Astrome secures $7 million to develop AI-ELINT constellation

The Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Government of India’s Department of Science & Technology (DST) has signed an agreement with Bengaluru-based Astrome Technologies for financial support of about ₹641 million (nearly USD 7 million) under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. 

The project, with a total project cost of ₹1281 million (approximately USD 13.5 million), aims to develop a sovereign AI-enabled Electronic Intelligence (AI-ELINT) constellation for national security applications. The programme seeks to advance critical technologies from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to TRL-9, with financial support being provided through Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD), according to a press release.

The project envisages the development and progressive deployment of AI-ELINT microsatellites in the 50 kg class, designed to operate as part of a constellation architecture.  

“Through the RDI Fund, TDB is supporting Indian enterprises working on frontier technologies that can strengthen the country's strategic technology capabilities,” Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board, said. “The project with Astrome reflects the potential of India's deep-tech ecosystem to develop sophisticated space-based solutions for emerging national requirements.”

“The support from TDB under the RDI Fund will help us accelerate the development and integration of critical technologies for our AI-enabled space-based intelligence programme,” a representative of Astrome Technologies said. “By bringing together indigenous ELINT payloads, AI-based data processing and inter-satellite communications, we aim to develop an integrated constellation capability that can address emerging requirements in the space and national security domains.”