The successful launch of India’s
advanced communications spacecraft, GSAT-7 by means of an
Ariane-5 vehicle of the European space transportation
company, Arianespace, on August 30 has come as a shot in
the arm for the Indian defence set up. For this 2,550-kg
multi band satellite designed and developed by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) will serve as an exclusive satellite of the Indian Navy,
the youngest of the Indian services. The significance of GSAT-7
lies in the fact that it is the first dedicated military satellite that India
has put in place. As envisaged now, the safe and reliable communication
channels provided by GSAT-7 satellite, will help the
Indian Navy strengthen its blue water combat capabilities in all its
manifestations. With its 2000 nautical miles footprint
over the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), GSAT -7 will help
Indian Navy network all its 140 warships, 13
submarines and 200 aircraft along with its ground based
“resources and assets.” Specifically, GSAT-7 will serve as
a “force multiplier” by sharpening Indian Navy’s edge in terms of network
centric operations. On another front, it will provide the Indian Navy the
necessary level of expertise for its seamless integration into the tri service
aerospace command, the formation of which is awaiting clearance from the
Government of India. More importantly, the robust communications link up
facilitated by GSAT-7 will substantially enhance India’s
maritime security over a wide swath of eastern and western flanks of IOR. GSAT-7 communications space platform is well equipped to serve as a
“sensitive command post” in space over IOR and help transform the entire
maritime domain awareness of the Indian Navy.
With a view to boost its striking punch
and also expand its area of influence, Indian Navy is working on a well
conceived strategy to link up its long range missiles, radars and air defence
systems on all the sea based assets to a central room through a highly reliable
satellite network made available by GSAT-7. The synergy
between combat platforms moving in the high seas of the world with the land
based nodes through GSAT-7 capability would help bring
about a radical shift in the operational strategy of the Indian Navy .There is
no denying the fact that a satellite based communications network is immune to
many of the “deficiencies and limitations” associated with a conventional communications
system. As a follow up to GSAT-7, it is planned to launch
GSAT-7A for the exclusive use of the Indian Air Force
(IAF).
Meanwhile, Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) has revealed that in the years ahead it is
planned to launch a range of dedicated military satellites for the exclusive
use of the three wings of the services. Clearly and apparently, there is a
growing realization that satellites could serve as “ears” and “eyes” of the
defence forces on the lookout for a strategic lead. Of course, ISRO has
maintained a stoic silence over the use of GSAT-7 by the
Indian Navy. For being a civilian space agency, ISRO cannot openly associate
itself with a space defence project. GSAT-7, which is the
last of ISRO’s seven fourth generation communications satellites, would provide
a substantial level of expertise for the optimum utilization of military
oriented space platforms that India will launch in the years ahead.
By all means, the Indian Navy is keen on
acquiring a range of spacecraft meant for a variety of end uses. For the tech
savvy Indian Navy is fully well aware that ocean watch satellites snooping on
the naval movements, electronic ferret satellites gathering data on radio
frequencies, meteorological satellites predicting weather to facilitate an
effective use of the weapons systems, navigation satellites guiding lethal
weapons to designated locations with an unfailing accuracy, reconnaissance
satellites providing vital data on the strength of the potential adversaries
and the communications satellites ensuring a real time link up for the
effective use of the resources have all become vital components in the
mechanism of the modern day warfare. But then for now, GSAT-7
located over the Indian Ocean will enable Indian Navy to stand up to the
expanding Chinese influence in the IOR. As strategic analysts observe, with
China beefing up its presence in the Indian neighbourhood including Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, Myanmar and Maldives through its much hyped “string of pearls”
strategy, India should make vigorous efforts to realize a versatile, robust
satellite based surveillance network designed to enable Indian Navy enhance its
vigil in the Indian Ocean Region with the objective of warding off any threat
to the Indian mainland.
Indeed, not long back, Dr.V.K.Saraswat,
the former Scientific Adviser to the Indian Defence Minister had rued the fact
that the tremendous strides made by India in space exploration has not gone to
fill the gap in India’s capability to create space assets designed to help Indian
defence forces meet the challenges of the future. According to him, in a
futuristic battlefield scenario, successful operations of the defence forces on
the ground, sea and air would depend on how efficiently space resources are
exploited. Any denial of access to space would mean a clear cut set back to
military operations at all levels. As such, ensuring the security of space
assets too has assumed more than usual importance.
