Chanakya once said “The serpent may, without being poisonous
raise high its hood, but the show of terror is enough to frighten people,
whether he be venomous or not”.
It means that
India though will not harms anyone, but it will have to develop Anti-satellite
to protect itself which though might not be affective when it comes to attack
by others, but it is sufficient to create terror among them.
Space assets
meant both a satellite and a ground station with trained and technically competent
manpower attached to them. Space assets constitute a sub-section the broader
structure of National security and plays an important role in Indian defence
and military services.
The satellites
and space services for National security provides several benefits:- like
1].Space services are a force multiplier for conventional forces as they
improve capabilities and performance.
2].Space
services can significantly expand intelligence collection and analysis for
accessing threats and providing warnings. Those using space will have an advantage
over their adversaries and competitors.
3].Space
programs are element of National power, they increase prestige and provide
technological prowess that can expand a nation’s influence and leadership on
the international stage.
India is
considered among the best players of space industry in Asia after china. It has
encountered major events with space assets like the successful launch of India’s
first mission to the moon, Chandrayan I, the launch of 10 satellites utilising
the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) from shriharikota that included India’s
advanced remote sensing satellite for international customers CARTOSAT-2A ,
Indian Mini satellite (IMS-1), 8 Nano satellites. The year 2009 witnessed the
successful launch of 7 satellites OCEANSAT-2, four CUBESAT satellite and two
RUBIN-9, radar imaging satellite (RISAT-2) and Anna university microsatellite
(ANUSAT) from shriharikota. Space is a global common. Despite this some nations
are developing a ASAT weapon capabilities. The main driver for this is their
quest for space control. The space assets are vulnerable to variety of threats
like Jamming of communications, command and control system/links physical
attacks on satellites and ground stations dazzling or blinding of satellites
sensors; high altitude nuclear detonators(HAND).
Destruction of
space assets may results into creation of debris . Debris are space junk. They travel
at a speed of 17,500 MPH, fast enough for small pieces of orbital Debris to
Damage a satellite. It increases potential danger to all space vehicles and
International space station. In 1996, a French satellite was hit and damaged by
debris from a French rocket that had exploded a decade later. In 2009, a
defunct Russian satellite collided with and destroyed a functioning U.S. Iridium
commercial satellite collision added 2000 pieces of traceable debris. China’s
2007 anti satellite test, which used a Missile to destroy an old weather
satellite added more than 3000 pieces to debris.
Let us we
discuss how India is protecting and what are it’s option:-
India had
planned to accommodate the Anti satellite as part of its Ballistic Missile
defence program. India believes that its high altitude interceptors can indeed
serve as Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) which would be capable of destroying low
orbit satellite.
India signed convention
on the registration of objects launched in outer space and outer space treaty
in 1976. Under this treaty it has prohibited the launch of Anti-satellites.
This was passed in United nations General assembly and no country signatory to
this treaty is allowed to breach it unless the country is included in the
united nations security council and have powers to decline sanctions through
veto power. Like China had launched Anti satellite to destroy it’s own old
satellite which resulted into creation of 6000 pieces of debris and also caused
destruction to some parts of International space centre. It can attack the
satellites of other countries in future. But India can not just sit and accept
the harm caused by other nations by launching ASAT. It has to prepare itself in
a manner to if not harm others but to atleast protect its own assets.
There are many
options available with India which are discussed here
1].Focus on
Ground:-
Firstly India
should focus on ground. Identifying an enemy satellite orbiting around the
Earth and then damaging it is not easy technologically. And before we think
about the safety and security of satellites in space we have to pay our
attention to somewhat neglected aspect of security of space assets on the
ground because the operations of satellite depends upon space centres situated
on ground. Launching deterrent weapons
is a secondary issue, the need of the hour is to equip the existing
space centres with information and technological censors. Thus the integrated
space cell should be promoted and forced to work properly. The integrated space
cell has been set up in 2008 to utilize more effectively the countries space
based assets for Military purposes and to look into threats to these assets.
Presently it is working under collaboration with DRDO(Defence research and
development organisation), ISRO(India space research organisation) and
IAF(Indian air force). The satellite or space wing should be separated, then
only it would be able to concentrate more effectively on developing offensive
counter space system like Anti-satellite weaponry. Presently Integrated space
cell is working to develop cooperation and coordination between these three
wings instead of developing capabilities. Thus the space wing should be
separated. The Research and development should be promoted in this field to develop
non-destroyable satellite.
2].Constellation
of small satellites be formed:-
At present the
orbiting Indian satellites are unprotected against any enemy attacks. India does
not have policy of weaponisation of its satellites. But there are plans of accommodating
ASAT through Ballistic defence Missile system to counter satellites from enemy
attacks. Thus constellation of small satellites weighing 30-60 Kg can be armed
that can be activated from the ground in case of enemy attacks. If proper
information system censors are developed then it can be destroyed even before
it attacks. Agni missile was launched as part of accommodating Ballistic
defence missile program with ASAT.
3].Use of
Laser technology:-
India is on the
road to acquire laser based anti-ballistic Missile system called as “Directed
energy weapon”(DEWs). It can kill incoming Ballistic Missiles by Bombarding
them with subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves. The weapons are capable
of intercepting Missiles soon after the are launched toward India. India has already
researched on space based lasers as well as ‘Kinetic attack loitering interceptor’ (KALI), which
produces electron injector rays to destroy missiles.
Besides these
measures there are other general protective measures also which India can adopt
1].India should
concentrate more on space exploitation capability development both for space
and ground segments than concentrating efforts and finances of space weapon
system. Research and Development should continue at appropriate level to
develop enabling technologies which are required for peaceful usage.
2].India should
develop alternative to space system to reduce the dependence on space system.
The space system should act only as redundancy or as an alternative to
terrestrial or aerial platform. This will ensure better exploitation of
adversary weakness.
3].The use of
friendly nation’s satellite will be advantageous. Adversary shall be reluctant
to target foreign satellite due to obvious political implications.
4].India can
deploy electronic warfare(EW) coupled with cybernetic attack to make fighting
war in space both economic and effective. India should expand the scope of EW
units to include cyber warfare capabilities and other EW measures against the
satellites by employing static Mobile and on the move satellite terminals.
Besides this India should also develop capabilities to counter Electronic
warfare attacks like attacks which leads to Jamming of communications.
5].Also India
should develop Quick Launch capabilities through a Mobile platform for low
orbit satellites in order to replace critical space infrastructure if it is
threatened or disabled.
I would not like
to conclude that “Deterrence is what is required most urgently and it will be
attained. Question is not ‘if’, but the question is ‘when’?
********
This article is
an excerpt of a paper written and presented by Apoorva sharma at NALSAR
University, Hyderabad for its workshop on Liberalisation and privatisation of
space industry took place on 12-13 April 2013.
copyright©thelegaltrain
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