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.

However, experts point out the creation of a space cell was not enough; what is needed is a full-fledged tri-service space command for effective tactical, operational and strategic exploitation of space—the final frontier. The Indian military is concerned over China’s deadly counter-space military programme, with ‘direct-ascent’ ASAT missiles, hit-to-kill ‘kinetic’ and directed-energy laser weapons. China’s space programme is expanding at an exponentially rapid pace in both offensive and defensive content, and space was increasingly becoming the ‘ultimate military high ground,’ expected to dominate in the wars of the future.

Indian Army chief Deepak Kapoor holds that India should endeavour to optimise space applications for military purposes. Therefore, the setting up of a tri-service space command is required in the future. Senior army officials point out that with time, India will get sucked into the military race to protect space assets and a military contest in space is inevitable.

With Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) planning to launch dedicated military satellites in the near future, defence scientists are experimenting with high-power laser weapons. However, the operational use of such star wars-like weapons is still several years away.

“India certainly needs an effective utilisation of space for real-time military communications and reconnaissance missions to keep closer tabs on troop movements, missile silos, military installations and airbases of neighbouring countries,” say analysts. This should be followed by other uses of space like missile early-warning, delivery of precision-guided munitions through satellite signals, jamming enemy networks and, of course, anti-satellite missile capabilities.

Without any doubt, space is emerging as an important area for defence applications. It is increasingly being used by armed forces around the world, as space technology enables effective conduct of military operations. Satellite systems are involved in every aspect of an industrialised country’s activity, warfare included. The majority of modern weapon systems, both nuclear and conventional, include space-based components. In particular, the use of space-based resources by the US armed forces to tackle terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, are seen as case studies for other countries to emulate.

Analysts inform that the Americans seem determined to flood the outer space with weapons. Last April, the US Missile Defense Agency called for the early deployment of space-based missile defence systems—a universal means of hitting either ground or space targets. Predictably, Russia warned the US; the former is behind the US in development and deployment of space-based systems. A total of around 500 American and 100 Russian satellites are currently orbiting the earth. The US military satellite fleet is more than four times the size of Russia’s, and some of the orbiting Russian satellites are inoperable.