Public sector aerospace and defense company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will collaborate with Bengaluru based space tech startup Bellatrix Aerospace on the design, development and manufacturing of satellite systems and payloads.

The collaboration brings together BEL’s decades of experience in developing advanced electronics and mission-critical payloads for defence and strategic applications and Bellatrix Aerospace’s innovative capabilities in satellite propulsion and satellite subsystems. The partnership aims to advance indigenous capabilities in satellite platforms designed for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) operations.

“Very Low Earth Orbit opens up a new frontier for high-performance satellite missions, but it demands technologies purpose-built for that environment. This collaboration brings together complementary capabilities to accelerate the development of satellites designed specifically for sustained operations in VLEO”,  Rohan M Ganapathy, CEO and CTO of Bellatrix Aerospace, said.

Both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize the collaboration.

This partnership is expected to be transformational in accelerating innovation and strengthening India’s capabilities in building next-generation satellite systems for VLEO as it allows BEL to combine its expertise in defence electronics with emerging space technologies. “Such collaborations are essential to strengthen India’s indigenous capabilities in the evolving space sector. Together, the two companies aim to develop integrated satellite solutions that support India’s strategic and civilian space missions”, a company statement said.

BEL is a multi-product, multi-technology, and multi-unit enterprise with a portfolio of over 600 products spanning the domains of Radars & Fire Control Systems, Weapon Systems, Communication & Network-Centric Systems, Naval Systems, Electronic Warfare & Avionics, Electro-optics, Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems, Tank Electronics & Gun Upgrades, Homeland Security, Civilian Products, and Strategic Components.

Established in 2015, Bellatrix Aerospace specializes in satellite propulsion technologies and satellite subsystems. The company has developed cutting-edge products in sustainable in-space mobility, including its space qualified green chemical propulsion and Hall Effect Thruster (HET) technology. These innovations have gained traction among key stakeholders across US, EU, Japan, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), reinforcing Bellatrix’s role in shaping the future of sustainable space mobility.

The MoU was exchanged between  Rashmi Kathuria, GM (SCCS) & Unit Head/BEL-Ghaziabad, and Rohan M Ganapathy (CEO and CTO of Bellatrix Aerospace).