. NEW DELHI: Emphasising that space is a strategic domain today, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said on Thursday that “if we fail in space, we will be forced to fight blind. However, if we dominate in space, we will fight with foresight”.Making a virtual statement at Indian DefSpace Symposium titled “Strengthening India’s Defence and Space Industry Synergy” here, Gen Chouhan said, “Technology is no longer just an enabler. It’s reshaping the very calculus of power. In this emerging paradigm, space is no longer a support function. It’s a strategic field that influences defence, escalation control and war-fighting outcomes.”Amid media reports that Iran has integrated China’s BeiDou navigation satellite system to boost the accuracy of its missiles and drones targeting US and Israeli assets, CDS said, “Space has evolved into a derivative capability, where services generated by one nation can be leveraged by multiple actors, state as well as non-state alike. This fundamentally affects the application of military force, as is evident in the Iran-US-Israel conflict…This democratisation of space capability is both an opportunity and a strategic vulnerability.”At the event, DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat called for a “whole-of-nation” approach to close India’s capability gap with rivals whose space programmes are expanding at an alarming pace. He, however, stressed that catching up will be a “Herculean challenge” without greater investment and collaboration.While Isro remains the lead agency for the civilian space programme, Kamat said DRDO has been entrusted with addressing military aspects of space after the formation of the Defence Space Agency. Kamat made it clear that while some “space technologies can still be sourced from abroad, several areas remain restricted and require indigenous development”.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Uninformed, Inappropriate’: India Responds To Trump’s ‘Hell-hole’ Comment‘In Touch With Iran’: MEA Confirms Indian Crew Safe After Hormuz FiringViolent Clashes Mar Bengal Phase 1 Voting As Tamil Stars Contribute To 82% TurnoutFrance Waives Airport Transit Visa For Indian Nationals, Boosts Travel EaseTop Military Leadership Of India And US Engage To Discuss Common Concerns In The Indo-pacificEx-Domestic Worker Arrested in Delhi IIT Graduate Murder; Linked to Alwar CaseTrump Sparks Outrage After Reposting ‘Hellholes’ Remark on India, China Amid Citizenship DebateUS Congressman Urges Pakistan To Act Against LeT, JeM; Renews Focus On Cross-Border TerrorWest Bengal Poll Violence: Blast In Murshidabad Injures Multiple During VotingVijay Writes To EC Seeking Poll Extension Amid 17.69% Early Turnout In Tamil Nadu123PhotostoriesAre you using the right spoon? Here’s what each type of spoon is actually designed forGarad to Tangail: 5 underrated textiles from West Bengal you need to knowRoyal birthdays in May 2026: List of upcoming birthdays of Royals across the worldExclusive – Parth Samthaan on Mahid’s popularity, Sehar Hone Ko Hai and work-life balance: ‘We never tried to create controversy or show religion as propaganda’7 ways to make your first home feel right—cozy, functional, and personalMeghan Markle to Katy Perry: Ultimate celebrity backyards that serve as private hideawaysTop 5 elite residential neighbourhoods in Lucknow for end-users and investorsHow to identify a papaya which has been artificially ripenedWhy did Prime Minister Narendra Modi praise Indian cheese in a social media postInside ‘Dhurandhar’ director Aditya Dhar and Yami Gautam’s Rs 20 crore Bandra home: Minimalism, nature and quiet luxury123Hot PicksBengal Election 2026UP Board Class 10 result 2026Bengal election dos and don’tsTamil Nadu pollsSIR ProtestTN election dos and don’tsBank Holidays AprilTop TrendingWest Bengal electionTamil Nadu electionDianna RussiniNFL TradeTaylor SwiftMike VrabelUPMSP 12th ResultAnna KournikovasDNA TestIPL Orange Cap
NEW DELHI: Emphasising that space is a strategic domain today, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said on Thursday that “if we fail in space, we will be forced to fight blind. However, if we dominate in space, we will fight with foresight”.Making a virtual statement at Indian DefSpace Symposium titled “Strengthening India’s Defence and Space Industry Synergy” here, Gen Chouhan said, “Technology is no longer just an enabler. It’s reshaping the very calculus of power. In this emerging paradigm, space is no longer a support function. It’s a strategic field that influences defence, escalation control and war-fighting outcomes.”Amid media reports that Iran has integrated China’s BeiDou navigation satellite system to boost the accuracy of its missiles and drones targeting US and Israeli assets, CDS said, “Space has evolved into a derivative capability, where services generated by one nation can be leveraged by multiple actors, state as well as non-state alike. This fundamentally affects the application of military force, as is evident in the Iran-US-Israel conflict…This democratisation of space capability is both an opportunity and a strategic vulnerability.”At the event, DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat called for a “whole-of-nation” approach to close India’s capability gap with rivals whose space programmes are expanding at an alarming pace. He, however, stressed that catching up will be a “Herculean challenge” without greater investment and collaboration.While Isro remains the lead agency for the civilian space programme, Kamat said DRDO has been entrusted with addressing military aspects of space after the formation of the Defence Space Agency. Kamat made it clear that while some “space technologies can still be sourced from abroad, several areas remain restricted and require indigenous development”.