Space based assets are also critical to
the flawless functioning of the Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) shield being
put in place by DRDO. Indeed, in the context of rapidly changing global
security scenario, the need for a range of satellites equipped with electro
optical sensors and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for early warning and other
strategic purposes has become all the more pronounced. Currently, Indian
defence forces have a limited access to the INSAT communications and IRS earth
observation spacecraft constellations being operated by ISRO. But with the
possibility of fighting a battle on the two fronts being very much on the
cards, Indian defence forces are clearly in need of a wide variety of dedicated
satellites to stay at the winning edge of the war.
But then ISRO’s civilian mandate and
nature of operations focused on exploiting the fruits of space technology for
the socio-economic development of the country, could act as a significant check
on the attempt of the Indian defence establishment to involve the Indian space
agency in a big way in realizing a resurgent space defence capability. However,
technology developed by ISRO for its satellites meant for earth observation,
communication and other end uses could well serve as a test bed for future
military space projects. In the context of the efforts to revive the spectre of
space war, as highlighted by the Chinese and American moves, India’s political
leadership should seriously consider the issue of giving a military edge to
India’s exclusive civilian space programme. Not surprisingly then , strategic
analysts hold the view that launch by ISRO of increasingly capable, higher
resolution earth imaging satellites has implications for surveillance and
reconnaissance. The Cartosat series of satellites though designed for
cartographic applications can be exploited to meet a part of the requirements
of the Indian defence forces. But then there is no denying the point that
Cartosat series of satellites fall short of the 10-15 cm
resolution featured by the best of the defence satellites.
The launch of the 300-kg
RISAT-II all weather microwave imaging satellite realized by ISRO in
association with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in April 2009
did give a new edge to the surveillance capabilities of the Indian defence
forces. In fact, RISAT-II was built and launched on a fast track mode to meet
the challenges posed by the growing terrorist threat to the country and
heighten vigil along the Indo-Pakistan border. Equipped with a Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR), RISAT-II is an all weather satellite capable of
collecting data even under conditions of cloud, darkness, haze and dust. The
fully home grown RISAT-1 satellite launched in April 2011 can easily complement the surveillance capabilities
inherent in RISAT-II. The all weather microwave earth imaging satellites like
RISAT-1 and RISAT-II would give early warning about any
kind of troop build up and terrorist camps. Indian defence forces can access
the remote sensing satellite capability built up by ISRO for meeting a part of
their surveillance requirements, as remote sensing and surveillance are
considered the two faces of the same coin.
The satellite intelligence capability is
expected to provide Indian military planners, tactical and strategic
information on military build up in China and Pakistan. The Hyderabad based
Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) of DRDO has hinted at developing
an electronic intelligence satellite for the exclusive use of the Indian
defence forces. This satellite would be capable to intercepting radar communications
and satphone conversations of the adversaries .The glaring intelligence failure
suffered by the Indian Army during 1999 Kargil skirmish
with Pakistan has strengthened the urge of the Indian defence establishment to
go in for space assets at an accelerated pace.
Clearly and apparently, the limited
capability of ISRO in building and launching satellites could be a big hurdle
in the way of helping the Indian defence establishment to meet their needs for
“space assets”. Moreover, with the Indian industrial base lacking in resources
and expertise to build satellites and launch vehicles on a turnkey basis, the
Indian defence forces may find it difficult to get the kind of space platforms
delivered into orbit well on time. However, a synergy between the technologies
developed by ISRO and DRDO could prove a win win development for putting in
place a platform for developing and launching a range of defence satellites.
Indeed, in early 2010, DRDO had emphasized on a
comprehensive Indian space defence capability on the strength of technological
advances made by DRDO and ISRO. However, the road map for the building up of
defence space capability of the country is far from clear. In particular,
enough focus should be given to the institutional support mechanism for meeting
the Indian defence forces’ rapidly growing needs of high performance defence
satellites.
