India Launches Powerful CMS-03 Communications Satellite for Navy
India successfully launched the CMS-03 military communications satellite into orbit today, bolstering its naval capabilities and expanding secure communication networks.
The 9,700-pound (4,400-kilogram) CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, lifted off atop a Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 5:26 p.m. local time. The launch, which occurred on November 2, 2025, placed the satellite into geostationary transfer orbit approximately 16 minutes after liftoff, marking the heaviest communications satellite ever launched to GTO from India. This new satellite will provide critical support for the Indian Navy’s expanding operations in the Indian Ocean region.
Once settled into geostationary orbit – a position 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth – CMS-03 will provide real-time communication for naval operations, air defence, and strategic command control. According to the Times of India, the upgraded payloads are designed to expand secure, multi-band communications, replacing the GSAT-7 satellite launched in 2013. The LVM3 rocket, India’s most powerful launch vehicle, has now flown eight times, including its successful deployment of the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the moon in July 2023.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officials stated that CMS-03 will undergo further testing and orbital adjustments before being fully operational, ensuring seamless integration with the Navy’s existing communication infrastructure.
