Defence Space Agency

2022-12-01T06:08:34Z

103.255.7.20: robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

{{short description|Joint formation of the Indian Armed Forces responsible for space warfare}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Defence Space Agency
| native_name =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| dates = *Established: 28 September 2018<ref name=created1 /><ref name=created2 /><br />
*Operational: November 2019<ref name=TOI />
| country = {{flag|India}}
| allegiance =
| branch =
| type = [[Joint warfare|Tri-service]] [[Command (military formation)|command]]
| role = [[Space Warfare]]<br>[[Geospatial intelligence|Satellite Intelligence]]
| size =
| command_structure = [[Integrated Defence Staff]]<ref name=IDS />
| garrison = [[Bangalore]]<ref name=headquarter />
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| nickname =
| motto =
| colors = 
| colors_label = 
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles =
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| website = 
| current_commander =
| commander1 =
| commander1_label =
| commander2 =
| commander2_label =
| commander3 =
| commander3_label =
| commander4 =
| commander4_label =
| commander5 =
| commander5_label =
| commander6 =
| commander6_label =
| commander7 =
| commander7_label =
| commander8 =
| commander8_label =
| commander9 =
| commander9_label =
| notable_commanders = 
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
| identification_symbol_3 =
| identification_symbol_3_label =
| identification_symbol_4 =
| identification_symbol_4_label =
| identification_symbol_5 =
| identification_symbol_5_label =
}}

The '''Defence Space Agency''' '''(DSA)''' is a [[Joint warfare|tri-service]] agency of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. Headquartered in [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. The agency is tasked with operating the [[Space warfare|space-warfare]] and [[Geospatial intelligence|Satellite Intelligence]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Agencies take shape for special operations, space, cyber war|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/india-begins-setting-up-new-tri-service-agencies-to-handle-special-operations-space-and-cyberspace/articleshow/69346012.cms|access-date=16 May 2019|work=Times Of India}}</ref> assets of [[India]]. The DSA draws personnel from all three branches of the [[Indian Armed Forces|Armed Forces]].

The agency is expected to be converted into a full sized [[Joint warfare|tri-service]] military [[Command (military formation)|command]] in future.<ref name=TOI />

== History ==
=== Origins ===
The Naresh Chandra Task Force was set up in July 2011 by [[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]] [[Shivshankar Menon]] to review the recommendations of the [[Kargil Review Committee]], assess the implementation progress and further suggest new reforms related to national security.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/opinion/manoj-joshi/story/national-security-naresh-chandra-gom-manmohan-singh-cabinet-committee-on-security-ministry-of-defence-chandra-committee-iaf-army-218292-2013-11-22|title=Shutting his ears to change|last1=Joshi|first1=Manoj|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/PR140301_The_Unending_Quest_to_Reform_India_National_Security_System.pdf|title=Policy Report: The Unending Quest to Reform India National Security System|last=Joshi|first=Manoj|date=March 2014|website=S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) (www.rsis.edu.sg)|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> The task force was led by [[Naresh Chandra]], retired [[Indian Administrative Service]] officer, and comprised 13{{Nbsp}}other members, including [[Gopalaswami Parthasarathy]], [[Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy|Air Chief Marshal Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy]] (Retd), [[Arun Prakash|Admiral Arun Prakash]] (Retd), [[V. R. Raghavan|Lt Gen V. R. Raghavan]] (Retd), [[Anil Kakodkar]], [[K. C. Verma|K C Verma]] and [[V. K. Duggal|V K Duggal]]. The committee conducted the first holistic review of national security since the Kargil Review Committee and submitted its classified report to [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Manmohan Singh]] on 23{{Nbsp}}May{{Nbsp}}2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/naresh-chandra-task-force-to-recommend-permanent-head-chiefs-of-staff-committee/20120523.htm|title=All eyes on Naresh Chandra report on natl security today|website=[[Rediff.com|Rediff]]|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> Among its recommendations, the Task Force recommended the creation of a [[Defence Cyber Agency|cyber command]], an aerospace command and a [[Armed Forces Special Operations Division|special operations command]]. All three units were proposed to be tri-service commands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/book-defence-reform-3.pdf|title=Defence Reforms: A National Imperative|last1=Kanwal|first1=Gurmeet|last2=Kohli|first2=Neha|website=Brookings|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/may/16/formation-of-indian-armed-forces-special-operations-unit-begins-to-have-3000-commandos-1977651.html|title=Formation of Indian armed forces' special operations unit begins, to have 3000 commandos|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> The DSA is a downsized implementation of this proposal.<ref name=TOI />

