India China Space Capabilities
A Comparison
India China Space Capabilities
A Comparison
Col Sanjay Kumar
United Service Institution of India
New Delhi
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Copyright 2018, United Service Institution of India, New Delhi
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S pace today forms an essential component of a nations Comprehensive National Power. Space capabilities play important role in national development, economic growth, commerce, and daily life, besides becoming a decisive component of successful military operations. Space assumes high relevance in the present times keeping in view the advancements in space technology made by our immediate neighbourChina; and its increased usage in military applications. Chinas military has undergone significant changes in the last decade and its military strategy has become more offensive in nature. In doing so, China has started looking towards Space as a game changer and a force multiplier, which needs to be dominated and denied to adversaries in future passive or active confrontations.
Over the last decade, China has rapidly scaled up and improved its civilian and military space platforms, including satellites, ground infrastructure and rockets. These inherently dual-use platforms help China achieve economic and scientific missions while supporting expanded PLA operations and military modernization goals. China views space as crucial to its development of what they call an informationised force. And, Chinese war philosophy states that whosoever controls space controls the earth. China is focused on full spectrum development of its space capabilities, both on the C4ISR realm and on the counter space realm. The Chinese vision of space warfare involves not just denying space to its adversary but also using space for military applications such as the intercept of ballistic and cruise missiles through space-based combat platforms, strikes by space systems on terrestrial targets and on an adversarys space platforms and space-based command and control assets.
Chinas progress in space technologies, whether in relative or absolute terms, has larger implications for India. As Chinas space program increases in capability, it can be expected to wield this power to increase regional dominance and deter countries from pursuing policies that are contrary to Chinese interests. The shades of its muscle flexing can be observed in its recent military actions and posturing in the region.
India on the other hand, has space program focussed on the use of space technology for human & societal development. This is in conformity with Indias standing in the world as a proponent of the use of space for peaceful purposes and national policy of peace and stability in the region. Recent technological achievements of ISRO have greatly expanded its abilities in pursuance of national goals. India cannot overlook regional and global developments in space and needs to institute measures to secure its assets and interests in this competitive environment. To understand the regional footprints, there is a need to know the players, their nature of investments in space and the level of threat they pose for India. In the context of space, information is required on the hard power and soft power options available along with the prospects of use of space for building Comprehensive National Power.
Space capabilities are force multipliers that in the high-tempo, technology driven modern warfare are essential for a well-coordinated and synchronised application of military punch. In the 21st Century, militarisation of space cannot be wished away. Therefore, India needs to enunciate a national space security policy, which would help different organisations to devise their own long term security plans using space assets.
The book, India China Space Capabilities: A Comparison by Colonel Sanjay Kumar is an attempt by the author to bring out the impact of Chinas space program on Indias security and national interests. The book is an important resource in terms of its exhaustiveness and analytical insight on an important contemporary national and military subject.
I am delighted to congratulate Col Sanjay Kumar for his research work which is of immense value to the geo-strategic community and to the Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation (CS3), USI of India, New Delhi for their support and encouragement to the author.
New Delhi | Lt Gen PK Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) |
June 2017 | Director, USI of India, New Delhi |
I owe deep gratitude to Lieutenant General P K Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retired), Director, United Service Institution of India, for giving me the opportunity to carry out my research work under the umbrella of USI, and for providing all the encouragement and support for my research.
I would like to thank Major General B K Sharma, AVSM, SM** (Retired), Deputy Director (Research) and Head of Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation, USI for providing a conducive research environment in the faculty. He helped me to structure my research work and his advice helped me tremendously in shaping the book.
My sincere gratitude to Gp Capt Ajey Lele (Retd); my guide for the project who channelised my reading, patiently perused and corrected my drafts. I thank him for sparing his valuable time for me whenever I requested for it and helping me understand the subject. I immensely benefited from numerous talks delivered by him at various forums in New Delhi and his research articles on various aspects of space.
My job would be incomplete if I did not thank all my fellow research scholars at USI of India. The thought provoking discussions have been very useful in understanding a large number of issues associated with the topic of my research. My special thanks to Doctor Roshan Khanijo for all the suggestions, comments and for providing a conducive atmosphere for research.
Lastly, I owe the successful completion of the thesis to the blessings of my parents and continued support from my wife Nipa Sharma, who through her continued encouragement kept me focused on my project.
