Space Warfare Explained: India’s Military Presence Beyond Earth

“In the architecture of modern air defence, satellites are the orbital backbone—quiet, continuous, and omnipresent.” says Pankaj P Singh in his book Unfolded: India’s Air Defence from WWII to Operation Sindoor.

Building on that, satellites today form the central nervous system of modern air defence and electronic warfare. They provide capabilities that ground-based radars and terrestrial sensors cannot—real-time wide-area surveillance and beyond-line-of-sight communications.

As India’s dependence on space-based assets grows, so does the need to protect these orbital systems. Space-based electronic protection and surveillance have therefore become essential components of national defence, directly supporting air defence, maritime security, and joint military operations.

At the core of India’s military communications architecture is the GSAT (Geosynchronous Satellite) series, developed to provide secure, multi-band connectivity exclusively for the armed forces. GSAT-7 supports network-centric naval operations, while GSAT-7A enables real-time communication between airbases, airborne platforms, and command centres of the Indian Air Force. Planned satellites such as GSAT-7B and GSAT-7C are intended to extend similar capabilities to the Indian military.

Surveillance and reconnaissance form the second pillar of India’s space-based defence infrastructure. Cartosat-3, a third-generation optical imaging satellite with sub-metre resolution, provides detailed imagery for terrain analysis, target identification, and strategic monitoring. Complementing this is the RISAT series, which uses Synthetic Aperture Radar to deliver all-weather, day-and-night surveillance, enabling continuous monitoring of ground movements even through cloud cover or darkness.

Beyond satellites themselves, India has developed institutional capabilities to manage and protect space-derived intelligence. The Defence Image Processing and Analysis Centre (DIPAC) processes and analyses satellite imagery for military use, working alongside the Defence Satellite Control Centre to manage space-based intelligence flows.

At the strategic level, Project NETRA serves as an early-warning system to track space debris and potential orbital threats, reflecting India’s growing focus on safeguarding its assets in an increasingly congested and contested space environment.

Together, these systems form the orbital backbone of India’s modern defence architecture, underscoring the role of space as an indispensable domain in national security planning.

Also read: Exclusive Excerpt from Unfolded: India’s Air Defence from WWII to Operation Sindoor

In March 2019, the Defence Research and Development Organisation conducted an anti-satellite test, Mission Shakti. The operation involved the interception and destruction of a live satellite in low Earth orbit using a ground-launched ballistic missile interceptor, demonstrating India’s ability to neutralise hostile space assets if required. With this test, India joined a small group of nations possessing proven kinetic ASAT capabilities.

By demonstrating an indigenous ASAT capability, India underscored that its critical space assets would not remain undefended in a conflict extending into the orbital domain. The test was deliberately conducted at a relatively low orbital altitude, ensuring that the debris generated would decay quickly and minimise long-term risks to other satellites.

Indian officials emphasised that the operation was consistent with India’s commitment to the peaceful use of outer space and responsible behaviour, while acknowledging that space has become a contested, militarily relevant domain.

From a doctrinal perspective, Mission Shakti marked a shift in India’s approach to space security. Rather than signalling intent to weaponise space, the demonstration highlighted India’s readiness to protect its national interests against emerging counter-space threats.

India’s military space posture has been shaped less by overt militarisation and more by a long-standing commitment to restraint, responsibility, and strategic autonomy. Since becoming a signatory to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, India has consistently upheld the principle of non-weaponisation of outer space, advocating its use for peaceful purposes and collective benefit. This position has remained central to India’s space policy, even as the strategic environment around it has evolved.

India’s evolving posture also mirrors broader global trends. As space becomes more congested, contested, and competitive, maintaining the survivability of satellites and ensuring uninterrupted access to space services has emerged as a core security concern.

Future initiatives such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station add another dimension to India’s space posture. This is India's planned indigenous, modular space station to support 3-6 month crew stays for microgravity research, space tourism, and scientific exploration.

Taken together, India’s military space posture is best understood not as a departure from its foundational principles, but as an evolution shaped by changing realities. By reinforcing defensive capabilities, strengthening surveillance and protection mechanisms, and engaging selectively in deterrence, India seeks to safeguard its interests while continuing to advocate responsible behaviour in outer space. In doing so, it positions itself as a cautious but credible space power—one preparing for the future without abandoning the norms that have long guided its journey beyond Earth.

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