Sriharikota, India – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched GSAT-7R, also known as CMS-03, India's heaviest communication satellite, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota today, November 2, 2025. The satellite, designed to bolster the Indian Navy's communication capabilities, lifted off aboard the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) at 5:26 pm IST.

GSAT-7R is a multi-band communication satellite developed indigenously by ISRO to replace the aging GSAT-7, also known as Rukmini, which was launched in 2013. Rukmini has been the backbone of the Navy's communication network, providing secure real-time links between warships, submarines, aircraft, and shore-based command centers across the Indian Ocean.

Weighing approximately 4,400 kilograms, GSAT-7R is the heaviest communication satellite launched from Indian soil to date. ISRO usually prefers launching heavier communication satellites from the European spaceport in French Guiana. The satellite incorporates several indigenous state-of-the-art components tailored to meet the Indian Navy's operational requirements. The ₹1,589 crore (US$225.65 million) satellite project contract was signed between the Indian Navy and ISRO on June 11, 2019.

GSAT-7R will operate in multiple frequency bands, including UHF, S, C and Ku bands, to transmit voice, video, and data among naval ships, submarines, and aircraft operating across the Indian Ocean Region, extending up to 2,000 km from India's coastline. With upgraded payloads, GSAT-7R is designed to expand secure, multi-band communications for the Navy's growing blue-water operations. It will provide real-time communication for naval operations, air defense, and strategic command control across a wide oceanic and terrestrial region. The satellite features advanced encryption technologies, including anti-jamming, frequency hopping, and encrypted data links for secure military operations.

The launch of GSAT-7R is significant for several reasons:

• Enhanced Communication Capabilities: GSAT-7R will provide the Indian Navy with a more robust and secure communication backbone, vital for coordinated operations across dispersed fleets and assets.
• Maritime Domain Awareness: The satellite will strengthen the Navy's space-based communications and maritime domain awareness capabilities.
• Self-Reliance: The mission marks a major milestone in self-reliance, reflecting India's growing expertise in space and defense technology.
• Strategic Advantage: GSAT-7R will bolster network-centric warfare capabilities and improve communication resilience in the Indian Ocean Region, supporting India's broader strategic and security objectives at sea.

The LVM3-M5 launch had eight sequences, with the CMS-03 separating from the vehicle at an altitude of around 179 kilometers, at a velocity of about 10 km per second. This launch marks the LVM3's eighth overall launch and its first since successfully deploying the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the moon's south polar region in July 2023. The 43.5-meter-tall LVM3 is India's most powerful rocket, capable of hauling 17,600 pounds (8,000 kgs) to low Earth orbit.

The successful launch of GSAT-7R is a major boost to the Indian Navy's operational capabilities and a testament to ISRO's expertise in developing advanced communication satellites. The satellite will play a crucial role in strengthening India's maritime security and its ability to protect its interests in the Indian Ocean Region.