We need to protect space assets: IAF chief - *MSN
The chief of Air Staff today stressed the need for protecting India's space assets in the wake of China developing anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons and pushed for building the country's military space capabilities.
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
"A quite space race and even weaponisation to some extent is the current reality", Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said without naming China, delivering the Air Chief Marshal L M Katre Memorial Lecture here.
Beijing successfully undertook ASAT test in January 2007, and last year publicly declared that China's Air Force would begin to develop "offensive operations" in space.
Naik said more than the others, it's air power that's most significantly enhanced by integration of space-enabled capabilities.
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
"India's rising stature and acceptability are an opportunity for us to push for creating an adequate military space capability," he said.
"The dependence on satellites has emerged from the fact that the space-based systems can accomplish their missions in a technically superior manner and more economically than achieved by other means."
Hence, Naik said, the vulnerability of satellites to anti-satellite weapons becomes an issue, due to these types of attacks from adversaries.
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
"As a result, development of ASAT technology is taking place in our neighborhood (China)," he said.
"In order to ensure that our increased dependence on space does not become a vulnerability, defending space-based assets assumes vital importance in the 21st century.
When asked if he is in favour of India going in for weaponisation of space, Naik said, "I am not".
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
Asked for his views, former IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal, F H Major told PTI: "It's not our policy (weaponisation of space). But very difficult to predict what we will do in years to come. As a policy, we are against (weaponisation of space)."
Naik also said ISRO has been told that a satellite is required for the armed forces. "They (ISRO) will decide (to build one) as and when they can".
Asked if it is a dedicated satellite for IAF, he said he cannot say anything about it at present.
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
The Air Chief Marshal said IAF expects to become a network-centric force in about two years from being just about a network-enabled one.
"We have what's known as Air Force NET (AFNET)...that's based on fibre technology...optical fibre that will be the base. On that there will be something called IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System) that's the ground arm. Then there is air arm where AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System which is described as eye-in-the-sky) and other elements with the operational data link...will come in.
Satellites will form the space arm of the net eccentricity," he explained. While AFNET is expected to be activated by June, IACCS would be operational in two years, he added.
The chief of Air Staff today stressed the need for protecting India's space assets in the wake of China developing anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons and pushed for building the country's military space capabilities.
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
"A quite space race and even weaponisation to some extent is the current reality", Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said without naming China, delivering the Air Chief Marshal L M Katre Memorial Lecture here.
Beijing successfully undertook ASAT test in January 2007, and last year publicly declared that China's Air Force would begin to develop "offensive operations" in space.
Naik said more than the others, it's air power that's most significantly enhanced by integration of space-enabled capabilities.
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
"India's rising stature and acceptability are an opportunity for us to push for creating an adequate military space capability," he said.
"The dependence on satellites has emerged from the fact that the space-based systems can accomplish their missions in a technically superior manner and more economically than achieved by other means."
Hence, Naik said, the vulnerability of satellites to anti-satellite weapons becomes an issue, due to these types of attacks from adversaries.
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
"As a result, development of ASAT technology is taking place in our neighborhood (China)," he said.
"In order to ensure that our increased dependence on space does not become a vulnerability, defending space-based assets assumes vital importance in the 21st century.
When asked if he is in favour of India going in for weaponisation of space, Naik said, "I am not".
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
Asked for his views, former IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal, F H Major told PTI: "It's not our policy (weaponisation of space). But very difficult to predict what we will do in years to come. As a policy, we are against (weaponisation of space)."
Naik also said ISRO has been told that a satellite is required for the armed forces. "They (ISRO) will decide (to build one) as and when they can".
Asked if it is a dedicated satellite for IAF, he said he cannot say anything about it at present.
We need to protect space assets: IAF chief
The Air Chief Marshal said IAF expects to become a network-centric force in about two years from being just about a network-enabled one.
"We have what's known as Air Force NET (AFNET)...that's based on fibre technology...optical fibre that will be the base. On that there will be something called IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System) that's the ground arm. Then there is air arm where AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System which is described as eye-in-the-sky) and other elements with the operational data link...will come in.
Satellites will form the space arm of the net eccentricity," he explained. While AFNET is expected to be activated by June, IACCS would be operational in two years, he added.