How China's ASAT technology can derail America's space power

DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy has said that most of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-sat-india-chose-much-lower-orbit-to-avoid-debris-threat-to-global-space-assets-says-drdo-208471">debris generated from the anti-satellite test</a> conducted by India in March have decayed and rest of it will dissipate in a "short period of time".

He said this in response to a question after delivering a talk on 'Technology for National Security' on Friday at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), a city-based think tank.

"As I had mentioned on April 6, the debris were to decay in a few weeks time. As per the information that we have already got, most of the debris has decayed. And, whatever, couple of pieces are there, they will be decaying in a short period of time," Reddy said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation chief said the continuous information being received is monitored and "I don't think there are any issues".

"It is extremely difficult to predict as to how many days it would take...But, as I had said that day, that they would decay in a few weeks, and the majority of them have decayed," he added.

On April 6 at a press conference at DRDO Bhawan here, Reddy had said India chose a much lower orbit of less than 300 km during 'Mission Shakti' for "capability demonstration" and to avoid threat of debris to global space assets.

His remark had come days after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) raised concerns about the spread of debris from India's anti-satellite test conducted on March 27.

India's Ministry of External Affairs, too, has said the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there is no space debris.

On another question on leakage of defence know how-related data, he said, "We haven't seen cases as such, but we are careful".

"There are no serious issues as such, but of late, because of the apprehensions of cyber attacks and cyber-related issues, we are sensitising people in the industry and also in our own laboratories on it," he said.&nbsp;

DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy has said that most of the debris generated from the anti-satellite test conducted by India in March have decayed and rest of it will dissipate in a "short period of time".

DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy has said that most of the debris generated from the anti-satellite test conducted by India in March have decayed and rest of it will dissipate in a "short period of time". He said this in response to a question after delivering a talk on 'Technology for National Security' on Friday at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), a city-based think tank. "As I had mentioned on April 6, the debris were to decay in a few weeks time. As per the information that we have already got, most of the debris has decayed. And, whatever, couple of pieces are there, they will be decaying in a short period of time," Reddy said. The Defence Research and Development Organisation chief said the continuous information being received is monitored and "I don't think there are any issues". "It is extremely difficult to predict as to how many days it would take...But, as I had said that day, that they would decay in a few weeks, and the majority of them have decayed," he added. On April 6 at a press conference at DRDO Bhawan here, Reddy had said India chose a much lower orbit of less than 300 km during 'Mission Shakti' for "capability demonstration" and to avoid threat of debris to global space assets. His remark had come days after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) raised concerns about the spread of debris from India's anti-satellite test conducted on March 27. India's Ministry of External Affairs, too, has said the test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there is no space debris. On another question on leakage of defence know how-related data, he said, "We haven't seen cases as such, but we are careful". "There are no serious issues as such, but of late, because of the apprehensions of cyber attacks and cyber-related issues, we are sensitising people in the industry and also in our own laboratories on it," he said.

Most of debris generated from India's anti-satellite test has decayed: Reddy

India is concerned about the "threats" it faces in space, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-continue-to-collaborate-with-india-on-security-and-safety-in-space-us-on-asat-test-207649">the Pentagon has said</a>, defending the country for acquiring anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test capabilities.

On March 27, India achieved a historic feat by shooting down its own <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-tracking-250-270-objects-from-indian-asat-test-debris-iss-not-at-risk-pentagon-206638">low-orbit satellite with a ground-to-space</a> missile, making the country a space power.

The test made India the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to have the ASAT capabilities.

"The first lesson from the Indian ASAT is just the simple question of why did they do that. And the answer should be, I think to all the committee looking at it, is that they did that because they are concerned about threats to their nation from space," US Strategic Command Commander General John E Hyten told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

"And therefore, they feel they have to have a capability to defend themselves in space," Hyten told Senate Armed Services Committee while responding to a question from Senators on the need for India to do anti-satellite missile test, and the debris it generated in the space.

