Must include cutting-edge tech in space domain: CDS

New Delhi, April 11

Highlighting the growing militarisation of space and Chinese capabilities of deploying weapons that can travel through space, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday made a strong pitch for developing dual-use platforms with a special focus on incorporating cutting-edge technology in the space domain.

“We need to build offensive and defensive capabilities in space domain as the nature of warfare is on the cusp of a major transformation. We are seeing militarisation of space and a steady transit towards weaponisation of space,” said the CDS. He was speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Indian DefSpace Symposium 2023’ organised by the Indian Space Association headed by Lt Gen AK Bhatt (retd), a former Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).

The reference to China alluded to its test in 2021 called the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) which launched a rocket into orbital flight, which later re-entered the atmosphere and released a manoeuvrable glide vehicle travelling at hypersonic speed. Long-range missile systems like this can carry nuclear or non-nuclear warheads.