India ‘Star Wars’ in Space

The defense department in India is considering outer space as a new military medium. Arackaparambil Kurian Antony, India’s Defense Minister, announced the creation of the Integrated Space Cell. The reason given for this construction was a supposed threat to India’s assets in space.

The cell will be operated by representatives of India’s three sectors of military forces, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO,) and the civilian Department of Space. The threats will be examined in more detail once the cell is built. The defense minister said “Offensive counter-space systems like anti-satellite weaponry, new classes of heavy-lift and small boosters and an improved array of military space systems have emerged in our neighborhood.” Of course, he would like to take measure to counter these efforts before they become more of an issue. 

The cell has supposedly been in operation for a number of months, but was only recently announced. The Integrated Defense Services headquarters of India’s Ministry of Defense leads the project.

Around 16 months prior to the previous chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Shashi Tyagi, stated that India was “in the process of setting up an aerospace command to exploit outer space by integrating its capabilities” the defense minister revealed the cell plans.

Tyagi’s statement came shortly after China used a ballistic missile to shoot down one of its own outdated satellites. This proved that China was among one of three known countries with the technology to take out a satellite. This probably hastened India’s decision, but more general reasons such as the reliance on space communcations.

Lawrence Prabhakar, a professor of political science said “such a cell is an organizational initiative, essential to the operational requirements of space-based assets for dual civilian-military operations and applications.” Prabhakar also stated “with the army, the air force and the navy relying on space-based communication satellites for reconnaissance, surveillance or operations and the Indian armed forces adopting a joint doctrine that enhances greater lateral integration between the three services, an Integrated Space Cell has become a necessity.”

India does have quite a bit of investment in space technology. It has had great success in satellite launching. In March it set a world record for successfully placing 10 satellites in one mission. The space program plans to have mission to space, the moon, and possibly even Mars. Currently India’s satellites contribute to development, education, weather, defense, and emergency communications. It is 40% cheaper to build a satellite in India compared to the US and European countries.

Aerospace command had been more loosely discussed in the Indian Air Force since the late 1990’s. Now, at least according to Prabkar, it will probably still be another 15 or 20 years before the systems are fully in place.