Aoufa at 11:00, 23 November 2025

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{{Short description|Indian Navy communications satellite}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = GSAT-7
| image =
| image_caption =
| mission_type = [[Communications satellite|Communication]]
| operator = [[ISRO]]
| website =
| COSPAR_ID = 2013-044B
| SATCAT = 39234
| mission_duration = Planned: 7 years<br /> Elapsed: {{time interval|29 August 2013|show=ymd|sep=,}}
| spacecraft_bus = [[I-2K]]
| manufacturer = ISRO<br/>[[Space Applications Centre]]
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|2650|kg}}
| power = 3 kilowatts
| launch_date = {{start-date|29 August 2013, 20:30|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = [[Ariane 5|Ariane 5ECA]]
| launch_site = [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]] [[ELA-3]]
| launch_contractor = [[Arianespace]]
| entered_service =
| disposal_type =
| deactivated = 
| orbit_epoch = 7 November 2013, 23:12:49 UTC<ref name="heavens-above">{{cite web|url=http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=39234|title=GSAT 7 - Orbit|first=Chris|last=Peat|work=Heavens Above|date=7 November 2013|access-date=9 November 2013}}</ref>
| orbit_reference = [[Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime = [[Geostationary orbit|Geostationary]]
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|35779|km|mi}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35806|km|mi}}
| orbit_inclination = 0.06 degrees
| orbit_period = 23.93 hours
| orbit_longitude = 74° East
| orbit_slot =
| apsis = gee
| trans_band = UHF<br/>C-band<br/>Ku-band
| trans_frequency =
| trans_bandwidth =
| trans_capacity =
| trans_coverage =
| trans_TWTA =
| trans_EIRP =
| trans_HPBW =
| programme = [[Indian National Satellite System|INSAT]]
| previous_mission = [[INSAT-4E]]
| next_mission = [[INSAT-4G]]
| programme2 = [[GSAT]]
| previous_mission2 = [[GSAT-7R]]
| next_mission2 = [[GSAT-8]]
}}

'''GSAT-7''' or '''INSAT-4F''' is a multi-band military communications satellite developed by [[ISRO]]. The [[Indian Navy]] is the user of the multi-band communication spacecraft, which has been operational since September 2013. According to defense experts, the satellite will enable the navy to extend its blue water capabilities and stop relying on foreign satellites like [[Inmarsat]], which provide communication services to its ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.asp?get=new&id=1833 |title=Defence News - Indian 'military' satellite put into Earth's orbit |access-date=2013-09-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130904180311/http://www.defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.asp?get=new&id=1833 |archive-date=2013-09-04 }}

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-30/india/41617825_1_advanced-communication-satellite-gslv-gsat-7 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901092046/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-30/india/41617825_1_advanced-communication-satellite-gslv-gsat-7 |date=2013-09-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/apr/18insat.htm?mh|title=INSAT-4 series satellite launches|work=rediff.com|access-date=2012-04-12}}</ref>

==Satellite==
GSAT-7, the multi-band communication satellite named ''Rukmini''<ref>{{cite news |title= GSAT-7 to boost India's military capabilities |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/GSAT-7-to-boost-Indias-military-capabilities/articleshow/22158766.cms |newspaper= [[The Times of India]] |date= 30 August 2013 |access-date= 4 September 2013}}</ref> carries the payloads in [[UHF]], [[C band (IEEE)|C band]] and {{Ku band}}. It is the first dedicated military communication satellite (unlike earlier dual use satellites) built by ISRO that will provide services to the [[Indian Armed Forces]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/315652/first-naval-satellite-may-launched.html | title=First naval satellite may be launched this year | newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]] | date=March 1, 2013 | access-date=March 13, 2013}}</ref> with the main user being the Indian Navy.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aame.in/2012/07/gsat-7-insat-4f-india-military.html | title=GSAT-7 [INSAT-4F] - India's military communication satellite [Indian Navy] | date=July 23, 2012 | access-date=July 23, 2012}}</ref> Its procured launch cost has been put at [[Indian rupee|₹]]480 [[crore]], with the satellite costing ₹185 crore.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-07-05|title=What is GSAT-7 Rukmini?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/india-rukmini-gsat-7-satellite-china-indian-ocean-region-sikkim-standoff-4736318/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> Cost of whole project per [[Memorandum of Understanding]] with ISRO was [[Indian rupee|₹]]950 crores.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Defence, Demands for Grants (2010-2011) |url=http://164.100.47.193/lsscommittee/Defence/15_Defence_6.pdf |quote=The cost of the Project as per Memorandum of Understanding signed with ISRO is Rs. 950 crores.}}</ref>

The multiple-band spacecraft will be used exclusively by the Navy to shore up secure, real-time communications among its warships, submarines, aircraft and land systems. GSAT-7/ INSAT-4F is said to significantly improve the country's naval operations around the world.