The creation of the Defence Space Agency (DSA), the [[Defence Cyber Agency]] (DCA), and the [[Armed Forces Special Operations Division]] (AFSOD) was approved by [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Narendra Modi]] during the Combined Commanders' Conference at [[Jodhpur Airport|Jodhpur Air Force Station]] on 28 September 2018.<ref name="created1">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/pm-narendra-modi-attends-combined-commanders-conference-in-jodhpur/articleshow/65996826.cms|title=PM Narendra Modi attends Combined Commanders' Conference in Jodhpur|date=2018-09-28|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref><ref name="created2">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/major-general-a-k-dhingra-appointed-as-the-first-special-operations-division-commander/articleshow/69339545.cms|title=Major General A K Dhingra appointed as the first Special Operations Division Commander|date=2019-05-15|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> The Defence Imagery Processing and Analysis Centre in [[Delhi]] and the Defence Satellite Control Centre in [[Bhopal]] were subsumed by the DSA.<ref name="TOI" />

=== Anti-satellite programme of India ===
{{further|Mission Shakti}}
[[File:Launch of DRDO's Ballistic Missile Defence interceptor missile for an ASAT test on 27 March 2019.jpg|thumb|200px|Indian ASAT missile, taking off during test in March 2019]]
Months before the operationalisation of the Defence Space Agency, [[India]] conducted an [[Anti-satellite weapon]] (ASAT) test in March 2019. The test was aimed at demonstrating India's anti-satellite capability.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-satellite-idUSKCN1R80IA|title=Modi hails India as military space power after anti-satellite missile test|date=2019-03-28|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-10-07|language=en}}</ref>

The Indian ASAT programme can be traced back to its [[Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme|BMD program]], which began in 1999 in response to threats posed by the [[Ballistic missile]]s of [[Pakistan]] and [[China]].<ref name="vk">[http://www.defensenews.com/aero/story.php?id=2524130 Interview: Vijay Kumar Saraswat]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 2006 and 2007, India tested its first exo atmospheric interceptor and has developed many interceptors since then.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ratliff |first=Ben |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/06/asia/AS-India-Missile-Defense.php |title=India successfully tests missile interceptor |work=International Herald Tribune |access-date = 27 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/31874/LATEST%20HEADLINES/DRDO+readies+shield+against+Chinese+ICBMs.html |title=DRDO readies shield against Chinese ICBMs |work=India Today |date=9 March 2009 |access-date = 27 April 2019}}</ref> On 18 March 2008, [[DRDO]] Chief [[V. K. Saraswat]] had hinted that India possessed technology required for an ASAT missile, reiterating it in February 2010.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-successfully-tests-asat-missile-joins-space-superpower-club-119032800048_1.html|title=India successfully tests ASAT missile, joins space superpower club|last=Shukla|first=Ajai|date=2019-03-28|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-10-07|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814090312/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-successfully-tests-asat-missile-joins-space-superpower-club-119032800048_1.html|archive-date=14 August 2019}}</ref> India is known to have been developing an [[Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme|exo-atmospheric kill vehicle]] that can be integrated with the missile to engage satellites.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.strategicfront.org/india-needs-demonstrate-asat-capability-publicly/|title=Why India Needs to Demonstrate Anti Satellite (ASAT) Capability - Publicly - Strategic Frontier Research Foundation|date=12 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051723/https://www.strategicfront.org/india-needs-demonstrate-asat-capability-publicly/|archive-date=2017-12-22|access-date=2015-06-11}}</ref> In April 2012, Saraswat again said that India possessed the critical technologies for an ASAT weapon from radars and interceptors developed for [[Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/agni-v-drdo-chief-dr-vijay-kumar-saraswat-interview-100405-2012-04-27|title=India has all the building blocks for an anti-satellite capability|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|date=27 April 2012|newspaper=[[India Today]]|access-date=7 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327081410/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/agni-v-drdo-chief-dr-vijay-kumar-saraswat-interview-100405-2012-04-27|archive-date=27 March 2019|df=dmy-all}}</ref> India had begun work on its ASAT soon after the [[2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test]].<ref name=":1" />

As of April 2019, India was working on directed energy ASAT weapons, co-orbital ASAT weapons, lasers and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) based ASAT weapons. The ability to protect space assets from hostile electronic and physical attacks was also being developed by India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/satellite-killer-not-a-one-off-india-working-on-star-wars-armoury/articleshow/68758674.cms|title=ASAT missile: Satellite-killer not a one-off, India working on star wars armoury {{!}} India News - Times of India|date=7 April 2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref>

