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The New Space Race: India’s ASAT Capability and the Militarization of Outer Space

Yashwini Chauhan

  1. Introduction

The New Space Race has led the world on a journey of exploration and identity for each nation-state, a battle that was previously waged between the Soviet Union and the USA has now escalated between China, India, and Japan as well. Each country is competing to establish dominance with its unique capabilities. Beginning in the late 1950s, space became a dramatic arena for this competition, as each side sought to prove the superiority of its technology, its military firepower, and–by extension–its political-economic system. In this article, we will look at India’s position and its capabilities to keep up its significance in the domain. India’s most recent significant space mission, and a key player in the “new space race,” is the Aditya-L1 mission, launched in 2023. This mission is India’s first solar mission, focusing on studying the Sun’s corona and chromosphere. Following Aditya L-1, India launched The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) to study the polarization of cosmic X-rays. It was launched on 1 January 2024 on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C58). XPoSat will study the 50 brightest known sources in the universe, including pulsars, black hole X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei, and non-thermal supernova remnants.

  • India’s Space Doctrine: From Development to Deterrence

Space research activities were initiated in our country during the early 1960s when applications using satellites were in experimental stages even in the United States.
Dr.Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of the Indian space program, quickly recognized the benefits of space technologies for India. He was convinced and envisioned that the resources in space have the potential to address the real problems of man and society.

To spearhead the space research activities, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was set up in 1962 under the Department of Atomic Energy. Subsequently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established in August 1969, in place of INCOSPAR.

India had recognized the strategic and national security importance of space even earlier, but this was not given sufficient attention until the late 2000s. Right at the beginning of a policy document that has come to be called the Sarabhai Profile outlining the space and nuclear agenda for India, it was noted that “the progress of science and technology is transforming society in peace and war”.
Even as there was this acknowledgment, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai did not give much prominence to security-related issues as the subsequent sections on space almost entirely focused on technological advancements in the context of economic development and no reference to the national security elements.

However, India’s approach began to see some shifts in the early 2000s. This also coincided with India’s own growing influence beyond South Asia, becoming a more active player in Asian and global politics, commensurate with its better economic wherewithal. These attributes influenced India’s outlook and positioning on a number of issues, including space security. This is evidenced in India’s changing approach, moving away from a policy based on declarations of morality and principles beyond national interests to one conditioned by pragmatism and national security considerations. This new approach led to India softening its rhetoric on the militarization and weaponization of space because New Delhi acknowledged the utility of some of these capabilities and approaches as its threat perceptions had begun to change. The changing threat perceptions pushed India to seek technologies such as missile defense that it was critical of in the past when the United States and others pursued such capabilities. India’s old policy positions were beginning to hurt its interests and not helping it address the new threats that appeared in its neighborhood.

  • Mission Shakti and India’s ASAT Capability

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully neutralized a satellite in space with its anti-satellite (ASAT) missile on 27 March 2019, in Mission Shakti. The successful mission demonstrated DRDO’s technical prowess and ability to defend the country’s assets in space, the 4th dimension of warfare. The mission was one of the most complex operations undertaken by DRDO in which a missile launched from the ground had to hit and neutralize with pinpoint accuracy a fast-moving satellite in orbit hundreds of kilometers away.

To simplify the meaning and understanding of ASAT and Mission Shakti for the citizens of the country a mock interview e-book was provided by DRDO wherein the following information has been provided to inform us about the need for ASAT systems.

 “In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked our defense scientists to work on futuristic deterrence technologies. He insisted that everything for developing them must be done within the country. We should not be dependent on any other country; it should be 100% Indian. That is how Mission Shakti was born.”

“Anti-satellite weapons can be broad of two types known as ‘Soft kill’ and ‘Hard kill’. The ‘Soft kill’ option includes the use of electronic warfare and/or directed energy weapons technologies such as the use of lasers to temporarily or permanently damage the enemy satellite. The ‘Hard kill’ option includes the use of missile interceptors to physically destroy the enemy satellite.

DRDO decided to go for the second option and utilize the experience gained, and the technology and systems developed as part of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme for the design and development of the Indian ASAT system. DRDO had to do the extensive groundwork to prepare for the mission, which included setting up multiple ground radar sensors, mission control centers (MCC), launch control centers (LCC), launchers, and hit-to-kill capable missile interceptors.

The ASAT system was finally configured with long-range boosters and hit-to-kill vehicles along with the required weapon system elements like radars, command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I), and launchers.”

  • What does the world say: International Relations Implications

Hours after India successfully tested its anti-satellite missile (ASAT), its neighboring countries – Pakistan and China – strongly reacted to India’s space capabilities and successful “Shakti Mission”, according to reports.

