India Needs Four To Six Dedicated Satellites To Monitor Chinese Military Activities At LAC: Security Agencies

Amid the tensions with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, the Indian Security agencies are feeling that there is a requirement of four to six dedicated satellites to keep a tab on Chinese military activities in the border areas as well as in China's depth areas along the 4,000-km long LAC, reports Times of India.

The development comes after Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) mobilised over 40,000 troops along with heavy weapony and artillery in the garb of an exercise in Xinjiang and started transgressing into Indian territory at multiple positions along the LAC.

"To improve the coverage of the activities of the Chinese troops and forces in both near Indian territory and in their depth areas, there is a need for four to six dedicated satellites with very high-resolution sensors and cameras with ability to keep a close watch even on the movement of small objects and individuals," defence sources were quoted as saying by ANI.

Besides, the satellites will also help in reducing India's dependence on foreign associates to monitor activities of Chinese and other adverseries in the region.

The sources further said that though the Indian armed forces already have few military satellites but there was a need to further strengthen their surveillance capability.

Currently, Indian and Chinese armies are engaged in a stand-off at LAC, despite multiple rounds of military talks for disengagement. The Chinese PLA have refused to disengage from the Indian territory in the Finger area along the Pangong Tso.

Besides Ladakh, China has also deployed troops along the LAC opposite Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. However, these Chinese troops are in the depth areas.

Following the Chinese build up, India has also deployed a large number of troops along the LAC.