The Indian Space Association (ISpA) and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) organised the Indian DefSpace Symposium, which aims to improve India's space capabilities and address the government and military's increasing interest in the space domain.?
The symposium is part of the Mission Def-Space initiative launched by the Prime Minister to encourage innovative solutions in the space industry by Indian startups and industries.
Mission Def-Space is an initiative by the Indian government to develop innovative solutions for defense requirements in the space domain. It involves opening 75 challenges for startups, innovators, and the private sector to provide solutions for both offensive and defensive capabilities.?
The objective is to create military technology for space warfare and allow private industries to provide solutions to the armed forces. The initiative is said to be not only beneficial for the Indian armed forces but can also be extended to friendly foreign nations.
The symposium highlights the need for transformation of warfare as the nature of warfare is changing, and space is being used to enhance combat capabilities in various domains.?
The discussion focuses on the development of dual-use platforms with advanced technology, miniaturization of satellites and reusable launch platforms to reduce costs and challenges, and enhancing space situational awareness capability.?
The emphasis is on safeguarding space assets, building resilience and redundancy in space-based infrastructure, expanding the Navic constellation, providing agile space-based ISR, and ensuring secure satellite-assisted communications.?
The symposium also addresses the need to factor in trans-domain weapons, integrate future space-based surveillance networks, and target from air or from inner to outer space.
According to The Hindu report, India's stance on the militarization of space has evolved over time. Historically, space was exclusively under the control of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the country maintained a pacifist approach to space security, firmly opposing the weaponization and militarization of space.
However, in recent years, India's perspective on outer space has shifted towards a more proactive approach to space security, driven by national security concerns. While still committed to the peaceful use of space, India recognizes that ignoring contemporary developments in outer space could leave it vulnerable to threats against its space assets.
India has conducted a simulated space warfare exercise and successfully tested an anti-satellite weapon, both in 2019. Additionally, the establishment of the tri-service Defence Space Agency (DSA) and the Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA) reflect India's recognition of space as a military domain on par with land, water, air, and cyber.
Despite these developments, India maintains its non-weaponization policy. However, it is clear that the country now takes a more active role in space security matters. In fact, in 2020, India approved the creation of an independent nodal agency, IN-SPACe, under the Department of Space, to encourage private participation in the space domain.