Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan expressed confidence that India is on the brink of becoming a significant global service provider during his address at the Indian Defspace Symposium 2024. Emphasizing space as the ultimate frontier, he noted India’s transition from being a recipient to a potential provider of space services and situational data awareness.
General Chauhan highlighted the strategic importance of space, considering it the new domain of warfare with its rapid development shaping modern combat dynamics. He stressed the interplay between space activities and traditional warfare domains like air, maritime, and land, citing space’s influence on them.
Acknowledging the evolving landscape, General Chauhan commended the emergence of promising startups in the defence and space sectors, underscoring the potential for growth and innovation. He urged collaboration between the Indian space industry and defence organizations to develop cutting-edge solutions and ensure technological readiness for future challenges.
Furthermore, General Chauhan emphasized the need for close cooperation between different military services, the Ministry of Defence, and the Indian space industry to facilitate testing, validation, and certification of products. He called upon the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to engage with the startup community to bridge technology gaps and foster a technology-competent workforce.
The Indian DefSpace Symposium 2024 serves as a platform to showcase advancements in the space industry, focusing on enhancing military space capabilities and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders. The event explores topics such as space domain awareness, satellite communications, funding and partnerships, and crafting a unified defense space strategy to propel India’s defense space ambitions forward.
