Battling in the skies

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China’s space programme is expanding at an exponentially rapid pace. And China is not alone in relying on space technologies to take on future wars. Asian countries are scurrying to develop their own space-based missile defence systems. For one, India has set up a military space division called ‘integrated space cell’, which combines resources from its military, space programme and science and technology research. Japan too has passed a new law, allowing the use of space programmes for its defence.

Does it mean that India is finally joining the ‘star wars’ of the future? Will it get sucked into the military race to protect its space assets and inevitably, won’t there be a military contest in space? For the sake of records, India does not have dedicated military satellites till now. The armed forces depend on the ‘dual-use’ Cartosat-I, Cartosat-II and the recently-launched Cartosat-II A for their Rs 1,000-crore satellite-based surveillance and reconnaissance (SBS) programme.

So far, India’s policy was the non-weaponisation of space, says defence minister AK Anthony. “However, 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. We must adopt a joint approach, keeping in view the varied security challenges being faced by our nation,” he adds. India is also setting up a defence informatics centre to integrate the IT across its armed forces.

It needs to be noted that all the important missiles tested by India are nuclear-capable. Among missiles of a lesser range, Prithvi II (with a 250-km reach and a relatively light payload) has been hailed as ideal for nuclear missions. India also claims that the Agni series of intermediate-range ballistic missiles will only deliver conventional warheads. Experts, however, say that the cost of any of these missiles cannot be justified unless it is used as a nuclear delivery vehicle. In addition, sources in the space research establishment point out that India has the technology to build a satellite-killer similar to China’s.