The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSAT-7R satellite on November 2, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, enhancing the Indian Navy’s space-based communications and maritime domain awareness. This satellite, which replaces the GSAT-7 (Rukmini), aims to provide extensive telecommunication coverage across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), an area of increasing Chinese influence. The GSAT-7R was deployed using ISRO’s most powerful rocket, the LVM3, signaling a significant leap in India’s strategic capabilities. The development underscores India’s commitment to bolstering its maritime defense infrastructure amid growing geopolitical challenges in the region.