During the three-day Indian Defence Space Symposium in Delhi, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan urged the three defence forces and DRDO to collaborate with the space industry and startups to develop advanced technology that can help bridge the gap with the adversaries. In his virtual address on Thursday, Gen Chauhan called upon DRDO to partner with the Indian startup community and the country’s space industry to come up with innovative solutions that can reduce the technology gap vis-a-vis our adversaries.
General Chauhan underlined the critical role of space evolving in future warfare in his address. “Space is called the final frontier. Space is infinite in its expanse and is also expanding. Like all other frontiers, it is difficult to define its edges very clearly. Mankind has a long way to go to unravel the mystery of space. However, the urgency of this journey cannot be overstated. India wants to be part of that journey,” the CDS said.
The CDS observed that space is now considered a domain of warfare due to its rapid development. He emphasised that space is a “global commons,” and there is no concept of sovereignty in space. He also mentioned that space diplomacy would soon become a reality, and cooperation in space could extend to friendly nations even if they are not neighbours. The CDS also noted that distances and geopolitical separations could benefit defence space cooperation.
Gen Chauhan emphasised the importance of integrating space and cyber elements at all levels. He also expressed his belief that the space industry has ample room for growth, saying, “I can say that there is enough space for everyone to grow.” He hoped that startups in the space domain would achieve unicorn status and become global partners in the future.
The CDS urged the space sector, MSMEs and start-ups to learn from the successful initiatives in indigenisation and implement similar innovations to push the technology curve forward. In this regard, the Indian Navy has been collaborating with MSMEs, start-ups, academia, students, innovators and dreamers through the Naval Innovation and Indigenization Organisation (NIIO) to foster collaboration and embrace emerging technologies. The ultimate goal is to unlock new frontiers of exploration while ensuring the safety, security and prosperity of our nation, he added.
The symposium focused on establishing a forum for all stakeholders keen to enhance India’s military space capability and strategies. Experts from diverse domains deliberated on the latest trends and obstacles in the defence space, creating an exceptional networking opportunity for the defence sector, DRDO, government personnel, and industry professionals to collaborate and exchange ideas.
Team BharatShakti