After India's test, NASA had termed as a "terrible thing" the country's shooting down of one of its satellites, saying it created about 400 pieces of orbital debris, endangering the&nbsp;International Space Station (ISS).

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine had said about 60 pieces were tracked and out of which 24 are going above the apogee of the ISS.

Hyten advocated for the development of some kind of international norms of behaviour in space.

"And where those norms of behaviour should begin, from my opinion, is with debris, because as the combatant commander responsible for space today, I don't want more debris," said the top Pentagon commander.

Raising the issue, Senator Tim Kaine said India announced last month that it had successfully conducted a test of an anti-satellite weapon.

"So, they had something in low earth orbit. They used an anti-satellite weapon to down, and it resulted in - the estimate's right now 400 pieces of debris, 24 which are large enough to potentially pose a threat to the International Space Station," he said.

"There have been other instances like this. There was a Chinese - a similar effort in 2007 that led to the catalogued 100,000 pieces of debris, many of which are still observing in debris fields that pose danger to other assets in space," he said.

There was a collision in '09 between a working US satellite and a sort of defunct Soviet-era satellite that - kind of a fender bender that produced debris. Then this debris causes challenges, he added.

"If we think that space is going to be more of a traffic jam, more satellites for all kinds of purposes up there, what should we be thinking about as a Senate in this committee or in Foreign Relations about sort of the rules?" he asked.

"What should the rules environment be, and what should we be doing to try to promote rules? India is an ally. We're not talking about an adversary doing something. We're talking about them testing some capacity, but then that creates challenges for all kinds of uses of space. How should we be solving problems like that?" Kaine asked.&nbsp;

India is concerned about the "threats" it faces in space, the Pentagon has said, defending the country for acquiring anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test capabilities.

India is concerned about the "threats" it faces in space, the Pentagon has said, defending the country for acquiring anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test capabilities. On March 27, India achieved a historic feat by shooting down its own low-orbit satellite with a ground-to-space missile, making the country a space power. The test made India the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to have the ASAT capabilities. "The first lesson from the Indian ASAT is just the simple question of why did they do that. And the answer should be, I think to all the committee looking at it, is that they did that because they are concerned about threats to their nation from space," US Strategic Command Commander General John E Hyten told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. "And therefore, they feel they have to have a capability to defend themselves in space," Hyten told Senate Armed Services Committee while responding to a question from Senators on the need for India to do anti-satellite missile test, and the debris it generated in the space. After India's test, NASA had termed as a "terrible thing" the country's shooting down of one of its satellites, saying it created about 400 pieces of orbital debris, endangering the International Space Station (ISS). NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine had said about 60 pieces were tracked and out of which 24 are going above the apogee of the ISS. Hyten advocated for the development of some kind of international norms of behaviour in space. "And where those norms of behaviour should begin, from my opinion, is with debris, because as the combatant commander responsible for space today, I don't want more debris," said the top Pentagon commander. Raising the issue, Senator Tim Kaine said India announced last month that it had successfully conducted a test of an anti-satellite weapon. "So, they had something in low earth orbit. They used an anti-satellite weapon to down, and it resulted in - the estimate's right now 400 pieces of debris, 24 which are large enough to potentially pose a threat to the International Space Station," he said. "There have been other instances like this. There was a Chinese - a similar effort in 2007 that led to the catalogued 100,000 pieces of debris, many of which are still observing in debris fields that pose danger to other assets in space," he said. There was a collision in '09 between a working US satellite and a sort of defunct Soviet-era satellite that - kind of a fender bender that produced debris. Then this debris causes challenges, he added. "If we think that space is going to be more of a traffic jam, more satellites for all kinds of purposes up there, what should we be thinking about as a Senate in this committee or in Foreign Relations about sort of the rules?" he asked. "What should the rules environment be, and what should we be doing to try to promote rules? India is an ally. We're not talking about an adversary doing something. We're talking about them testing some capacity, but then that creates challenges for all kinds of uses of space. How should we be solving problems like that?" Kaine asked.

