| GSAT-7R | |
| Mission Type: | Communication |
| Operator: | Indian Navy |
| Website: | CMS-03 |
| Mission Duration: | Planned: 15 years Elapsed: |
| Manufacturer: | U. R. Rao Satellite Centre |
| Launch Date: | UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | LVM3-M5 |
| Launch Site: | Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota |
| Entered Service: | 2 November 2025 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | CMS Series |
| Previous Mission: | CMS-02 |
| Programme2: | GSAT |
| Previous Mission2: | GSAT-20 |
| Next Mission2: | GSAT-32 |
GSAT-7R (also known as CMS-03) is a multi-band communication satellite developed by ISRO for the Indian Navy. The satellite is meant to replace the existing and operational GSAT-7.
The satellite, weighing,[1] [2] is meant to transmit voice, video and data among the naval ships, submarines, aircraft and Maritime Operation Centres of the Indian Navy deployed across the Indian Ocean Region, covering up to 2,000 km from India's coastline.[3]
The satellite employs advanced payloads in multiple frequency bands, including UHF, S, C and Ku bands. It is also equipped with indigenous components like a 1,200 litre propulsion tank and collapsible antenna systems. It also has a planned lifespan of 15 years.
The contract for the satellite project was signed in 11 June 2019 between the Indian Navy and the ISRO.[4] [5]
During the time of contract signing in 2019, the projected launch date of the satellite was expected between 2020 and 2022.By August 2025, the delivery timeline had slipped by few years to November 2025.[6] [7] By 23 October, the launch date was scheduled on 2 November.[8] The vehicle performance of LMV3-M5 had been enhanced by 10% to accommodate the CMS-03 satellite which is heavier than its payload capacity of 4 tonnes for GTO orbits.
The satellite assembly and integration with launch vehicle has been completed by early October 2025. The launch vehicle was moved to the launchpad on 26 October and pre-launch procedures were initiated thereafter. It is the heaviest satellite to be launched to the Geostationary Transfer Orbit orbit from India till date.[9] [10] A pre flight inspection fixed problems in the fuel control systems that plagued the NVS-02 satellite which used a similar spacecraft bus.[11] [12]
On 2 November 2025, at 5:26 pm IST, ISRO successfully placed the CMS-03 satellite into the desired orbit through the LVM3-M5 rocket from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.[13] [14] The mission featured an experiment, re-ignition of the cryogenic upper stage. The satellite was separated from the launch vehicle at around 16 minutes in sub-GTO orbit. from launch with a perigee of 26,700 km.
