Concerns are resurfacing within Pakistan’s military establishment, with echoes of past operational failures fueling new anxieties. The memory of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a period where critical satellite intelligence failed, reportedly left top defense officials like Army Chief Asim Muneer and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif deeply concerned. The fear is that a similar vulnerability could be exploited again, prompting a swift and strategic pivot towards collaboration with China and Turkey in space technology.
The incident in May 2025, triggered by a severe terror attack, highlighted a critical chink in Pakistan’s defense. During a military offensive, the nation’s primary military satellite, the PRSS-1, malfunctioned. It managed to transmit only a single, fleeting image before going offline, reportedly due to weather interference and orbit drift. This critical lapse meant Pakistan’s ground teams and command posts were left without vital updates, unable to track India’s asset movements, ultimately proving a significant disadvantage.
Compounding these issues, another satellite, PakTES-1A, had already ceased functioning, creating a dire situation. This dual failure forced Pakistan’s leadership to prioritize a complete overhaul of its space surveillance capabilities, treating it as an urgent national security imperative.
Seeking to fill the void, Pakistan has actively pursued international partnerships. China emerged as an early collaborator, followed by Turkey, and also engaged with European firms and American back channels. This outreach has led to the rapid deployment of new satellite assets.
Recently, Pakistan launched PAUSAT-1, a 10U nano-class satellite developed in conjunction with Istanbul Technical University and built by Air University. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and specialized sensors, PAUSAT-1 is designed for detailed land and crop imaging. The Turkish collaboration potentially grants Pakistan access to advanced European technologies.
Further bolstering its capabilities, Pakistan launched PRSC-EOL from China’s Jiuquan spaceport. While described as ‘made in Pakistan,’ the project’s technological backbone, design, and launch were facilitated by China. This satellite focuses on environmental monitoring and has significant military applications.
Another key asset, HS-1, launched in October 2024 with Chinese assistance, is equipped with hyperspectral sensors. These sensors are crucial for detecting concealed military installations, monitoring activity near airbases, and identifying subtle structural changes, positioning HS-1 as a vital intelligence asset.
These advancements aim to address the shortcomings exposed by the PRSS-1’s failure, particularly the critical time gaps in intelligence delivery. Pakistan’s limited ground station infrastructure, with one station impacted by severe flooding in 2022, further exacerbates this issue. The slow delivery of purchased satellite imagery from commercial firms like Airbus, often taking 36-48 hours, is inadequate for rapid conflict scenarios, underscoring the need for a robust, independent surveillance system.
Looking ahead, Pakistan is actively pursuing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites for deployment between 2026-27. SAR technology offers the ability to penetrate clouds and operate effectively at night, providing real-time defense awareness crucial in modern warfare.
