Integrated Space Cell

The Integrated Space Cell had been set up to utilise more effectively the country's space-based assets for military purposes and to look into threats to these assets.{{cite news | title=India in aerospace defence plan | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6307875.stm | publisher=BBC | date=28 January 2007 | access-date=24 April 2009}}{{cite web|title=India Begins Work On Space Weapons Command |url=http://www.spacewar.com/reports/India_Begins_Work_On_Space_Weapons_Command.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070709071654/http://www.spacewar.com/reports/India_Begins_Work_On_Space_Weapons_Command.html |url-status=dead|archive-date=9 July 2007 |publisher=SpaceDaily |date=12 April 2006 |access-date=24 April 2009 }} It functioned under the Integrated Defense Services headquarters of the Indian Ministry of Defense.{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JF18Df01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203131949/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JF18Df01.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=3 December 2008 |title=India goes to war in space |date=18 June 2008 |access-date=2 July 2010 }} This command leveraged space technology including satellites. Unlike an aerospace command, where the air force controls most of its activities, the Integrated Space Cell envisaged cooperation and coordination between the three services as well as civilian agencies dealing with space. The armed forces are increasingly depending on satellites for communication, aircraft and missile guidance, reconnaissance and surveillance. Satellites are also essential for civilian purposes such as weather forecasting, disaster management and communications. This had made it important to work out measures to protect India's space-based assets.

The formation of an Integrated Space Cell was announced on 10 June 2010 by the former Defence Minister A. K. Antony{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/Printrelease.aspx?relid=39503|title=PIB Press Release|date=10 June 2010|access-date=18 July 2010}} who said it was being established because of "the growing threat" to India's space assets. "Offensive counter-space systems like anti-satellite weaponry, new classes of heavy-lift and small boosters and an improved array of military space systems have emerged in our neighbourhood" stressing that these need to be countered. Announcing its setting up, Antony said while India remains committed to non-weaponisation of space, emergence of offensive counter space systems and anti-satellite weaponry posed new threats which had to be countered.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/news/2008/space-080610-irna01.htm|title=India to set up space cell to counter threats to space-based assets |date=10 June 2008|access-date=19 July 2010}} The defense minister's announcement comes about 16 months after India's then chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Shashi Tyagi, told the media that India was "in the process of setting up an aerospace command to exploit outer space by integrating its capabilities". The Integrated Space Cell has apparently been operational for six months before its formal announcement by Defence Minister Shri. A. K. Antony.{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080052615|title=India sets up Integrated Space Cell|date=10 June 2008|access-date=19 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614000739/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080052615|archive-date=14 June 2008}}

The announcement came less than a month after China used a medium-range ballistic missile to shoot down one of its own aging satellites, a Chinese Fengyun 1C polar orbit weather satellite that it had launched into orbit in 1999. With that, China displayed to the world that it had the technology to knock out a satellite in space, expertise that only two other countries - Russia and the United States have. On 27 March 2019 India also demonstrated this technology by knocking one of its own satellites, making it the fourth nation after U.S, Russia and China to do so.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-asat-weapon-low-earth-orbit-satellite-announcement-1487551-2019-03-27|title=Mission Shakti: India 4th nation to enter elite space power club with anti-satellite weapon, announces PM Modi|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-03-29}} But there are broader reasons behind its formation, especially with the Indian Armed Forces relying more on space-based assets for communication, reconnaissance and surveillance.

{{anchor | Military | Military satellites | Spy satellites }}

As of December 2018, the IRS system is the largest constellation of remote sensing satellites for civilian use in operation today in the world which also has the dual military use, with 14 operational satellites including the latest at least 4 dedicated military use (GSAT-7, GSAT-6 and GSAT-7A, EMISAT by DRDO), however GSAT-6A which was launched as a dedicated satellite for army lost communication after its launch, and HySIS and Microsat-R satellites as of 24 January 2019 are dual use satellite available to military also.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/why-isros-gsat-7a-launch-is-important-for-iaf/articleshow/67153347.cms Why Isro's Gsat-7A launch is important for the Indian Air Force], Times of India, 19 Dec 2018.[http://www.isro.org/scripts/currentprogrammein.aspx#IRS ISRO] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910200041/http://www.isro.org/scripts/currentprogrammein.aspx#IRS |date=2014-09-10 }}[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isros-pslv-c-44-places-military-satellite-microsat-r-in-orbit/articleshow/67679340.cms India launches military satellite], Times of India, 25 January 2019. Of the 900+ operational satellites, there are 320 dual use or dedicated military satellite in the sky, half of which are owned by United States alone, followed by Russia, China and India (14), as of 24 January 2018. All these Indian satellites are placed in polar Sun-synchronous orbit and provide data in a variety of spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions. Though most are not meant to be dedicated military satellites, some have a spatial resolution of 1 metre or below which can be also used for military applications. The following is a noteworthy list of satellites:

