More than a year after China conducted its first missile strike against its own orbiting satellite, India is laying the groundwork to protect its sufficiently advanced space assets.
In what is being construed as a fallout of Beijing’s ASAT (anti-satellite) weapon test, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday announced the setting up of a special cell to counter “growing threat to India’s space assets.”
Holding that India was committed to “non-weaponisation of space,” Antony justified the move saying that India’s neighbourhood was teeming with offensive counter space systems including anti-satellite weaponry. India, obviously, wants to hedge against space risks.
Addressing the Unified Commanders’ Conference, attended by service chiefs, Antony said the new cell would act as a single window for integration amongst the armed forces, the department of space and the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Despite Beijing’s assurance that the ASAT weapon testing wasn’t aimed at anyone, the international community had expressed concerns about it triggering a space arms race.
Last January, China became the first country since 1995 to destroy a satellite in space. India’s concern is not unfounded — if China can shoot down its own satellite, it can strike satellites operated by other nations too.
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