India conducted ASAT test because they face threats from other nations in space: US commander to Senate committee

Apparently, under prodding from the White House, NASA has said it will continue to cooperate with the ISRO, days after the US space agency's chief criticised India and termed its anti-satellite weapon test a "terrible thing" for creating about 400 pieces of orbital debris.

In a letter to ISRO Chairman K Sivan, NASA Administrator James Bridenstine said, "based on the guidance received from the White House", he looks forward to continuing to work with ISRO on a host of issues including human space flights.

"As part of our partnership with you, we will continue to work on issues using the NASA-ISRO Human Space Flight Working Group, Planetary Science Working Group, US India Earth Science Working Group and the Heliophysics Working Group," Bridenstine said.

In his letter, Bridenstine says he recently wrote to ISRO about the suspension of cooperation on human space flight.

"Recently, we sent you a letter indicating a suspension of activities under the NASA-ISRO Human Space Flight Working Group," he wrote. 
From the April 4 letter, it appears that after the White House weighing in, the cooperation remains intact.

The letter comes days after NASA chief Bridenstine in a town hall meeting criticised India's anti-satellite missile (ASAT) test because of the debris it generated in the space and its potential threat to the International Space Station.

"The anti-satellite weapons test by India last week has resulted in about 400 pieces of orbital debris," he said on April 1, adding "that is a terrible, terrible thing to create an event that sends debris and an apogee that goes above the International Space Station".

"As we made clear, space debris is a serious issue for the United States. As it is a growing threat, it is the responsibility of all nations who operate in space," Bridenstine said in his letter, a copy of which has been seen by PTI.

"We will continue to monitor the remaining debris from your test as it relates to the safety of our human spaceflight activities especially at the International Space Station," wrote the NASA Administration, according to the letter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had achieved a "historic feat" by shooting down its own low-orbit satellite with a ground-to-space missile, making the country a "space power".

Only three other countries - the US, Russia and China - have anti-satellite missile (ASAT) capabilities.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Apparently, under prodding from the White House, NASA has said it will continue to cooperate with the ISRO, days after the US space agency's chief criticised India and termed its anti-satellite weapon test a "terrible thing" for creating about 400 pieces of orbital debris.

Apparently, under prodding from the White House, NASA has said it will continue to cooperate with the ISRO, days after the US space agency's chief criticised India and termed its anti-satellite weapon test a "terrible thing" for creating about 400 pieces of orbital debris. In a letter to ISRO Chairman K Sivan, NASA Administrator James Bridenstine said, "based on the guidance received from the White House", he looks forward to continuing to work with ISRO on a host of issues including human space flights. "As part of our partnership with you, we will continue to work on issues using the NASA-ISRO Human Space Flight Working Group, Planetary Science Working Group, US India Earth Science Working Group and the Heliophysics Working Group," Bridenstine said. In his letter, Bridenstine says he recently wrote to ISRO about the suspension of cooperation on human space flight. "Recently, we sent you a letter indicating a suspension of activities under the NASA-ISRO Human Space Flight Working Group," he wrote. From the April 4 letter, it appears that after the White House weighing in, the cooperation remains intact. The letter comes days after NASA chief Bridenstine in a town hall meeting criticised India's anti-satellite missile (ASAT) test because of the debris it generated in the space and its potential threat to the International Space Station. "The anti-satellite weapons test by India last week has resulted in about 400 pieces of orbital debris," he said on April 1, adding "that is a terrible, terrible thing to create an event that sends debris and an apogee that goes above the International Space Station". "As we made clear, space debris is a serious issue for the United States. As it is a growing threat, it is the responsibility of all nations who operate in space," Bridenstine said in his letter, a copy of which has been seen by PTI. "We will continue to monitor the remaining debris from your test as it relates to the safety of our human spaceflight activities especially at the International Space Station," wrote the NASA Administration, according to the letter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had achieved a "historic feat" by shooting down its own low-orbit satellite with a ground-to-space missile, making the country a "space power". Only three other countries - the US, Russia and China - have anti-satellite missile (ASAT) capabilities.

