India strengthens space defence with landmark military exercise

India has launched its first-ever defence space exercise, "Antariksha Abhyas 2024," to address the rising threats in the space domain, the country's defence ministry announced.

This significant move marks an effort to secure India’s strategic interests in space and integrate space capabilities into the operations of the nation's armed forces, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to the ministry, the exercise will play a pivotal role in strengthening national security by developing coordinated military strategies involving the Defence and Space Research Agency, Cyber Security Agency, Strategic Nuclear Deterrence Force Command, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the chiefs of staff from the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

"Space is a critical enabler for India's defence and security. With its rich heritage in space exploration and growing military capabilities, India is well prepared to meet the challenges of defending against growing threats from space," said General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, during the event.

Established in 2019, India’s Defence Space Agency oversees deep and near-space military operations, manages a constellation of military satellites, commands missile defence forces, and spearheads the development of anti-satellite (ASAT) weaponry.

General Chauhan reaffirmed India's commitment to enhancing space warfare capabilities, stating, "Control over space assets results directly into national security advantage." He emphasized the necessity of developing new concepts and protective measures to counter potential threats and maintain operational security.

The three-day "Antariksha Abhyas 2024" exercise, taking place from November 11 to 13 at the Defence Space Agency's Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, aims to simulate and war-game various scenarios involving threats to space-based assets and services. The event will provide insight into the operational dependencies on space systems, identify vulnerabilities in space operations, and explore strategies to mitigate disruptions to space-based services.

Participants will include members of the Defence Space Agency and allied units, as well as personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. This unprecedented exercise is expected to deepen the understanding of space-based operations and strengthen India’s overall defence posture in the evolving landscape of space security.

By Tamilla Hasanova