In the 350th contract under its flagship iDEX (innovations for defence excellence) initiative, the defence ministry inked a deal for the design and development of a miniature observation and imaging satellite for the IAF.
Defence Ministry Inks Deal For Building Miniature Satellite for IAF
In the 350th contract under its flagship iDEX (innovations for defence excellence) initiative, the defence ministry inked a deal for the design and development of a miniature observation and imaging satellite for the IAF. The contract was inked with Space Pixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for the miniaturised satellite capable of carrying electro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture radar, and hyperspectral payloads up to 150 kg.
“The company has been actively working to build and launch high-resolution hyperspectral imaging satellites to provide detailed earth observation data,” a MoD official said. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, signed the landmark 350th contract in New Delhi on June 25, 2024. The contract was inked with Space Pixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for the design and development of a ‘Miniaturised satellite capable of carrying Electro-Optical, Infrared, Synthetic Aperture Radar, and Hyperspectral payloads up to 150 kgs’.
This challenge is being led by the Indian Air Force. The 150th iDEX contract was signed in December 2022, and within a span of 18 months, the 350th contract has been signed.
About iDEX
iDEX, the recipient of the esteemed Prime Minister Award for Public Policy in Innovation Category in 2021, has emerged as a game-changer in the defence ecosystem. Established by the DIO under Department of Defence Production, iDEX has launched 11 editions of the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC), and recently unveiled the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.
•It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India launched in 2018.
•The objective of the scheme is to cultivate an innovation ecosystem in the Defence and Aerospace sector by collaborating with startups, innovators, MSMEs, incubators, and academia.
•iDEX offers grants and support for R&D with significant potential for future adoption in Indian defence and aerospace.
•It is currently engaged with around 400+ Startups and MSMEs.
•It is recognized as a game-changer in the defence ecosystem, iDEX has received the PM Award for Innovation in the defence sector.
•Funding: It will be funded and managed by a ‘Defence Innovation Organization (DIO)’ which has been formed as a ‘not for profit’ company as per the Companies Act 2013 for this purpose, by the two founder members i.e. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) – HAL & BEL.
•iDEX will function as the executive arm of DIO, carrying out all the required activities while DIO will provide high level policy guidance to iDEX.
