India has recently purchased an advanced spy satellite from Israel in order to boost its surveillance capabilities, in the wake of the murderous terror attacks in Mumbai last year, the Indian NDTV news channel reported Friday.
In late November 2008, more than 10 coordinated shooting attacks and bombings rocked Mumbai's financial district killing dozens and leaving hundreds wounded.
The acquisition was fast-tracked after the Mumbai siege, perpetrated by 10 gunmen. India says the attackers came by boat from the Pakistani port city of Karachi to Mumbai, based on its investigations and the confession of the lone gunman captured alive after the 60-hour siege, in which 165 people were killed.
According to the report, the satellite can see through clouds and is capable of carrying out all-weather imaging during both day and night.
The 300 kilogram (650 pound) RISAT 2 will be launched by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket in the next few weeks, the report said.
The Indian security establishment has been seeking such a satellite, capable of monitoring events around the entire globe and especially in neighboring countries, for a long time.
NDTV said the new acquisition would also provide New Delhi with the capability to track incoming hostile ballistic missiles.
India's existing satellites are rendered "blind" by darkness and by changes in weather during the monsoon season.
During recent years, Israel has replaced France as Indian's second largest arms supplier, after Russia.
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