ISRO’s LVM3 Carries CMS-03 to Orbit for Enhanced Naval Communications

MISSION OVERVIEW

On November 2, 2025, ISRO pulled off a a success release of the communique satellite tv for pc CMS‑03 (or GSAT‑7R) the use of the heavy-carry rocket LVM3‑M5 from the second launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan space Centre in Sriharikota.

LVM3‑M5

The satellite tv for pc has a mass of approximately 4,410 kg, organising it because the heaviest communication satellite released from Indian territory thus far.

The release automobile is ISRO’s flagship heavy‐raise rocket, able to placing huge payloads into Geosynchronous switch Orbit (GTO).

The release occurred at 17:26 IST.

PURPOSE & CAPABILITIES

The CMS-03 (GSAT-7R), designed completely by means of India's navy, ambitions to reinforce communique abilities via satellites within the IOR area thru greater maritime surveillance. IndoToday Indian protection

news.

A spacecraft includes diverse payload sorts which include C-band, probably also UHF/S/S bands, facilitating communique amongst naval vessels, underwater craft, airplanes, and land-primarily based manipulate stations.

Its attain encompasses India's territory in addition to large areas inside the Indian Ocean, ensuring communique throughout isolated or disputed sea areas.

The new GSAT-8 ("Sri Rama") satellite improvements/extends the competencies of its

predecessor through supplying a whole lot greater facts transmission ability and advanced security for

communique hyperlingh supplying a whole lot greater facts transmission ability and advanced security for

communique hyperlinks.

STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

• The successful mission underscores India’s growing self-reliance in heavy satellite launch capabilities and strategic communication infrastructure.

• For the Navy, the satellite will enable network-centric operations, sharper situational awareness and real-time coordination of maritime assets across a large oceanic theatre.

• From a defence and security standpoint, the capability to launch large indigenously built comms satellites enhances India’s command and control resilience in the maritime domain.

TECHNICAL & LAUNCH DETAIL

• The LVM3-M5 rocket has a height of 43.5 m and a liftoff mass around 642 t. The vehicle uses two large S200 solid strap-ons, a liquid core L110 stage, and a cryogenic upper stage C25.

• The integration of CMS-03 and rollout to launch pad started on 26 October 2025.

• After separation, the satellite will use its onboard Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) to raise and circularise its orbit from the transfer orbit to its final geostationary slot over subsequent days/weeks.

• The mission life of CMS-03 is stated to be about 15 years.

  
  

BOOSTING NAVY'S COMMUNICATION GRID

CMS-03, also referred to as GSAT-7R, is tailor-made to serve as the backbone of the Indian Navy's communication network across the Indian Ocean.

The satellite is loaded with multi-band payloads, including C, extended C, and Ku bands, that enable secure, high-capacity voice, data, and video transmissions between warships, submarines, aircraft, and shore-based command centers.

Unlike its ageing predecessor GSAT-7 “Rukmini,” CMS-03 offers significantly expanded coverage and bandwidth, ensuring real-time connectivity even in remote or contested ocean zones.

CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, is specially designed to be the key part of the Indian Navy's communication system across the Indian Ocean.

ENHANCING INDIA'S OCEANIC COMMUNICATION

The satellite is equipped with different types of communication channels, like C, extended C, and Ku bands, which allow safe and fast sending of voice, data, and video between warships, submarines, aircraft, and land-based command centers.

Compared to its older version, GSAT-7 "Rukmini," CMS-03 has much better coverage and data capacity, making it possible to have real-time connections even in faraway or difficult areas of the ocean.

With improved encryption, support for multiple frequency bands (UHF, S, C, and Ku), and high-speed communication channels, CMS-03 supports modern naval operations, improves awareness of the environment, and helps India achieve its goals of being a strong naval power.CMS-03 is an important part of the Navy's system for monitoring the sea area, which helps in working together to deal with threats, better coordination of the fleet, and sharing secure information over long distances.

Enhancing India's ocean communication, CMS-03 covers the Indian subconnent and large parts of the surrounding Indian Ocean, beyond what traditional land-based networks can reach.

Because it stays in a fixed position above the Earth (geosynchronous), it ensures continuous and secure communication for the armed forces and other organizations, such as those dealing with disasters, remote sensing, and telemedicine.

The use of CMS-03 reduces India's need to depend on foreign communication systems, supporting the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' plan for self-reliance.

It also prepares India's maritime security in case of future challenges. It also helps develop Indian space technology by introducing advanced, locally made systems that have uses in both military and civilian sectors.

The successful launch of CMS-03 using the LVM-3 rocket solidifies ISRO's position in the market for heavy lift launches and boosts India's ability to command and communicate in one of the most important ocean regions in the world.

What's next?

The satellite will now use its onboard Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) to slowly move into its final orbit.

The LAM engine will fire several times in a planned order and for certain amounts of time to change the highest and lowest points of its orbit, eventually reaching a stable geostationary orbit.

First, the LAM will fire at the lowest point of the orbit (perigee) to raise the highest point (apogee).

Then, it will fire again at the highest point to make the orbit more round.

The whole process of moving the satellite into its final orbit will take about 4 to 7 days.

After that, another 4 to 5 weeks will be needed to set up and make the satellite fully ready to work.