Pakistan’s expanding satellite network raises security concerns

Pakistan has rapidly expanded its space-based surveillance capabilities over the past 16 months, launching six Earth-observation satellites that can frequently monitor Indian territory, according to a report by ThePrint.

The development has raised concerns among defence and space experts, particularly given the growing cooperation between Pakistan and China in the space domain.

The report states that between January 2025 and June 2026, Pakistan launched six Earth-observation satellites, many of them placed in Sun-synchronous orbits that allow repeated imaging of the same locations at regular intervals.

According to the report, the satellite constellation is capable of mapping Indian territory at least once every two days.

Pakistan's recent launches include PAUSAT-1, PRSC-EO1, PRSS-2, HS-1, PRSC-EO2 and PRSC-EO3. Several of these missions were carried out with Chinese launch vehicles and technical support, highlighting the deepening space partnership between Islamabad and Beijing.

The report notes that while these satellites have been officially described as civilian assets intended for applications such as agriculture, urban planning, disaster management and environmental monitoring, many of the technologies they carry can also serve military purposes.

Experts cited in the report said modern Earth-observation satellites are inherently dual-use and can provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Particular attention has been drawn to PRSC-EO3, launched in April 2026. According to analysis cited by ThePrint, the satellite operates in an orbit that increases revisit rates over South Asia, including Jammu and Kashmir and parts of northern India.

The report cited US-based space situational awareness firm COMSPOC as saying the orbital configuration appears designed to prioritise coverage of the region over broader global surveillance.

The accelerated pace of Pakistan's satellite launches has also attracted attention. Since the establishment of Pakistan's space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), in 1961, the country has conducted 15 satellite launches.

Notably, six of those launches have taken place in the last 16 months alone, marking a significant increase in activity compared to previous decades.

Experts quoted in the report suggested that the speed of deployment points to substantial external support. Former Indian space and defence officials cited by ThePrint argued that Pakistan's expanding surveillance architecture should be viewed in the context of its broader strategic partnership with China, which already possesses advanced Earth-observation and reconnaissance satellite networks.

The development comes as India is also strengthening its military space capabilities. Earlier this month, reports indicated that the government had approved a 52-satellite surveillance constellation under the Space Based Surveillance Phase III programme to improve intelligence gathering and monitoring of potential threats from China and Pakistan. The constellation is expected to be deployed between 2025 and 2029.

ThePrint report further noted concerns about India's recent setbacks in launching certain strategic satellites, with experts stressing the growing importance of space-based intelligence in modern warfare.

According to the experts quoted, surveillance, reconnaissance and real-time information gathering are becoming increasingly critical components of national security.

While there is no indication that Pakistan's satellite programme violates international norms, the scale and pace of recent launches have prompted renewed debate over the strategic balance in South Asia and the increasing role of space assets in regional security calculations.