NEW DELHI: The government is close to finalising, for the first time, a space security doctrine to defend the country’s space assets as well as scale up military capabilities.
“As I know there is a document on Indian space security doctrine. It is not in the public domain but it is there at the highest level and nearly finalised,” Lt General AK Bhatt (Retired), Director General of Indian Space Association (ISpA) – an apex body of the Indian space industry — told businessline. The space security document will be coming at a time when the government is looking to tap into the global space industry, which is projected to be worth around $8 trillion by 2035.
The doctrine stems from the realisation that India needs to confront the growing challenges from adversaries in the neighbourhood, especially China, which is way ahead in terms of defence space capabilities, and also to foster economic interest.
Of late, India has focused on increasing the militarisation of space—a domain that covers satellite communication, intelligence surveillance for assessing enemy activities, domain awareness, navigation, and timing, Lt Gen Bhatt said.
While the US has the largest number of military satellites, nearing 250, China has about 150, and India has 10.
Last month, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the satellite-based surveillance programme, giving the go-ahead for the launch of 52 spy satellites worth ₹27,000 crore to empower the three armed forces—the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
This would be in addition to ten dedicated operational military satellites and other dual-use civilian satellites.
Besides, the Defence Space Agency, which is being developed as a full-sized tri-service military command, has been tasked with operating space warfare and satellite intelligence assets of India. Between November 11-13, the Defence Space Agency hosted ‘Exercise Antariksha Abhyas-2024’ to enhance the strategic readiness of the Armed Forces in the domain of space warfare
“There is a large difference between the domain in which the Air Force operates and the domain of space which is beyond 100 kilometres beyond the Karman Line which is the conventional boundary between the earth’s atmosphere and the outer space,” said Bhatt, indicating that India will eventually graduate to have its own space command.
The US and France have moved on to have space commands.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
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