GSAT 7 satellite carrying payloads operating in UHF, S, C and Ku bands, had a lift-off mass of {{convert|2650|kg}} and is based on ISRO's {{convert|2000|kg}} class satellite bus I-2K with some new technological elements, including the antennae.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-08-20|title=SALIENT FEATURES OF GSAT-7|url=http://www.isac.gov.in:80/communication/html/gsat-7.jsp|access-date=2021-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820031446/http://www.isac.gov.in:80/communication/html/gsat-7.jsp|archive-date=2017-08-20}}</ref> After a flight of almost 34 minutes, the satellite was injected into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) of {{convert|249|km|adj=on}} [[perigee]], {{convert|35929|km|adj=on}} [[apogee]] and an inclination of 3.5 degree with respect to the [[equator]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indias-first-defence-satellite-GSAT-7-launched-successfully/articleshow/22152778.cms|title=India's first defence satellite GSAT-7 launched successfully | India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=30 August 2013 }}</ref>

ISRO launched a second satellite, [[GSAT-7A]] for [[Indian Air Force]] on 19 December 2018 on its [[Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle]] (GSLV-F11).<ref>{{Cite web|title=GSLV-F11 successfully launches GSAT-7A|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=186622|access-date=2021-11-13|website=pib.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=April 16, 2018|title=12 Missions, 12 Months - ISRO's Mega Plan For 2018 Revealed. Details Here|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/isro-missions-2018-12-launches-12-months-isros-mega-plan-for-2018-revealed-details-here-1838144|access-date=July 1, 2018|website=NDTV.com|publisher=NDTV}}</ref>

==Launch==
The satellite was launched early on 30 August 2013 atop an [[Ariane 5 ECA]] rocket from [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]], [[French Guiana]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Aug30_2013 |title=India's Advanced Communication Satellite GSAT-7 Launched Successfully |publisher=[[ISRO]] |date=2013-08-30 |access-date=2013-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217204640/http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Aug30_2013 |archive-date=2013-12-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

India's first dedicated military satellite was put into a geosynchronous orbit, about {{convert|36000|km}} above Earth, five days after it was launched after three orbit-raising manoeuvres from ISRO's [[Master Control Facility (ISRO)|Master Control Facility]] at [[Hassan, Karnataka|Hassan]] in [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news |title= India's first 'military' satellite GSAT-7 put into earth's orbit |url= http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/india-s-first-military-satellite-gsat-7-put-into-earth-s-orbit-414080 |publisher= [[NDTV]] |date= 4 September 2013 |access-date= 4 September 2013}}</ref> The 2.5-tonne spacecraft's antennae, including the ultra high frequency Helix antenna were deployed before it was stabilised on its three-axis in the orbit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indistannews.com/indian-military-satellite-put-into-earths-orbit/ |title=Indian 'military' satellite put into earth's orbit – Indistan News – National, Political and States News |publisher=Indistannews.com |access-date=2013-09-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054743/http://www.indistannews.com/indian-military-satellite-put-into-earths-orbit/ |archive-date=2013-09-21 }}</ref> All of the on-board transponders were switched on successfully on September 18, 2013<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Sep18_2013 | title=GSAT-7 Transponders Successfully Switched ON | publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation | date=September 18, 2013 | access-date=October 15, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017142129/http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Sep18_2013 | archive-date=October 17, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Capability==

Rukmini will provide networking capabilities to various Indian Naval assets. During the [[Exercise TROPEX#TROPEX 2014|2014 edition of Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise]] in the [[Bay of Bengal]], Rukmini was able to provide a common network about 60 ships and 75 aircraft seamlessly. Rukmini has a nearly 2,000 nautical mile 'footprint' over the Indian Ocean Region.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-Navy-joins-search-for-missing-Malaysian-plane-in-the-Malacca-Straits/articleshow/31855418.cms|title=Straits of Malacca: Indian Navy joins search for missing Malaysian plane in the Malacca Straits | India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=11 March 2014 }}</ref>

==Replacement==
The [[Indian Navy]] placed an order for [[GSAT-7R]] on June 11, 2019. GSAT-7R is expected to eventually replace GSAT-7.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/navy-to-buy-rs-1589-crore-satellite-from-isro/articleshow/70283927.cms?from=mdr|title=Navy to buy Rs 1,589 crore satellite from ISRO|last=Pubby|first=Manu|date=2019-07-18|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[Integrated_Space_Cell#Military|Indian military satellites]]
* [[GSAT-7A]]
* [[GSAT]]
* [[Indian National Satellite System]]
* [[List of Indian satellites]]

==References==
{{reflist|33em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130902014754/http://www.isro.org/satellites/gsat-7.aspx ISRO GSAT-7]
* {{cite web |url=http://www.arianespace.com/images/launch-kits/launch-kit-pdf-eng/VA215-Eutelsat25B-EShail1-GSAT7-GB.pdf |title=Ariane-5 VA215 Mission Profile |publisher=[[Arianespace]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102115408/http://www.arianespace.com/images/launch-kits/launch-kit-pdf-eng/VA215-Eutelsat25B-EShail1-GSAT7-GB.pdf |archive-date=2013-11-02 }}

{{GSAT Satellites}}
{{INSAT Satellites}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}
{{Orbital launches in 2013}}

[[Category:GSAT satellites]]
[[Category:INSAT satellites]]
[[Category:Satellites orbiting Earth]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2013]]
[[Category:2013 in India]]

GSAT-7 - Revision history

Aoufa at 11:00, 23 November 2025