India’s space sector relies on increasing private orders to meet its target of 50 launches by 2030

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Highlights

India’s launch portfolio will include six vehicles within a year, including new vehicles from Skyroot, HAL, and Agnikul.
Skyroot and HAL are working toward the capacity to each conduct at least 10-12 launches a year, while achieving the target of 50 launches depends on securing foreign orders.
Over the past year, Indian private startups in the space sector have built order books worth tens of millions of dollars, and 40 percent of the 2,200 crore rupees in R&D funding—that is, 800 crore rupees—came in over 6-9 months.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Plan to increase launch capacity

In an interview with Forbes India, IN-SPACe Chairman Pawan Goenka said India is on track to commercially deploy three small satellite launch vehicles within about a year, taking the country’s launch portfolio to six vehicles alongside the existing PSLV, LVM3, and GSLV Mk II. According to Goenka, Skyroot’s vehicle is already deployed, the HAL-built vehicle will be available within a year, and Agnikul’s vehicle could be ready in even less time.

Goenka said the target of 50 launches a year is challenging but achievable, provided demand comes not only from India but also from overseas. He said both Skyroot and HAL are confident about their order books and that each could reach at least 10 to 12 launches a year.

He also said IN-SPACe would not control market competition, but would ensure that no player gets an unfair cost advantage. For example, launch center usage fees and the prices of components purchased from ISRO, such as first-stage solid motors, would be the same for everyone.

Impact of global demand and investment

According to Goenka, Indian private space companies are moving rapidly toward global competition despite getting a late start, and some startups are already winning orders from outside India. Referring to Skyroot, XDLINX, and Digantara, he said launch services and space situational awareness services for foreign customers are now moving beyond the initial pilot stage.

According to him, the order books of Indian private space tech startups have reached tens of millions of dollars over the past year and could multiply several times over the next 12 months. He said the private sector had very little to offer until about a year and a half ago, but companies are now actively pursuing business development campaigns to win customers overseas.

On funding, Goenka said investor interest has turned into actual investment over the past 18 months, and the sector is seeing larger funding rounds beyond Series A. According to him, the top 10 startups have either completed funding rounds of more than $20 million or are close to doing so, while domestic and foreign capital now account for roughly equal shares.

He also called RDI funding a major boost, saying that of the announced 2,200 crore rupees, about 40 percent—that is, more than 800 crore rupees—has gone to the space sector over the past 6 to 9 months. According to him, this capital, provided as grants, makes the sector more attractive to private investors.

Our previous report discussed India’s strategy for strengthening its semiconductor ecosystem, with a focus on reducing external dependence in manufacturing, chip design, and materials supply. It also noted that advanced chip designs such as 2nm and 3nm are being developed in India and that investment in materials and inputs is increasing in the next phase of the semiconductor program. Overall, the article focused on balancing technological sovereignty, supply chain resilience, and long-term demand and commercial viability.

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