Of course, Indian industries continue to
support the Indian space program by way of the supply of components and systems
and hardware for satellites and launch vehicles. In sharp contrast, in US and
West Europe, private industrial outfits have built up a technological and
manufacturing base resurgent enough to supply both the satellites and launch
vehicles in a ready to use condition. Against this backdrop, it may be
appropriate to set up a high powered space defence agency authorized to pool
the resources, expertise, talent and infrastructure available in the
country-cutting across the private-public sector barriers for realizing the
space based assets for the exclusive use of defence forces on a fast track mode
with least bureaucratic interference.
The Indian Defence Ministry‘s
“Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap” till 2025
has identified space warfare as a priority area. The concept of integrated warfare
and the need for reducing the “sensor to shooter loop” underpins the need for a
totally radical approach focussed on “battlefield dynamics” with system capable
of making available information on real time basis to all the three wings of
the services. The roadmap of the Indian Defence Ministry identifies in
unambiguous terms, the development of an anti satellite capability based on
“electronics or physical destruction of satellites in both low and
geostationary orbits.”
The launch of India’s first full fledged
navigation satellite IRNSS-1A on July 2
is a development that could positively impact on the battlefield strategy of
the Indian defence forces. IRNSS-1A, the first of the
seven spacecraft constituting the space segment of the home-grown Indian Regional
Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), would provide the Indian defence forces a
robust system for location identification and navigational support for combat
aircraft as well as for combat platforms on land and sea. For the defence
forces in the thick of the battle field operations, a GPS system like IRNSS
enables locating objects in the dark and paves way for the coordination of the
troop movements even in hitherto unfamiliar territory in addition to
facilitating reconnaissance as well as search and rescue operations. For the
Indian defence forces which had difficult times accessing the “restricted
capability” of the US GPS system, IRNSS would provide hassle free,
uninterrupted access to the satellite navigational capabilities.
Indeed the stunning effectiveness of the
American GPS was demonstrated during the ‘Desert Storm’ operations of 1990-91 that was aimed at freeing Kuwait from the clutches of
the invading forces from the neighbouring Iraq. Here the potentials of the
American GPS was mainly pressed into service to guide bombers to targets, allow
infantry and armoured units to locate their bases in frightening, featureless
expanse of the desert and position artillery in a war zone ideally suited to
fire at enemy lines apart from precisely navigating missiles to chosen targets.
The US-led allied forces during their operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq
relied heavily on satellite based navigation with hand held portable GPS
devices to realize their strategic goals at a rapid pace.
By all means, GPS is considered a
veritable force multiplier by the defence forces in the battlefield. Moreover,
it has also been instrumental in shaping the contours of the precision warfare.
For the Indian defence forces, the IRNSS system capabilities will be of immense
use in refining the network centric warfare techniques. Similarly, the proposed
Indian tri service aerospace command would need a large and independent
satellite navigation capability that can be accessed anytime to boost its
combat superiority. Indeed, for the Indian tri service aerospace command,
access to GPS along with other satellites meant for communications,
surveillance and weather watch would mean a quantum leap in meeting the
challenges of the future warfare with confidence.
For India, there is an imminent need to
develop a robust system to protect space assets that are critical to every
aspect of military operations on the ground, in the air and on the sea. DRDO
has hinted that it is working on putting in place the building blocks of an
Indian anti satellite system to neutralize hostile satellites moving in low
earth and polar orbits. The focus of DRDO would be on laser based sensors and
exo atmospheric killer vehicle (EKV), the technology of which could be derived
from its missile development programme. As it is, the technologies developed
for India’s long range, nuke capable Agni-V missile which had its second
successful test flight on Sept.16 could be profitably
exploited for boosting India’s space defence and space warfare capabilities.
It was the early 2007 Chinese
test that made use of a ground based medium range ballistic missile to smash an
ageing weather watch satellite stationed at an altitude of 537-kms
above the earth that sent shock waves through the Indian defence establishment.
Subsequently, there was a strident clamour to develop a full fledged Indian
space war capability along with a range of dedicated defence satellites. And
the modest effort now on in this direction seems to be a response to Chinese
strides in space defence capability. In realizing the military space
capability, India should look beyond the Chinese threat by taking into account
the global advances in the area of satellite technology and space warfare
techniques.
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