Secure assets in space: CDS General Anil Chauhan asks military leadership

Referring to the growing reliance on outer space to fight wars, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Monday asked the military leadership to secure the assets in space.

General Chauhan was addressing the opening of the three-day ‘war-game’ to study the growing threats to and from space based assets and services. Called the ‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024’, it is being conducted by the Defence Space Agency.

 The CDS called upon the military leadership to collaborate with Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Space Research Organisation and academia to foster innovation and develop cutting-edge technologies and state of the art systems to protect ‘national interest’ in space.

General Chauhan said the space was becoming increasingly congested, contested, competitive and commercial. “Space, once considered the final frontier, is now the critical enabler of India’s defence and security apparatus,” he added.

India, with its legacy of space exploration and growing military capabilities, is well positioned to navigate the challenges posed to space based capabilities, he added.

‘Antariksha Abhyas’ is a first of its kind exercise being conducted and is expected to help secure national strategic objectives in space and integrate India’s space capability in military operations.