Abstract
Outer space, or simply space, is the void that exists between celestial bodies. This frontier of outer space is fast emerging as the fourth dimension (after land, sea and air) for military applications. Space will undoubtedly be the military high ground for warfare in the future acting as a “force multiplier” for any military operation. Militarization of space involves use of space technology for exploiting weapons on the ground and in the earth’s atmosphere with more accuracy. India has to defend her physical, economic and cultural identity in the prevalent geo-political milieu as it faces varied and complex security challenges. There is a clear and present danger that sooner or later space could be weaponized by various countries. India can no longer be immune to the rapidly changing international security environment, threat to India’s national security from nuclear and missile capabilities in its neighbourhood and the vulnerabilities of its space assets. It is therefore imperative that India exploits the capabilities of space, concurrently at appropriate levels, to achieve the desired operational capabilities in a compressed time frame. Since the early 1990s, the Indian armed forces have benefitted from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) civilian satellites. However, as operational requirements now demand an increase in military capabilities, the armed forces certainly need dedicated military satellites. This space capability has to be optimally exploited by the three services of the Indian defence forces with synergy and harmony, which is possible only under a single appropriate command structure. It is high time that India realizes: “To remain in Race, the Indian armed forces should be in Space”.
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