Bengaluru-based space startup Digantara Industries has joined hands with Singapore’s defence arm to develop tools aimed at protecting national satellites from collisions with space debris.
According to the company, this marks the first time the defence arm of Singapore has signed an agreement with an Indian space-tech firm.
As per reports, under the agreement, Digantara and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) will co-develop tools in the area of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) to support the National Space Agency of Singapore.
What is Digiantara?
Digantara is a Space Surveillance and Intelligence company, specializing in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) with a focus on ensuring the safety, sustainability, and long-term viability of orbital operations. Leveraging advanced capabilities in space-based detection, tracking, identification, and monitoring, Digantara delivers comprehensive domain awareness across all orbital regimes. Through its unified platform, the company equips end-users with actionable intelligence, integrating critical data and insights for real-time decision-making.
About the Partnership
Founder and CEO at Digantara Industries, Anirudh Sharma, told PTI, “The most important thing is that we provide them sovereign control to the solutions we build for them, which means the Singapore government can locally deploy and use our solutions to achieve their space domain awareness operations or needs that can be both for operations of satellites.”
The partnership was unveiled on the sidelines of the Space Summit 2026 in Singapore on Monday.
Sharma explained that his company will provide services to DSTA regarding flight dynamics and conjunction screening, which is crucial when a Singapore satellite is approaching an orbiting piece of debris.
“This service of ours will help them get the alerts and do sustainable space operations without having to worry about collisions in space,” he said.
The agreement also includes integrating Digantara’s sensor data with AI-driven analytics.
Sharma added, “The Singapore government is very keen on exploring how we do space-based Space Situational Awareness and also being part of one of our upcoming missions where they’ll be involved in assembly integration and testing of one of these space-based sensors that eventually will be part of Singapore’s broader space strategy.”
For Digantara, the collaboration provides a strategic entry point to expand in the Asia-Pacific region. “Working with the Singapore government will also enable us to access other Asian markets like South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and other countries. So, I think that is a good gateway for us to expand as a company to the broader Asia-Pacific,” Sharma told PTI.
Leveraging Digantara’s expertise in space and ground-based sensing infrastructure, both parties will focus on the development, testing, and evaluation of software applications that enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of satellite tracking, a company statement said.
“The collaboration aims to provide a more comprehensive view of Singapore’s satellites that supports the safety and long-term operability in an increasingly congested orbital environment,” the statement added.
What it means for India
For India, the deal has broader implications as it raises the international profile of Indian private space companies, potentially attracting more global contracts and investment (as seen with recent funding rounds for Digantara and backing from major investors).
It also bolsters India’s skills and credibility in SSA, a critical capability as space becomes more congested and essential for communications, defence, and navigation supporting national strategic interests and the growth of India’s emerging commercial space sector.
Earlier on January 14, Digantara announced the launch of the company’s SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking), inaugural mission that is dedicated to space surveillance and was launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission—SCOT aims to enhance space safety, optimize traffic management, and bolster national security initiatives.
