NEW DELHI – India to launch communication satellite for military purposes.

GSAT-6A, the second predominantly S-band communications satellite, is setto be launched from Sriharikota on March 29.

It will complement GSAT-6, which has been orbiting since August 2015 at 83degrees East longitude. The 2,000-kg-class 6A, costing about ₹270 crore, isa great deal more than a routine communications satellite.

It is designated for the use of the Armed Forces and will not add anytransponder capacity for general uses, according to sources in the IndianSpace Research Organisation (ISRO).

A special feature of the GSAT-6A is its 6-metre-wide umbrella-like antenna,which will be unfurled in once it is in space. The antenna is thrice asbroad as the antennas generally used in ISRO satellites.

It will enable mobile communication from anywhere via hand-held groundterminals. Regular communication satellites with smaller antenna requiremuch larger ground stations, said a former director of ISRO.

The S-band’s antenna was developed by ISRO’s Space Applications Centre,Ahmedabad. The unfurl-able antenna, hand-held ground terminals, and networkmanagement techniques could be useful in future satellite-based mobilecommunication applications.

GSAT-6A will also have a smaller 0.8-metre antenna for communication in theC band. GSAT-6A is slated to be launched at 4.56 p.m. on a GSLV rocket.