NEW DELHI, June 11: India will launch its first dedicated military satellite in August to give the country the capability to monitor missile launches in its neighbourhood, Press Trust of India has said.

It quoted an unnamed official as saying that the dedicated military reconnaissance satellite, CARTOSAT 2A, will be launched on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket by the Indian Space Research Organisation in the first week of August.

The CARTOSAT 2A will be loaded with cameras that can supply advanced imagery. It will cater to military and intelligence specifications better than any existing Indian satellite, PTI said.

The launch of the satellite will fulfill a long-standing demand from the armed forces for a dedicated reconnaissance spacecraft.

The satellite will be rapidly followed by the launch of two more advanced imaging satellites by next year to give India the capability of keeping an eye round-the-clock on the region surrounding the country, PTI said.