India's Evolving Space Program: Security Concerns and Collaborative Alliances

Rise to Prominence in International Space Administration and Evolving Space Strategy with Military Imperatives

Recent expeditions to the moon and Mars highlight the country's ambitious space program. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is also working on the Gaganyaan mission, which is set to launch in 2023 or maybe in 2024. Regardless of the country's developmental issues, it is critical to continue with these programs. It is believed that as India's space program matures, it would take another step toward becoming a more sophisticated space power. This would entail further space exploration in order to strengthen its technical capabilities.

The recent success of India's space missions has raised the country's profile and made it an excellent partner for other space-related organizations. These accomplishments also, showed the country's capacity to complete difficult tasks despite limited resources. The excellent conditions for the country's space launch facilities have benefitted the program's soft power and income streams in an indirect way. India's progress has also resulted in technical breakthroughs. The US space agency NASA, for example, aided the country's first moon mission and the Mangalyaan project, which was aimed to provide deep space communication services. These accomplishments are seen as key qualifications for the country's rise to prominence in international space administration.

Security and military imperatives have grown more significant in talks about India's space strategy. Although the government lacks a formal space strategy, official declarations and international bodies such as the United Nations have emphasized the country's developing military capabilities. The country's space program has begun to be driven by national security considerations and pragmatism, as opposed to the sovereignty and morality-related difficulties that plagued it in the 1990s. India has been able to build dependable launch capabilities as a result of shifting security conditions. It also possesses a number of military satellites.These skills can assist the Indian military in better monitoring the country's borders and other locations. Some of the country's first military satellites were intended for this purpose. Although they were created to address security concerns following the 2008 Mumbai assault, they have subsequently been extensively adopted by various military units. India has been able to increase the effectiveness of its military operations by allowing the various branches to coordinate their efforts via satellites. This is especially critical for the Navy, which operates in remote areas. The country's investment in a navigation satellite constellation also helps it to maintain its own security.

Aside from technical developments in space, India has begun to increase the effectiveness of its military operations by establishing a specialized space cell. This was a minor step toward improving cooperation between the country's military services and the Department of Space. The country's Defense Space Agency was founded in 2018 to provide comprehensive space-related support to the military. This move is intended to pave the way for a full-fledged aerospace command.

India's Response to Space Security Challenges and ASAT Test

The rise in worldwide security concerns, as well as the appearance of new threats from the Indo-Pacific area, has encouraged India to expand its space program. China performed an anti-satellite test in 2007, highlighting the country's increasing vulnerability. The country's scientific, political, and military authorities then convened for a debate on the many facets of space security. It finally became clear that India needed to develop an effective reaction to deter satellite assaults. Although the previous administration approved research for an ASAT test, it did not immediately order one. While the decision to conduct a test in 2019 was taken to realize that India's attempts to establish global space governance would not be sufficient to secure its interests. The new capacity, according to the External Affairs Ministry, armed India with a credible deterrence against potential threats from other countries. The choice to conduct the test was fraught with difficulties. For example, it represented a considerable break from the country's previous policy of solely exploiting space for scientific and peaceful objectives.

The test jeopardized India's attempts to keep the space environment peaceful. It also emphasized the country's susceptibility to external threats. Because of its substantial developmental and national security requirements, a race to deploy is underway. A race to install ASAT might have an impact on the country's space resources due to its substantial developmental and national security demands. The ASAT test was widely viewed as India's most significant move in addressing its space security issues.

To offset China's expanding influence, India has begun to collaborate with other countries such as the United States and Japan. It has also formed alliances with France, Australia, and other nations. Although its collaboration with the United States, France, and Japan has been beneficial in resolving numerous security and civic challenges, the Quad as a group has also underlined the significance of addressing space norms and regulations. This is a big step for India since it departs from the country's prior strategy of solely collaborating with G21 nations, who have pushed on the formation of verifiable global governance mechanisms. Despite this, India's rising concerns about China encouraged it to collaborate with the Quad to draft space legislation and norms.

Conclusion

India should ensure that, as it continues to collaborate with other nations, it urges the Quad to increase its efforts in tackling space governance and security. This is because the fear of security breaches might dramatically restrict satellites' useable orbits.The lack of agreement on numerous security and weapons control concerns has emphasized the importance of the Quad playing a more significant role in tackling these challenges. It is worth noting that Canada, France, and the United Kingdom may eventually join the group to build a coordinated platform for global discussions.Furthermore, India should collaborate with the Quad to establish a space domain awareness framework that would allow it to monitor and identify risks such as purposeful assaults and natural occurrences. Although the United States is the most proficient country in terms of space security, the situation in the Southern Hemisphere is growing increasingly concerning. To solve space security challenges successfully, the Quad nations should improve their monitoring and tracking capabilities. This would allow them to receive continual information about the hazards in the region. This might include improving the quality of observation and making more platforms available. Despite its reservations, India should consider joining the US-led endeavor to address space security. Despite its reservations, India should consider joining the US-led endeavor to address space security. The United States and other participating governments have already signed the Artemis Accords, which are bilateral agreements based on the Outer Space Treaty principles. However, because these accords are not part of a global framework, India has not approved them. This agreement gives a chance to examine and develop lunar activity guidelines and rules. Since of its connection with China, India cannot realistically oppose the Artemis Accords since Russia and China's intention to create an international research station is not a suitable option.Because of rising worries about China's possible threat to international space governance, as well as India's ambition to strengthen its capabilities, the country is anticipated to launch its space program in the coming years. This will let it to concentrate on technical development and forge alliances with other Indo-Pacific states.

Pic Courtsey-Kyle Glenn at unsplash.com

(The views expressed are thsoe of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)