Bengaluru-based Indian startup Digantara has announced plans to deploy the world's first privately developed space-based early warning system for missile detection, dubbed Albatross, with launches scheduled for 2026-2027. This initiative, backed by a recent $50 million Series B funding round, seeks to provide near real-time alerts on missile launches by fusing space and ground sensors.
Digantara, founded in 2018 by former employees of the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Defence Research and Development Organisation, initially focused on space situational awareness, tracking orbital debris with its SCOT satellite launched in January 2025. The company is now pivoting to military applications, repurposing infrared and optical sensing technologies for missile tracking. The Albatross satellites are designed to detect the heat plumes from missile ignitions in the boost phase, identifying launches at their source rather than upon entry into Indian airspace. This includes ballistic missiles, cruise missiles during initial ascent, and long-range rocket artillery, enabling command centers to ascertain launch locations, trajectories, speeds, and probable impact zones within seconds.
The company has started operations in the US to build larger satellites for American defense needs. A US office was opened in Colorado Springs to be eligible for US Department of Defense contracts.
Integrated into Digantara's AIRA infrastructure, Albatross works alongside the Skygate network of ground-based sensors to create a comprehensive 3D trajectory map of incoming threats. This fusion of data aims to shorten detection timelines compared to traditional ground radars, which are constrained by terrain, line-of-sight limitations, and Earth's curvature. Proponents argue that this space-based layer could enhance India's layered air defenses, such as the Prithvi, S-400, and Akash systems, by providing extra seconds for interception. However, the system does not constitute a standalone missile shield like Israel's Iron Dome but serves as an early warning component to activate defenses promptly.
