Must be ready as space will influence air, land & maritime battles: CDS

Must be ready as space will influence air, land & maritime battles: CDS

NEW DELHI: The final frontier of space is already an established domain of warfare that will influence battles in older ones of land, air and sea, chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan said on Thursday.

Noting the fast-paced developments occurring in space arena, the CDS said, “History of warfare has taught us that in any war, initial contest generally occurs in a new domain. The new domain also influences battles in the older domains.”

“Initially, naval power was able to influence battles on land. Later, air power influenced war at land and seas. It is my belief that now, space will cast its influence on the air, maritime and land domains,” he added, speaking at Indian Defence Space Symposium.

Calling upon DRDO to deeply engage with Indian space industry and startup community to develop cutting-edge solutions to reduce the technology gap with the country’s adversaries, Gen Chauhan said there is also the need to “develop and update our requisite doctrines to ensure space and cyber elements are deeply integrated at the strategic, operational and tactical levels”.

DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat, in turn, said space situational awareness, space-based surveillance and launch-on-demand satellite capability are some areas where India needs to develop capabilities further. “These are critical areas. And we can do this if we all work together,” he said.

Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said Indian space scientists have shown the world that India has the “will, wisdom and wherewithal” to be an “ace in space” despite countless challenges and denial of technology.

For more news like this visit TOI. Get all the Latest News, City News, India News, Business News, and Sports News. For Entertainment News, TV News, and Lifestyle Tips visit Etimes