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Chinaââ¬â¢s ASAT Galvanizes Indian Efforts
India has begun design and development work on an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon in response to Chinaââ¬â¢s test of a similar weapon, and revived plans to link all of its military satellites and related ground systems.
Indian Defence Ministry sources said the January test shocked India into hastening efforts to defend its satellites, including military and civilian communication systems. Of particular worry is that China has in the past supplied missile technology to Indiaââ¬â¢s nuclear adversary, Pakistan.
No details of the ASAT weapon program are known, but sources confirmed that the program is under way in cooperation with the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Space Research Organisation and research institutes.
A Defence Ministry official said India does not have a militarized space program. Sources in the ministry said space-based options must be used to protect national security, and that space programs should shift from force support missions, such as observation, navigation and communication, to space-control efforts.
But it could be said that dual-use technology permits the state to use space for communication and reconnaissance, said Ajay Lele, a defense analyst from the Institute of Defence Studies, a think tank here.
Triservice Aerospace Command
Meanwhile, establishment of an Aerospace Command program, which the Defence Ministry postponed last year because it would have involved only the Air Force, will be activated soon for all three services, the Defence Ministry official said. The $3 billion program will network all military satellites and related ground systems and create space technologies for the Indian defense forces, said the Defence Ministry official.
ââ¬ÅThe government is considering the establishment of a triservice aerospace command,ââ¬Â an Air Force official said.
The Air Forceââ¬â¢s new chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, when taking charge March 31, announced he planned to work toward transforming the Air Force into an ââ¬Åaerospace force.ââ¬Â
Air Force sources said a separate space assets branch has already been set up at the control room at the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters here. It will serve as a precursor to the future Aerospace Command program, the sources said. No details on the special space branch are known.
Currently, the militaryââ¬â¢s space programs are mainly confined to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance through low Earth-orbit, early warning, communication, navigation and meteorological satellites.
These satellites include the Technology Experimental Satellites and the Cartosat-1 satellite, while the Cartosat-2, proposed to be launched this year, would be improved through the space-based surveillance program.
Lease Deal With Israel?
India is also negotiating with Israel to lease its Ofeq-5 satellite. The Ofeq-5 is capable of covering an area of 500 square kilometers and can take high-resolution pan-chromatic pictures of an area of 12.5-by-12.5 kilometers, at a resolution of 1.8 meters.
India is also building a microwave remote-sensing satellite, Risat, which is designed to take images through dust and darkness. ââ¬Â¢
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2670653&C=asiapac
India has begun design and development work on an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon in response to Chinaââ¬â¢s test of a similar weapon, and revived plans to link all of its military satellites and related ground systems.
Indian Defence Ministry sources said the January test shocked India into hastening efforts to defend its satellites, including military and civilian communication systems. Of particular worry is that China has in the past supplied missile technology to Indiaââ¬â¢s nuclear adversary, Pakistan.
No details of the ASAT weapon program are known, but sources confirmed that the program is under way in cooperation with the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Space Research Organisation and research institutes.
A Defence Ministry official said India does not have a militarized space program. Sources in the ministry said space-based options must be used to protect national security, and that space programs should shift from force support missions, such as observation, navigation and communication, to space-control efforts.
But it could be said that dual-use technology permits the state to use space for communication and reconnaissance, said Ajay Lele, a defense analyst from the Institute of Defence Studies, a think tank here.
Triservice Aerospace Command
Meanwhile, establishment of an Aerospace Command program, which the Defence Ministry postponed last year because it would have involved only the Air Force, will be activated soon for all three services, the Defence Ministry official said. The $3 billion program will network all military satellites and related ground systems and create space technologies for the Indian defense forces, said the Defence Ministry official.
ââ¬ÅThe government is considering the establishment of a triservice aerospace command,ââ¬Â an Air Force official said.
The Air Forceââ¬â¢s new chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, when taking charge March 31, announced he planned to work toward transforming the Air Force into an ââ¬Åaerospace force.ââ¬Â
Air Force sources said a separate space assets branch has already been set up at the control room at the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters here. It will serve as a precursor to the future Aerospace Command program, the sources said. No details on the special space branch are known.
Currently, the militaryââ¬â¢s space programs are mainly confined to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance through low Earth-orbit, early warning, communication, navigation and meteorological satellites.
These satellites include the Technology Experimental Satellites and the Cartosat-1 satellite, while the Cartosat-2, proposed to be launched this year, would be improved through the space-based surveillance program.
Lease Deal With Israel?
India is also negotiating with Israel to lease its Ofeq-5 satellite. The Ofeq-5 is capable of covering an area of 500 square kilometers and can take high-resolution pan-chromatic pictures of an area of 12.5-by-12.5 kilometers, at a resolution of 1.8 meters.
India is also building a microwave remote-sensing satellite, Risat, which is designed to take images through dust and darkness. ââ¬Â¢
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2670653&C=asiapac