=== Exercise ''IndSpaceEx'' ===
India conducted its first simulated [[space warfare]] exercise on 25th and 26 July 2019, called ''IndSpaceEx''. The exercise was conducted under the supervision of [[Integrated Defence Staff]]. The exercise was aimed at obtaining an assessment of threats and the creation of a joint space warfare doctrine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/eye-on-china-india-set-to-kickstart-1st-space-war-drill/articleshow/70354760.cms|title=Eye on China, India set to kickstart 1st space war drill {{!}} India News - Times of India|date=24 July 2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/space-defence-is-india-prepared-to-fight-and-win-tomorrows-wars-4314861.html|title=Space Defence {{!}} Is India prepared to fight, and win tomorrow's wars?|website=Moneycontrol|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref>

== Organisation ==
The DSA will be in [[Bangalore]].<ref name="headquarter">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/defence-space-agency-to-come-up-at-bengaluru/articleshow/69345697.cms|title=Defence Space agency to come up at Bengaluru|date=2019-05-15|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> It will function under the [[Integrated Defence Staff]].<ref name="IDS">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-names-officers-for-tri-service-divisions/article27142117.ece|title=Centre names officers for tri-service divisions|last=Peri|first=Dinakar|date=2019-05-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-07|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Personnel from all the three branches of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] will be stationed in the agency.<ref name=IDS /> The agency is expected to be fully operational by November 2019.<ref name="TOI">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-begins-setting-up-new-tri-service-agencies-to-handle-special-operations-space-and-cyberspace/articleshow/69346012.cms|title=Agencies take shape for special operations, space, cyber war|date=15 May 2019|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref>

=== Role ===
The DSA will operate systems to protect Indian interests in [[outer space]] and will deal with potential [[Space warfare|space wars]]. The agency will have the responsibility of developing a [[space warfare]] strategy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/government-finalises-broad-contours-of-defence-space-agency/articleshow/69745921.cms|title=Government finalises broad contours of defence space agency|date=2019-06-11|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> It works on [[Signals intelligence|Signals Intelligence]] (SIGINT), [[Electronic intelligence|Electronic Intelligence]] (ELINT), [[Communication intelligence|Communication Intelligence]] (COMINT) and in areas like space-based tracking systems.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Peri|first=Dinakar|date=2021-03-26|title=Two years since ASAT test, DRDO working on several key space technologies|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/two-years-since-asat-test-drdo-working-on-several-key-space-technologies/article34171447.ece|access-date=2021-03-28|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Souza|first=Caroline Esther|date=2021-03-26|title=India increases military capabilities in space two years after Mission Shakti|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/india-increases-military-capabilities-in-space-two-years-after-mission-shakti-2350777.html|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref>

=== Defence Space Research Agency ===
The Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA) is the scientific organisation responsible for developing space-warfare systems and technologies for the Defence Space Agency. The DSRA was approved by the [[Government of India]] in June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/defence-space-research-agency-modi-govt-approves-new-body-to-develop-space-warfare-weapon-systems-1546951-2019-06-11|title=Defence Space Research Agency: Modi govt approves new body to develop space weapon systems|date=11 June 2019|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> The DSRo is composed of scientists who undertake research and development in close coordination with the [[Integrated Defence Staff]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/modi-govt-approves-new-agency-to-develop-space-warfare-weapon-systems-119061100627_1.html|title=Modi govt approves new agency to develop space warfare weapon systems|last=ANI|date=2019-06-11|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref> Various types of [[Anti-satellite weapon]] systems are currently under development.<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==
* [[Space Force]]
; Integrated entities
* [[Defence Planning Committee]], tri-services command at policy level with NSA as its chief
* [[Defence Cyber Agency]], tri-services command
* [[Integrated Defence Staff]], tri-services command at strategic level composed of MoD, MEA and tri-services staff
* [[Integrated Theatre Command]]
* [[Armed Forces Special Operations Division]], tri-services command at operational level part of [[Integrated Defence Staff]]
* [[Nuclear Command Authority (India)|Indian Nuclear Command Authority]]
** [[Strategic Forces Command]]

; Foreign Assets
* [[List of countries with overseas military bases#India|India's overseas military bases]]

; Other nations
* [[Special Operations Forces (Russia)|Special Operations Forces Command (KSSO)]] - Russian equivalent command
* [[Joint Special Operations Command|Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)]] - U.S. equivalent command

; General concepts
* [[Joint warfare]], general concept
* [[Minimum Credible Deterrence]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Military of India}}
{{Indian space programme}}
{{Space forces}}
{{Politics of outer space}}

[[Category:Military units and formations of India]]
[[Category:Joint military units and formations of India]]
[[Category:2018 establishments in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Military of India| ]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2018]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Defence Space Agency