The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, on November 2, 2025, significantly boosting India’s maritime security and telecommunications capabilities.
Key Takeaways
- Launch Date: November 2, 2025 from Sriharikota
- Satellite Weight: 4,400 kg – India’s heaviest communication satellite
- Mission: Fifth operational flight of LVM-3 rocket
- Primary Benefit: Enhanced maritime communications for Indian Navy
About CMS-03 Satellite
The CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite designed to provide robust telecommunication coverage across India and surrounding oceanic regions. Its advanced payload includes transponders supporting voice, data, and video links over C, extended C, and Ku communication bands.
This satellite will significantly enhance connectivity with sharper, higher-capacity bandwidth and improve digital access to remote territories. The platform supports both civil services and strategic applications, particularly benefiting the Indian Navy.
Also referenced as GSAT-7R in some reports, CMS-03 will augment India’s maritime defense by enabling secure communication links between naval ships, aircraft, and submarines. This represents a vital upgrade for reliable voice, data, and video transfer capabilities across strategically important regions.
LVM-3 Launch Significance
This mission underscores LVM-3’s growing role as India’s primary heavy-lift launcher, following its successful deployment of the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon’s south pole in July 2023.
The integration of CMS-03 atop LVM-3 marks a key milestone in ISRO’s capability to launch increasingly larger and more advanced payloads, thereby strengthening India’s space infrastructure and global standing.
With pre-launch operations underway and the rocket fully assembled on the launch pad since October 26, this launch demonstrates ISRO’s continued advancement in indigenous space technology. The mission is expected to further cement India’s leadership in satellite communications while supporting ambitions in deep-space exploration and human spaceflight missions.
