Astrome Gets Rs 64.05 Crore From TDB for AI Satellite Project
The Technology Development Board is backing Astrome's AI-ELINT satellite constellation with optionally convertible debt under the RDI Fund.
Key Takeaways
- Astrome Technologies gets Rs 64.05 crore from TDB under the RDI Fund.
- The support comes as optionally convertible debt for a Rs 128.11 crore project.
- The project is an AI-enabled electronic intelligence (AI-ELINT) satellite constellation.
- Astrome plans 50 kg class microsatellites in low Earth orbit.
- Astrome earlier raised $3.4 million in 2021 and $10 million in January 2025.
Table of Contents 8 sections
Bengaluru spacetech company Astrome Technologies has signed an agreement with the Technology Development Board (TDB) for financial support of Rs 64.05 crore under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. The money is for an AI-enabled electronic intelligence (AI-ELINT) satellite constellation for national security applications. The deal was announced on November 12, 2026.
The project has a total cost of Rs 128.11 crore, so the TDB support covers about half of it. The support comes as optionally convertible debt (OCD), and the programme aims to take the core technologies from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 9.
Astrome funding at a glance
| Detail | Astrome |
|---|---|
| Amount | Rs 64.05 crore |
| Funder | Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science and Technology |
| Scheme | Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund |
| Instrument | Optionally convertible debt (OCD) |
| Total project cost | Rs 128.11 crore |
| Project | AI-enabled electronic intelligence (AI-ELINT) satellite constellation |
| Sector | Spacetech |
| City | Bengaluru |
What Astrome does and what the AI-ELINT project covers
Astrome builds wireless and satellite communication products. Its products include GigaMesh, a millimetre-wave E-band radio for 5G and broadband networks, and a range of satellite communication products.
The new project has three parts: an ELINT payload that detects and analyses signals across a broad frequency range, AI-based ground software that processes the data, and inter-satellite links that let the satellites share information. Astrome plans microsatellites of about 50 kg each that will work as a constellation in low Earth orbit, with coverage and revisit rates growing as more satellites are added.
Astrome's journey so far
| When | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Founded by Neha Satak and Prasad H L Bhat |
| September 2021 | Raised $3.4 million in a round with IAN Fund and Cognizant founder Lakshmi Narayanan among the lead investors |
| January 2025 | Raised $10 million, with IAN Group also investing |
| November 12, 2026 | Signed for Rs 64.05 crore of RDI Fund support from TDB for its AI-ELINT constellation |
Astrome says the support will speed up its space intelligence programme
"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. 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. This partnership will support our efforts to advance these technologies towards TRL-9."
"Through the RDI Fund, TDB is supporting Indian enterprises working on frontier technologies that can strengthen the country's strategic technology capabilities."
What Astrome says the TDB money will go into
An authorised representative of Astrome said the support will help the company speed up the development and integration of critical technologies for its AI-enabled space-based intelligence programme. The same representative said the partnership will support Astrome's efforts to take these technologies to TRL 9.
Where Astrome stands after the TDB deal
The Rs 64.05 crore from TDB comes after Astrome raised $3.4 million in 2021 and $10 million in January 2025. The company, founded in 2015 by Neha Satak and Prasad H L Bhat, now has TDB support for about half of its Rs 128.11 crore AI-ELINT constellation project. An authorised representative of Astrome said the company aims to bring ELINT payloads, AI-based data processing and inter-satellite communications together in one constellation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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