India successfully placed an electronic intelligence satellite as well as 28 smaller satellites belonging to foreign countries into orbit on Monday.

The 436-kilogramme EMISAT satellite was launched from the Sriharikota launch pad in southern India, and was now orbiting 749 kilometres about the Earth, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

Defence analyst Brahma Chellaney said the low-earth orbit EMISAT would serve as a military reconnaissance and intelligence satellite.

The satellite will monitor and give locations for enemy radar sites, broadcaster NDTV reported.

Twenty-four of the small satellites were from the United States, two from Lithuania and one each from Spain and Switzerland.

The launch came days after India conducted an anti-satellite missile test and claimed to become the fourth ‘space power’ possessing anti-satellite weapon capability.

For the first time, the public was invited to view the launch from the space centre.