MoD Contracts SpacePixxel for Advanced Miniaturised Satellite under iDEX Initiative

Tags: Science and Technology

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract on June 25, 2024, with Bengaluru-based SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

An Overview of the News

• The contract is for designing and developing a Miniaturised Satellite capable of carrying multiple advanced payloads up to 150 kgs for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

iDEX Initiative Significance:

• This marks the 350th contract under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, part of MoD's flagship program.

• It is the first-ever iDEX Prime (Space) Satellite Grant under the Mission DefSpace: Open Challenge.

Signing and Key Personnel:

• Signatories included Awais Ahmed Nadeem Alduri, CEO of SpacePixxel, and Anurag Bajpai, Additional Secretary (Defence Production) & CEO of IDEX-DIO.

• The signing took place in New Delhi, Delhi, in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and other MoD officials.

Technological Advancements:

• The contract aims to foster innovation in space electronics, facilitating faster deployment, economical manufacturing, scalability, adaptability, and reduced environmental impact.

• Integration of Electro-Optical, Infrared, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and Hyperspectral payloads into a single, compact satellite is expected to enhance earth observation and defence capabilities significantly.

Impact of iDEX Initiative:

• The iDEX initiative continues to play a crucial role in transforming India's defence sector by nurturing startups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to develop cutting-edge technologies.

About iDEX:

• Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2018, iDEX operates under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD).

• It has organized 11 editions of the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC) and introduced the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX(ADITI) scheme to foster innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.

• Currently collaborating with over 400 start-ups and MSMEs, iDEX has facilitated the procurement of 35 items valued at over Rs 2,000 crore.