Indian Defence Review

The Indian Air Force would need to be integrated with these developments if it has to enhance its potency and retain its Aerospace character.

When coupled with secure communications and reduced sensor to shooter time, air attacks have virtually curtailed the freedom of surface forces to manoeuvre, thereby, seriously degrading their offensive potential. This enhanced Aerospace capability provides strong strategic deterrence to all types of hostile intent. It further assumes significance in a nuclear environment where territorial violations during crisis situations may become difficult to prosecute and Airpower may be the only available military instrument to achieve political objectives. Airpower would in future be an important component of our nation’s military capability and would extensively be used during peace time and in crisis situations to further our national interests. It therefore becomes imperative that IAF’s capability be made more potent by synergising it with existing and potential space based applications. Provision of these vital space capabilities would not only increase IAF’s potency but would also enhance our ability to carry out precision quick reaction all weather strikes.

Given the high cost of developing space capabilities, it has become imperative to interweave military applications into the existing scientific and commercial space programs. Commercial partnerships permit shared costs, risks and increased opportunities. It also provides the scientific community a clear focus as to the requirements of the aerospace power in terms of combat application. Further, there is a need to have an organisation that evolves space application strategies, employment doctrines and training packages on Aerospace issues. This organisation could also impart specialised professional military education on space subjects to the armed forces personnel. No longer can we isolate the armed forces from the force multiplication effect provided by space applications.

Emerging Technologies and Future

The US Govt announced its intention to withdraw from the ABM treaty with effect from 13 Jun 2002. This not only opened the path for the development of missile interceptors but also cleared the way for the US to develop anti-satellite weapons. The aim of their National Missile Defence (NMD) programme is to provide defence against a limited strategic ballistic missile attack. The capabilities that are being developed include high technology systems like Boost Phase Intercept (BPI) by Airborne Lasers (ABL) or Kinetic Energy weapon systems; cruise phase intercept by Space Based Infra Red Systems/ Low Space and Missile Tracking System (Brilliant Eyes), High Energy Lasers or mini satellites as ASAT weapons; and terminal phase intercept by Aegis BMD system, Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system, Patriot Advanced Capability-III or Arrow-2 systems. These capabilities are being complemented by surveillance and tracking radars like X Band radars or upgraded early warning ground based radars. USA is also planning to deploy Boeing 747 aircraft mounted with Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) weapons for tackling Ballistic Missiles in their boost phase.

it is important that Indias freedom to securely exploit space capabilities be maintained; and that an ability to deny the adversary, the use of space systems against our nation or vital national assets is included as an important consideration in our national security strategy.

It is inconceivable that other nations would allow the US to become the sole nation possessing space based weapons. The arms race in space is likely to escalate with its own inertia. The development of parasitic satellites, High Energy Lasers and other ASAT weapons in the neighbourhood is a precursor to the commencement of such a race. Space control would soon need to become an important component of our national security even for commercial purposes. The Indian Air Force would need to be integrated with these developments if it has to enhance its potency and retain its Aerospace character. Rudimentary integrated Aerospace Defence and ASAT capability should be developed on priority.

It was ingenious timing by our scientists that the western satellites did not detect the nuclear tests conducted in May 1998. There is a need to put in place a surveillance system that monitors the orbit pattern of each satellite. The easy availability of Charge Coupled Device (CCD) detectors integrated with computer based systems provide opportunity for putting in place such optical surveillance systems. Besides phased array radars, there are other radars that are cheap to build and operate like US NAVSPASUR system that could also be used.

Evolution of warfare will inevitably require placing weapons in space in order to fulfil a multitude of roles including BMD, defending space based assets and attacking terrestrial targets. The technologies under development could assist pinpoint engagement of ground targets from space by Lasers, particle beam weapons and proton guns. They may also be able to focus the solar energy on surface targets. Though India presently does not possess such capabilities, the availability of R&D infrastructure prepares us for such eventualities in future.

Conclusion

Towards the middle of the last century, space became the new high ground. Merging of air and space mediums provided a seamless environment, which in future could be exploited by aerospace vehicles. Space has become a natural extension of the third dimension and is but a continuum of the air medium. The civilian and military establishments today depend heavily on satellite communications, meteorological information, navigation aids, ocean surveillance and various other services available only from space. Space based assets allow a number of traditional military operations to be conducted more efficiently and economically from space.

With increased proliferation of Ballistic Missiles and development of potent nuclear warheads in our neighbourhood, there is a need to expand the current Air Defence capabilities to space so as to ensure that the threats emanating from the air and space environment can be effectively tackled. The function of Aerospace Defence requires a synergistic integration between the endo and exo-atmospheric capabilities for all incoming threats utilising air and space environment. The atmospheric capabilities are already in place with the IAF, but there is a need to integrate the existing and potential space based assets for comprehensive air and space defence of the nation.

As military and economic power becomes more dependent on space based capabilities, the potential for attack on these capabilities would also increase. This would be a low cost option for an adversary to inflict damage to our economic and military strengths. In order to ensure that an increased dependence on space does not become our vulnerability, it is important that India’s freedom to securely exploit space capabilities be maintained; and that an ability to deny the adversary, the use of space systems against our nation or vital national assets is included as an important consideration in our national security strategy. Further, the mission of the Indian Air Force should be expanded to read ‘defend India through the control and exploitation of air and space’.