Geopolitical Tensions, Militarization of Space to Improvise Defense Postures

Enduring global security risks and military-powered space programs are expected to uptick and drive defense spending in 2020.

By: Kunal Chonkar

New Delhi: The decade was underlined with a strong emphasis on internationalization in the defense sector. While emerging defense industries in Asia and the Middle East started asserting themselves as exporters and looking for growth overseas. The industries in Europe and North America looked worldwide to offset flat or domestic spending.

As global tensions continue to persist, a majority of the affected countries are set to recapitalize and improve their defense posture in 2020, including India.

Enduring security threats will compel nations like India, Japan, and South Korea to boost their defense spending. The NATO countries also appear to be focusing on increasing defense budgets to counter potential threats from Russia and the Middle East. Escalated geopolitical risks in the Middle East and North Korea, acting as catalysts, are creating a strong demand for military equipment, which is expected to be one of the key drivers of 2020s defense sector growth.

In 2019, threats continued to evolve from the traditional land-based force on force, to maritime disputes, hybrid warfare, island-building, high seas piracy, urban insurgency and lone-wolf civil attacks to cyber-attacks. There seems to be no stopping from the growing risk of cyber-attacks worldwide. These include data theft, ransom-ware, malware outbreaks and attacks aimed at causing critical infrastructure disruption.

In gearing up to non-traditional threats, it is commendable to see India underlining space as an important part of the overall defense industry ecosystem. With increasing threats to orbital space and assets of the nation – India must juice up, as the world might witness a heightened militarization of space from 2020 onwards.

Indian Defense Highlights of 2019

LRSAM Missile

In January, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired the long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) from warship INS Chennai, off the coast of Odisha. During testing, the missile was launched to engage an aerial target flying at low altitude. The LRSAM is jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Indian Navy. Also known as Barak 8, the missile can counter-attack aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and incoming anti-ship missiles.

Navy Deploys P81

The Indian Navy, in January as well as in June, deployed its P81 surveillance planes for anti-piracy operations from Salah, Oman to the Gulf of Aden. The deployment was part of the navy’s expansion of Mission-Based Deployments in the Indian Ocean Region.

India Acquires ASAT

In March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation announced that India had successfully targeted a live satellite on low earth orbit and registered itself as a space power. The DRDO completed the mission in three minutes and named it ‘Mission Shakti’.

Prime Minister Modi also informed the nation that India was the fourth country to acquire this capability after the United States, Russia, and China. The Prime Minister said anti-satellite missile A-SAT was used in the operation.

EMISAT Launched

In April, the DRDO developed electronic intelligence satellite ‘Emisat’ was successfully launched by ISRO. The EMISAT will demonstrate new technologies like three different orbits with a new variant of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket. Emisat is a satellite-based on ISRO’s Indian Mini Satellite -2 (IMS-2) bus platform. The satellite is intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement.

India’s NIRBHAY

In April, the DRDO successfully test fired the indigenously designed long-range sub-sonic cruise missile ‘NIRBHAY’ from Chandipur in Odisha. In the sixth development flight trial of the missile, the DRDO tested its sea-skimming ability to cruise at very low altitude.

Army to Get Spike

The Indian Army in April, soon after the airstrikes on Balakot in Pakistan, placed on order for procuring Israeli anti-tank spike missiles. The Spike missiles are known for their precision, targeting the ability to blast heavy bunkers. With a range of four kilometers, the missile can be deployed in both hilly-terrain and plains. The procurement order for these missiles was made under emergency purchases. Experts claimed that the purchase was done to fulfill the operational preparedness of the Indian ground forces.

Navy fires MSRAM

In May, the Indian Navy conducted a successful test firing of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MSRAM) in the western seaboard. The MSRAM is set to enhance the navy’s anti-air warfare capabilities. The MSRAMs are now deployed on board Kolkata-class destroyers. The DRDO and Navy are working to fit the MSRAMs on all major warships.

ABHYAS Up and Ready

The DRDO successfully conducted the flight test of ABHYAS – High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) from a test range in Odisha. The trial was tracked by radars and electro-optic systems. The configuration of ABHYAS is designed on an in-line small gas turbine engine, and it uses an indigenously developed MEMS-based navigation system.

Air-version of BrahMos

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on 22 May successfully fired the BrahMos air-version missile from its frontline Su-30 MKI fighter plane. The air version of the missile is a 2.5-ton supersonic air-to-surface cruise missile. It has a range of 300 km. The IAF has been involved with the test-firing of BrahMos since its inception. The capability of the missile alongside the Su-30 MKI has provided the IAF with the much-needed strategic reach.

Guided Bomb Test

A 500 kg class inertial guided bomb was successfully tested by the DRDO on 24 May. The bomb was flight tested from a Su-30 MKI aircraft at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan. The guided bomb achieved the desired range and hit the target with high precision.

Successful Testing of Akash – MK-1S

The DRDO on 25 and 27 May successfully fired the Akash – MK-1S missile from Chandipur in Odisha. The MK-1S is an upgraded version of the existing Akash missile. The upgraded version has an indigenous seeker that can neutralize advanced aerial targets.

RISAT- 2B: An Eye in the Sky

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in May successfully launched a new Earth-observation satellite boosting the nation’s space-based surveillance capabilities. The ISRO used a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle designated PSLV-C46 to launch its third radar imaging satellite, named RISAT-2B. Equipped with an X-band synthetic aperture radar, RISAT-2B will be able to look through the clouds to observe the earth’s surface day and night. Imagery from RISAT-2B can be useful for civilian purposes like agriculture, disaster relief management, and surveillance purposes.

New Agency on Defense Space and Research

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet committee on security cleared setting up a new agency called Defense Space Research Organization (DSRO). The agency has been entrusted with projects to develop space warfare weapon systems and technologies.

Third-Generation Nags

The DRDO successfully tested three Nag – anti-tank guided missiles in the Pokhran test range in July. The test firings were carried out in daylight and night. The third-generation missile has a top attack capability to engage and destroy enemy tanks. The Nag missiles have given an edge to the Indian army which will use it by mounting them on armored vehicles.

Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle

In June, the DRDO conducted the maiden test of an indigenously developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). The test was carried out from a launch pad at Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast. The HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft designed to cruise at Mach 6 speed engine.

Apache Join IAF

The IAF was formally handed the first batch of four AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters in the month of July. The second batch of four was delivered in September. Following reassembly and air tests, the eight AH-64s are now placed at the Pathankot AFS in Punjab. India signed a $1.1-billion deal with US defense giant Boeing for 22 Apache choppers to sharpen its attack capabilities.

Four Prithvi Ballistic Missiles Tested

In November, the DRDO tested not one but four nuclear-capable missiles – two Prithvi and two Agni. The tests for all four missiles assumed significance as they were conducted in times when tensions with Pakistan were at an escalated level.

Night Trial of Prithvi-II

India conducted a night trial of its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile off Odisha coast in December. The Strategic Forces Command conducted the night trial of short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II from launch complex-3 of Integrated Test Range in Chandipur. The missile which has a strike range of 350 km, is capable of carrying 500 to 1,000 kg of warheads, is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines.

QRSAM Fired Up

The DRDO in December, successfully flight tested the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System (QRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range in Odisha’s Chandipur. The missile was flight-tested with the full configuration in deployment mode, intercepting the target in mid-air and meeting mission objectives. The test was closely monitored by Ground Telemetry Systems, Range Radar Systems, Electro-Optical Tracking System, and other support systems. The single-stage solid propelled missile has a mid-course inertial navigation system with a two-way data link and a terminal active seeker developed by DRDO.