By Staff Correspondent
The Indian Space Association (ISpA) in association with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) joined forces to host the flagship Indian DefSpace Symposium 2023 in New Delhi on 11 April 2023. The symposium, a first of its kind in India, aimed to foster collaboration between the country’s space and defence sectors, focusing on augmenting India’s military space capabilities and plans.
The event saw esteemed guests and dignitaries, most notably General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces, and Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman of DRDO, among others, in attendance. Lieutenant General AK Bhatt (r), Director General of ISpA, highlighted the symposium’s significance in leveraging international space cooperation and formulating a comprehensive national space strategy.
In his address, Gen. Anil Chauhan emphasised the need to develop dual-use platforms with cutting-edge technology and expand India’s NAVIC constellation while providing agile space-based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and secure satellite-assisted communications. The CDS also highlighted the importance of miniaturising satellites and reusable launch platforms to mitigate cost challenges and accelerate India’s space-based capabilities. He further stressed the need to enhance space situational awareness (SSA) and counter space capabilities to safeguard India’s space assets and build resilience in space-based infrastructure.
Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman of DRDO, highlighted the organisation’s focus on the critical space domain and establishing DRDO industry-academia centres of excellence to collaborate with academia, startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and larger companies in developing advanced space capabilities. He called for closer collaboration between the defence and technology sectors to accelerate India’s progress in space.
The symposium also featured a session analysing China’s military capabilities and their impact on the balance of power in the region, particularly in the space domain with views from some of the country’s leading experts in the field.
The Indian DefSpace Symposium provided a unique platform for stakeholders from the defence, DRDO, and government sectors, as well as industry professionals, to discuss the latest trends and challenges in the defence field. The symposium focused on delivering space domain awareness and satellite communications to enhance military operations, addressing funding issues for new space capabilities, expanding international partnerships, and developing a Defence Space Strategy aligned with the National Space Strategy.
ISpA, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a premier industry association of space and satellite companies, playing a crucial role in policy advocacy and engagement with stakeholders in the Indian space domain, aiming to make India self-reliant, technologically advanced, and a global leader in the space arena. With a focus on participation, growth, and capacity building of the private and public industry, ISpA contributes to formulating effective, efficient, and appropriate policies and regulatory frameworks.
The Indian DefSpace Symposium 2023 marked a significant step towards fostering collaboration between India’s space and defence sectors and accelerating the country’s military space capabilities. The event provided a platform for experts from various domains to discuss and address the challenges and opportunities in India’s defence and space industry, intending to secure India’s position as a global leader in the space arena.
