India does not want to rely on foreign suppliers. (Orbimage)

New Delhi (SPX) - India is building up a satellite-based Military Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SBS) System, which will become operational by 2007.

"The program is in the advanced stages of development and is planned to be operational by 2007," Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Parliament Thursday.

Mukherjee's comments assume significance as the project- a joint venture between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)- had recently received a setback.

The system was to be operational by 2005 but the defense minister said validation of technologies had taken more time than anticipated.

Though ISRO and DRDO officials were tightlipped about the project, experts said the set up of extensive ground-based surveillance systems, hooked up to the country's remote sensing satellites, would enable the country to keep a watch on all explosive spots, missile silos, any movements in the neighborhood, as well as sudden military build-ups.