The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at bolstering India’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities.

What Happened: ARIES, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and Navaratna Defence PSU BEL have agreed to work together on space technologies, primarily focusing on SSA. SSA involves tracking space objects, especially near-Earth objects and artificial satellites, to ensure satellite safety.

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This partnership is a significant stride in enhancing India’s SSA and technological capabilities, aligning with the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make-in-India’ initiatives. Under the MoU, ARIES and BEL will utilise observations from ARIES’s advanced telescopes, including the 4m International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT).

The two organisations will jointly develop image processing techniques and software for data analytics solutions. They will also collaborate on the development of instruments and laboratories, and conduct various training workshops for capacity building in SSA. ARIES will also share its expertise in space weather.

Earlier in the month, BEL secured orders totalling ₹1,155 crore, significantly boosting its order book for the current financial year. The orders included a ₹850 crore order from Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for supplying indigenous Multi-Function Radar in X Band. This radar, fully indigenous and designed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL, is capable of detecting, acquiring and tracking airborne targets to protect naval ships.

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