Bangalore, Aug 29 : India's first dedicated satellite for defence applications is ready for launch Friday from the European space consortium, Arianespace, from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The satellite is designed to meet the Indian Navy's telecommunication needs.

Developed by Indian Space Research Organisation, the state-of-the-art satellite would provide the country with UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band relay capacity over the Indian land mass.

The GSAT-7 is scheduled to be launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by Ariane-5 VA 215 during the 50-minute launch window that opens at 5:30 p. m. local time in French Guiana (02:00-02:50 a. m. India time Friday).

Arianespace said in a statement that the final preparations were on for the launch of Ariane 5.

The satellite is adapted from India's I-2K spacecraft bus, which also was used for the INSAT-3D satellite -- lofted by Arianespace's most recent Ariane 5 mission July 25.

GSAT-7 has a lift-off mass of 2,625 kg and is based on ISRO's 2,500 kg satellite bus with some new technological elements, including the antennae. Its solar arrays generate 2,900 W of electrical power.

A 108 Ampere-Hour Lithium-Ion battery enables the satellite to function during the eclipse period. The propulsion subsystem has a 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) and thrusters.

So far, Inmarsat provided the communication services for ships. Now, the country will have its own satellite that experts say would help the Indian Navy that is acquiring Blue Water capabilities.

The satellite cost Rs. 185 crore and a further Rs. 470 crore for the launch.

Doordarshan will telecast the launch live. (IANS)