China has guardedly reacted to India’s anti-satellite missile test and in a written statement, China expressed hopes that all nations “can earnestly protect lasting peace and tranquillity in space”. With the report on India successfully test-firing an anti-satellite missile, China’s foreign minister stated: “We have noticed reports and hope that each country will uphold peace and tranquillity in outer space”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, India’s arch-rival, appealed to the international community to condemn New Delhi’s space anti-satellite missile test and tighten international laws related to space militarization.

Islamabad has reportedly stated that space is a “common heritage of mankind and every nation has the responsibility to avoid actions which can lead to the militarization of this arena”. Pakistan has issued a call against the military threats in outer space.

A Pakistani government spokesperson was quoted by India Today news stating: “We hope that countries which have in the past strongly condemned demonstration of similar capabilities by others will be prepared to work towards developing international instruments to prevent military threats relating to outer space.”

In an official statement, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said, “Space is the common heritage of mankind and every nation has the responsibility to avoid actions which can lead to the militarization of this arena.’

Without mentioning India’s name, the ministry said: “We hope that countries which have in the past strongly condemned demonstration of similar capabilities by others will be prepared to work towards developing international instruments to prevent military threats relating to outer space.”

Meanwhile, the United States stated that Washington took note of the Indian government’s statement on “Mission Shakti”, while also voicing concerns about the issue of space debris, according to ANI news reports.

In a statement, the US State Department said, “The issue of space debris is an important concern for the US government. We took note of Indian government statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues.”

The department’s statement also mentions that, as part of both countries’ partnership, Washington will continue to hold a shared interest in space and development, as well as technical and scientific cooperation, including collaboration on security and safety in space.

It noted: “The State Department saw PM Modi’s statement that announced India’s anti-satellite test. As part of our strong strategic partnership with India, we will continue to pursue shared interests in space and scientific and technical cooperation, including collaboration on safety and security in space.”

  • Legal Grey Zones in Outer Space

The Outer Space Treaty was considered by the Legal Subcommittee in 1966 and agreement was reached in the General Assembly in the same year. It provides the basic framework for international space law, including the following principles:

  • The exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and shall be the province of all mankind;
  • Outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all States;
  • Outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, using use or occupation, or by any other means;
  • States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner;
  • The moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes;
  • Astronauts shall be regarded as the envoys of mankind;
  • States shall be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities;
  • States shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects; and
  • States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.
  • Militarization and Weaponization of Space

The militarization and weaponization of space have become crucial issues that are sparking dialogue and worries all around the planet. There are significant ramifications for international relations, world security, and space exploration going forward from this shift in emphasis from space exploration to possible conflict zones above Earth’s atmosphere.
Satellites were first used for benign purposes, but they quickly found military applications, such as surveillance, navigation, and early warning systems.

The existence of armaments in space intensifies international hostilities and raises questions about the possibility of an arms race outside Earth’s atmosphere. The susceptibility of space infrastructure to cyberattacks prompts concerns about the safety of vital systems highly relied upon by contemporary societies.
The use of WMDs in space is forbidden by the current legal framework, which is mainly the Outer Space Treaty of 1966. It does not, however, contain any particular laws pertaining to conventional firearms. Debates about the preservation of space for peaceful exploration and scientific growth are also brought up by the ethical ramifications of militarization and weaponization of space.

It is vital to protect space as a haven for research, exploration, and peaceful collaboration. International cooperation in space exploration has sparked advancement and innovation. It is still extremely difficult to strike a balance between the goals of national security and the welfare of all people.

The international community needs to have discussions and come to accords that control the militarization and weaponization of space. The major goal of cooperative efforts should be to create agreements, guidelines, and procedures that stop this common realm from becoming weaponized.

Space is becoming more militarized and weaponized, which creates complicated issues that call for cautious policymaking, ethical thinking, and international cooperation. To ensure that space stays a region of progress rather than conflict, the course of humankind’s space flight must put peace, exploration, and the common good of all nations first. We cannot preserve space for future generations unless we work together thoughtfully and responsibly.

  • Conclusion : Where are we now

From our research above we have concluded that India’s ASAT capabilities are a growing asset for the protection and defense of the nation. We must also understand the consequences of what this could result in for the country’s geopolitical position at large, How if a defined treaty or law is not curated to assure that India won’t become a threat to the other countries and any use of power would be made for protection and defense and militarization and NOT weaponization.

India, as a responsible democracy, must lead efforts for international space law reform and promote peaceful space governance.

REFERENCES

  1. HISTORY.com Editors. (2025, May 28). The Space Race: Timeline, Cold War & Facts | HISTORY. HISTORY.

https://www.history.com/articles/space-race.

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