India to launch first home-made defense satellite

NEW DELHI -- India is all set to launch its first indigenous defense satellite from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana Friday, sources said Wednesday.

"GSAT-7, which weighs over 2,500 kilograms, is the country's first home-made dedicated satellite built by the state-owned Indian Space Research Organization for the Indian Navy and it will be launched by European space consortium Arianespace from Kourou spaceport, the sources said.

The satellite will help Indian Navy keep an eye over the Indian waters and surrounding seas, they said.

India has successfully launched lighter satellites in recent years, but faced problems with heavier ones.

India had earlier this month put off the launch of its home-made heavy rocket, carrying a communications satellite into space, just hours before it was to lift-off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota, as smoke was detected coming out of the rocket.