CDS Calls for Greater Collaboration to Augment Space-based Defence Capabilities in India
In an effort to boost the collaboration between the Indian space and defence sectors, Indian Space Association (ISpA) organised the ‘Indian DefSpace Symposium 2023’ in association with Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO).
The CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan emphasised on the need for towards developing dual-use platforms with special focus towards incorporating cutting-edge technology and the DRDO Chairman called upon to work closely with the academia, startup, MSME and the larger companies.
The inaugural event was graced by the chief guest Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan; Guest of Honour Secretary-DDR&D and Chairman, DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat; DG DSA, HQ IDS, Air Vice Marshal DV Khot; HQ IDS of the Indian armed forces, Air Marshal BR Krishna (Retd.) Former-CISC and various other dignitaries from across the ministries, defence and space industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General, Indian Space Association, Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.) said, “The symposium will pave the way forward of how we leverage international space cooperation and also the policy and strategy for building an overall comprehensive difference space strategy. I would like to thank to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman DRDO. Their presence underlines the importance of this growing domain of warfare where I assure you that the industry is ready to contribute and play its part in this national endeavour.”
Addressing the conference, Chief Guest and Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, Gen. Anil Chauhan said, “Today’s symposium will assist all of us to centre our national security, while identifying possible solutions to address future challenges. The aim for all of us should be towards developing dual-use platforms with special focus towards incorporating cutting-edge technology and we must expand our NAVIC constellation, provide agile space-based ISR and ensure secure satellite assisted communications. We also need to explore the field of miniaturization of satellites and reusable launch platforms to mitigate cost, challenges and accelerate the pace of augmenting our space-based capabilities. The populating of space domain and the emergence of dynamic threat environment to our space assets also demands that we enhance our space situational awareness capability. There’s also a requirement to safeguard our assets with counter space capabilities. We must build resilience and redundancy in a space-based infrastructure.”
Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dr Samir V Kamat said, “We at DRDO have started increasing our focus on the very critical space domain with focus on space-based surveillance, space situational awareness, protecting our space-based assets. We are now looking at working very closely with industry as well as academia right from the development stage and have started DRDO industry-academia centres of excellence in about 15 institutions mostly within the country. We request academia, startups, MSMEs and larger companies to work with us closely so we can help our country achieve these capabilities much faster than what we have been able to do for all other systems.”
The event also organised a session with experts from the defence and technology sectors which analysed China’s military capabilities, including its space-based assets, and how they are affecting the balance of power in the region.
The Indian Space Symposium is the first of its kind event focused on creating a platform for all stakeholders who have a keen interest in boosting India’s military space capability and plans. The platform will bring together experts from multiple domains to discuss the latest trends and challenges in the field of defence, making it an excellent networking opportunity for attendees from the defence, DRDO, and government sectors, as well as industry professionals. It will focus on delivering space domain awareness and satellite communications to enhance military operations and address issues related to securing funding for new space capabilities, expanding international partnerships, and developing a Defence Space Strategy in line with the National Space Strategy.