Space dominance is key to future warfare, CDS says; DRDO chief urges national effort to close gap with rivals

“Technology is no longer just an enabler. It is reshaping the calculus of power. In this emerging paradigm, space is no longer a support function. It is a strategic domain that impacts defence, escalation control and war outcomes,” General Chouhan said while delivering a virtual statement at the Indian Defense Space Symposium titled ‘Enhancing synergy between India’s defense and space industries’.Media reports say Iran has integrated China’s BeiDou navigation satellite system to improve the accuracy of missiles and drones targeting U.S. and Israeli assets, with the CDS saying: “Space has evolved into a derivative capability, with services provided by one nation being exploited by multiple actors, state and non-state. This fundamentally affects the employment of military power, as seen in the conflicts between Iran, the United States and Israel… The democratization of space capabilities represents both an opportunity and a strategic vulnerability.”Speaking at the event, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Chairman Samir V Kamat called for a “nation-wide” approach to narrow the capability gap between India and its competitors whose space programs are expanding at an alarming rate. However, he stressed that catching up would be a “difficult challenge” without more investment and cooperation.Kamat said that while ISRO remains the lead agency for the civilian space programme, the DRDO has been entrusted with the responsibility of addressing the military aspects of space after the establishment of the Defense Space Agency. Kamat made it clear that while some “space technologies can still be procured from abroad, some areas are still restricted and require local development”.