Space weapons for India: Its role in dispute with China

Pavil Kashyap

(The writer can be reached at pavilkashyap98@gmail.com)

In general, Space Weapons are those weapons used in space warfare. They consist of weapons that can attack space systems in the orbit i.e. satellites or attack targets on earth moving through space. In the context of space militarization, these were developed primarily by the contesting superpowers during Cold War. They are also featured in science fiction and in video games as a central theme.

Coming to the overseas aspect, in July 2020, Russia conducted an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) programme. It shows the importance of Kinetic energy weapon and it demonstrates that the development of their orbital system is unavoidable. United States Space Command had recently released a statement that an object was released from the Russian Orbital Spacecraft Cosmos 2453 clearly proclaiming that Moscow had carried out a co-orbital ASAT test. The recent Russian test has clearly shown importance of counter space capabilities. India particularly in the context of China's growing space collaboration and counter-space capabilities must develop its own space capabilities or else the repercussions would be adverse. We are adamant of our growing border disputes with China and Pakistan.

Emphasizing on Space Weapons, we can say that there are two types of space weapons: Soft Kill and Hard Kill. Soft Kill Weapons are associated with Electronic Warfare where no damage is caused to other satellites. In this aspect, Electromagnetic Pulse, Laser radiations, Radio waves are deployed in order to disconnect communication of the satellite with its own space agency. Hard Kill Weapons are analogous with Kinetic Energy weapons involving use of satellite. Co-orbital wars arise between satellites to satellites. In this process, a country launches satellite with weapon present inside it to damage other counterpart's satellite.

India has also launched its first Hard Kill weapon namely "Indian Interceptor Missile" quite recently on 27 March 2019. All countries with space capabilities are potentially in possession of both soft kill and hard skill weapons. China tested its first KEW in 2007. It was a medium range ballistic missile to destroy Fengyun 1C (FY-1C), a non-operational weather satellite at an altitude of 863 km. In comparison to that, India's efforts are limited. In March 2019, India tested a KEW to carry out ASAT test destroying an earth observation satellite called Microsat R at an altitude of 283 km. The success of ASAT test demonstrated our KEW capability. It reflects how we are assiduously working towards achieving a formidable position in space. In 2008, Miniature imaging satellite was deployed by China which flew close to ISS. Five years later in 2013, China tested SC-19 ASAT system that can hit 24 targets in geosynchronous orbit. Chinese weapons also include cyber weapons to attack space assets, co-orbital capabilities of its other counterparts.

Experts believe that China has the potential to hit Indian Regional Navigation Spacecraft System (IRNSS) in GEO. In light of Chinese efforts, India can't afford to confine itself to limited means of defending against Chinese space assets and infrastructure. India at present has 7 GPS. GPS means Global positioning system and it is a satellite navigation system to identify the ground position of an object. Rumours are ripe that China can destroy at most 4 of our GPS. But if it happens in reality this would lead to serious impediments and damage to India's Space Programme. We are already aware of India's advances in electronic counter-measures and soft kill capabilities have been descent. ISRO collaborates with NASA. On the other hand, India has also a range of issues pertaining to that of internal affairs where it is to meddle on such as elimination of poverty, corruption, illiteracy, education system, healthcare, pollution, infrastructure and unemployment. This has caused major hurdles or what we call it as constraints in our defense budget.

They also believe that we have electronic warfare capabilities as well as DEWs such as lasers and microwave based weapons that can help mitigate, if not diminish electronic warfare measures. In the affirmative, DRDO in consultation with the ISRO is working towards making India's satellites resilient against electromagnetic pulse as well as cyber and DEW such as high powered microwaves and high energy lasers.

In the conclusion, I can suggest that India needs KEW triad to maintain balance of power. Along with the triad, we need to develop space to space co-orbital capability, which China is close to achieving. The ISRO's budget needs to expand rapidly to sustain our competition with our counterparts and also to meet the demands of a credible counter-space strategy. China is capable of kinetically targeting Indian satellites and Pakistan is soon likely to join the race with Chinese support. In absence of this counter measures; India's space assets face several vulnerabilities.