New Delhi, 10 January 2025: The IndSpaceX 3.0 simulated a contest between two notional spacefaring adversaries vying for dominance at the DefSat 2025. The strategic table-top exercise addressed the degree of severities including the 4 Ds’ – Disrupt, Deny, Degrade and Destroy along with Information War-Delay and Information War-Deceive.
“In a turbulent world dominated by Western supremacy, countries like India cannot rely on the mercy of global powers. Initiatives like G20 and BRICS are steps forward, but true self-reliance — Atmanirbharta — requires every ministry to adopt it, not just the Ministry of Defence. Building our own strength is the only path to becoming a global power,” emphasized Lt. Gen. V. G. Khandare.
The simulation had “Green Land,” and “Orange Land,” teams developing strategies for achieving operational space superiority amid scenarios involving information warfare, system disruptions, and resilience-building tactics. The exercise was chaired by Lt. Gen. V. G. Khandare, Principal Advisor to the Ministry of Defence, and conducted by Lt. Gen. PJS Pannu, Senior Advisor to SIA-India. Dr. Subrata Rakshit, Director General (TM) of DRDO, served as the Technical Umpire, while Dr. Ranjana Kaul, Partner at Dua Associates, contributed as an Umpire.
The day began with the release of two significant reports — PRISM: 1.0: US-India Export Controls Dialogue and India-Africa Space Collaboration: Unlocking Strategic Opportunities for Growth. These reports underscore India’s growing role as a strategic leader in space and defense collaboration.
The Perspectives on Regulatory Issues in Strategic Markets (PRISM) 1.0 webinar, held in November 2024, discussed significant policy reforms, including liberalizations in ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime), which are poised to strengthen U.S.-India collaboration in defense and space sectors. SIA-India, in collaboration with the IndUS Tech Council, continues the webinar series with otherstrategic markets like Australia, Japan, and Germany.
Mr. Anil Prakash, Director General of SIA-India, stated: “By navigating global regulatory landscapes and fostering international collaborations, India is poised to emerge as a powerhouse in defense and space manufacturing. The PRISM series and India-Africa partnerships exemplify the synergy between innovation and policy alignment, unlocking new avenues for sustainable growth and technological leadership.”
This report on “India-Africa Space Collaboration: Unlocking Strategic Opportunities for Growth” celebrates the enduring partnership between India and Africa, emphasizing their shared vision to leverage space technology for socio-economic development. Highlighting India’s advancements in space technology and Africa’s growing ambitions, the report underscores how collaborative efforts in satellite technology, Earth observation, and capacity building can address global challenges like climate change, food security, and connectivity. In this endeavor, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SIA-India and Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, has been signed in December 2024, signaling a new era for India-Africa partnerships in space technology.
Addressing the growing importance of space technology, Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri stated that “The government’s strategic initiatives are reinforcing the aatmanirbhar vision. India plans to expand its military satellite capabilities significantly, targeting around 100 military satellites by 2030. This expansion is essential for ensuring robust communication and surveillance capabilities to safeguard national interests. Furthermore, with ₹25,000 crore allocated for defense space investments in the fiscal year 2024-25, India is making an unprecedented commitment to the defense space domain, ensuring a robust and resilient ecosystem.”
DefSat 2025 reaffirmed India’s strategic commitment to advancing its defense space capabilities and fostering global partnerships. With the successful execution of IndSpaceX 3.0, pivotal policy dialogues, and key international collaborations, India has further cemented its role as a leading player in the global space landscape. As these partnerships mature, they will unlock transformative opportunities for technological innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth in the defense space sector.
