India announces space warfare cell, cites China
The Defence Minister AK Antony today announced the formation of an Integrated Space Cell under the aegis of the Integrated Defence Services Head Quarters to counter ‘the growing threat to our space assets’. Addressing the Unified Commanders’ Conference here, he said, although we want to utilize space for peaceful purposes and remain committed to our policy of non-weaponisation of space, ‘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 neighbourhood’. Antony said the new Cell will act as a single window for integration among the Armed Forces, the Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
India had expressed its deep disquiet about last month’s ASAT (anti-satellite) test when China destroyed an aging satellite in space with a DF-21 missile.
It is possible that the DRDO and ISRO may see collaboration in the venture. Senior Adviser to the Defence Minister and chief of the DRDO M Natarajan had said that “Maybe we need the DRDO to talk to the ISRO.”
Indian Airforce had readied the plan for aerospace command back in 2005. The then Indian Air Chief “It’s a natural progression for us. If I operate at 5,000 feet or 500,000 feet, it’s just height for us. The concept remains the same.” The IAF had established a “Space Sub-Branch” at the Air HQ in Delhi. The Defence Space Vision-2020 by IAF was released in 2007. It envisages Indian requirements in the coming decade and lays out the methodology on achieving it. The first phase covering the period 2007-2012 has been activated.
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