotic arms and containment methods to escort and counter potential threats in space.