Space Warfare Drills Highlight India's Growing Focus on Critical Space Infrastructure Protection and Counter Measures

India has taken a major step towards securing its space assets by conducting its first comprehensive space defence exercise, Antariksha Abhyas 2024. Held from November 11 to 13, 2024, this landmark exercise, led by the Defence Space Agency (DSA), focused on simulating and countering evolving threats to space-based infrastructure, which is increasingly critical to national security.

Antariksha Abhyas 2024 represents a significant milestone in India's defence strategy. The exercise was designed to enhance the integration and coordination of India's tri-services – the Army, Navy, and Air Force – while aligning strategic space assets with operational frameworks.

It not only tested the nation's preparedness to withstand disruptions or denials of service to its space infrastructure but also provided valuable insights for developing future military doctrines and policy frameworks dedicated to space security.

The concept of space warfare is at the core of such initiatives. It encompasses the utilization of space-based technologies and assets for military purposes, aiming to secure strategic advantages through control of the space domain.

Modern space warfare involves both defensive and offensive capabilities. This includes protecting critical infrastructure such as satellites and communication systems, as well as developing the ability to disable or destroy adversarial space assets. Space warfare involves advanced techniques such as anti-satellite weapons (ASAT), orbital warfare tactics, space-based reconnaissance, and cyber warfare targeting satellite systems.

With Antariksha Abhyas 2024, India joins a growing number of nations actively preparing for the militarization of space, a domain increasingly recognized as the next frontier in defence strategy.

Countries like the United States, China, and Russia have already established specialized space forces and invested heavily in space defence capabilities. For India, this exercise is not just a drill but a crucial step towards safeguarding its space-based infrastructure, which underpins critical communication, navigation, and surveillance systems essential for both conventional and unconventional military operations.

 

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[ramdas]

First retire the MIG 21, Jaguar, Mirages which is 4 decades old. Not having a stealth fighter for another 2 decades all these parameters look laughable when they talk about space force.