{{anchor | AST | Anti-sat | Anti-satellite weapon target | target }}

{{main|Mission Shakti}}

1. Microsat-R satellite was launched and it served as a target for Indian anti-satellite weapon experiment in which it was successfully destroyed by India's anti-satellite missile.{{cite web|url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/nation/2019/03/28/drdo-top-secret-asat-mission-project-xsv1-onmanorama-exclusive.html|title=Onmanorama Exclusive {{!}} DRDO's top secret A-SAT mission codenamed 'Project XSV-1'|website=OnManorama|language=en|access-date=2019-03-28}}{{cite web|url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/nation/2019/03/27/mission-shakti-drdo-asat-missile-hit-microsat-r-isro.html|title=Explained Mission Shakti {{!}} What is A-SAT and how it hit Microsat-R in 168 secs|website=OnManorama|language=en|access-date=2019-03-28}}{{cite news |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=India Tests Anti-Satellite Weapon |url=https://www.space.com/india-tests-anti-satellite-weapon.html |work=Space.com |date=27 March 2019 |language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/02/709032198/nasa-debris-from-indias-anti-satellite-test-raised-threat-to-space-station|title=NASA: Debris From India's Anti-Satellite Test Raised Threat To Space Station|newspaper=NPR|date=2 April 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02|last1=Chappell|first1=Bill}}{{cite web|url=https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/quarterly-news/pdfs/odqnv23i3.pdf|title=NASA's Orbital Debris Quarterly News Volume 23, Issue 3|date=2 August 2019|access-date=4 August 2019}}

Operational

{{Excerpt|Defence Space Agency#Operational}}

Decommissioned

{{Excerpt|Defence Space Agency#Decommissioned}}

{{anchor | Additional | Requirement | Additional military satellites }}

As aftermath of 2020 China–India skirmishes, the Indian security agencies have requested the government for additional four to six satellites with high resolution sensors and cameras to keep an eye on individuals and small objections on and across Line of Actual Control.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/security-agencies-seek-four-to-six-dedicated-satellites-for-keeping-close-eye-on-chinese-military-activities/articleshow/77391755.cms Security agencies seek four to six dedicated satellites for keeping close eye on Chinese military activities], Times of India, 6 Aug 2020.

{{main|2019 Indian anti-satellite missile test}}

File:Launch of DRDO's Ballistic Missile Defence interceptor missile for an ASAT test on 27 March 2019.jpg for ASAT test on 27 March 2019]]

On 27 March 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the successful launch of India's first ASAT.{{cite web|url = https://themirk.com/india-enters-the-elite-club-successfully-shot-down-low-orbit-satellite/|title = India Enters the Elite Club: Successfully Shot Down Low Orbit Satellite - the Mirk|date = 27 March 2019|access-date = 29 March 2019|archive-date = 28 March 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190328134405/https://themirk.com/india-enters-the-elite-club-successfully-shot-down-low-orbit-satellite/|url-status = dead}} The interceptor was able to strike a test satellite at a 300-kilometre (186 mi) altitude in low Earth orbit (LEO), thus successfully testing its ASAT missile. The interceptor was launched at around 05:40 UTC at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha and hit its target Microsat-R{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-satellite-idUSKCN1R91DM|title = India says space debris from anti-satellite test to 'vanish' in 45 days|newspaper = Reuters|date = 28 March 2019}} after 168 seconds.{{cite web|url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/nation/2019/03/27/mission-shakti-drdo-asat-missile-hit-microsat-r-isro.html|title = Home}} The operation was named Mission Shakti. The missile system was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)—a research wing of the Indian defence services.{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1569563 |title=India Joins Select Group of Nations, Destroys Live Satellite in Low Earth Orbit |publisher=Press Information Bureau |date=27 March 2019 |access-date=2022-08-05}} With this test, India became the fourth nation with anti-satellite missile capabilities. India stated that this capability is a deterrent and is not directed against any nation.{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/06/indias-anti-satellite-weapons/|title = India's Anti-Satellite Weapons}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/03/27/india-test-anti-satellite-weapon-modi.html|title=India successfully tests anti-satellite weapon: Modi|website=The Week }}https://dbpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/dbpost.com/doval-to-draft-space-policy-after-successful-asat-test/amp/?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCCAE%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fdbpost.com%2Fdoval-to-draft-space-policy-after-successful-asat-test%2F {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}

• Armed Forces Special Operations Division
• Defence Cyber Agency
• Integrated Defence Staff
• Indian Nuclear Command Authority
• Strategic Forces Command
• Special Forces of India
• List of Indian Air Force stations
• List of Indian Navy bases
• India's overseas military bases
• Joint warfare

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121021013743/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-11/india/27778120_1_space-assets-communication-network-mou-on-defence-cooperation Now, space cell to keep an eye on China's plans]
• [http://indiapost.com/article/perspective/34/ India to set up tri-service Aerospace Command]

{{Indian space programme}}

Category:Military of India

Category:Space agencies

Category:2010 establishments in India