NASA says cooperation with ISRO remains intact

A day after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asat-satellite-destruction-led-to-400-pieces-of-debris-endangering-iss-nasa-207311">NASA branded India's</a> anti-satellite missile(ASAT) test as a "terrible thing", the US State Department said it was an important concern and that it had taken note of government’s statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues.&nbsp;

"The issue of space debris, that's an important concern for United States and&nbsp;I would say that we took note of Indian Government’s statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues," US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said on NASA's remarks.

NASA had said on Monday that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-didnt-spy-on-indias-asat-test-pentagon-206628">Indian satellite which was destroyed</a> had led to twenty-four pieces of debris floating "above the apogee of the International Space Station".

The US military tracks objects in space to predict the collision risk for the International Space Station(ISS) and for satellites. They are currently tracking 23,000 objects larger than 10 centimetres.

"We have a strong strategic partnership with India and we continue to pursue shared interests in space and in scientific&nbsp;and technical cooperation, that includes collaboration on safety and security in space," US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino added while briefing reporters at the White House.

US Strategic Command's Joint Force Space Component Command (JFSCC) had said earlier that 250 pieces of debris associated with an Indian ASAT launch last Wednesday were&nbsp;being actively tracked.&nbsp;

The JFSCC said it will continue to actively track debris associated with the event and issue close approach notifications as required until the debris enters the earth's atmosphere.

The Pentagon had said the ISS is not at risk.

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell from the prestigious Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics had said India acted in a less irresponsible manner than the Chinese in doing the test.&nbsp;

"We don't know yet how much debris and how high. The United States has said that it's tracking about 250 pieces. But it will take them at least a few days, if not a few weeks to figure to catalogue those pieces," he told PTI. 
&nbsp;

A day after NASA branded India's anti-satellite missile(ASAT) test as a "terrible thing", the US State Department said it was an important concern and that it had taken note of government’s statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues.

A day after NASA branded India's anti-satellite missile(ASAT) test as a "terrible thing", the US State Department said it was an important concern and that it had taken note of government’s statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues. "The issue of space debris, that's an important concern for United States and I would say that we took note of Indian Government’s statements that the test was designed to address space debris issues," US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said on NASA's remarks. NASA had said on Monday that the Indian satellite which was destroyed had led to twenty-four pieces of debris floating "above the apogee of the International Space Station". The US military tracks objects in space to predict the collision risk for the International Space Station(ISS) and for satellites. They are currently tracking 23,000 objects larger than 10 centimetres. "We have a strong strategic partnership with India and we continue to pursue shared interests in space and in scientific and technical cooperation, that includes collaboration on safety and security in space," US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino added while briefing reporters at the White House. US Strategic Command's Joint Force Space Component Command (JFSCC) had said earlier that 250 pieces of debris associated with an Indian ASAT launch last Wednesday were being actively tracked. The JFSCC said it will continue to actively track debris associated with the event and issue close approach notifications as required until the debris enters the earth's atmosphere. The Pentagon had said the ISS is not at risk. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell from the prestigious Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics had said India acted in a less irresponsible manner than the Chinese in doing the test. "We don't know yet how much debris and how high. The United States has said that it's tracking about 250 pieces. But it will take them at least a few days, if not a few weeks to figure to catalogue those pieces," he told PTI.

We continue to collaborate with India on security and safety in space: US on ASAT test

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had successfully shot down one of its own low-grade decommissioned satellites with the help of an indigenously made missile produced by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was unclear which missile from the family of missiles India possesses was employed for this. With a process code-named Mission Shakti, India became the fourth country in the world to develop this specialised technology and successfully test it, after the US, Russia and China. The test was carried out off the coast of Odisha and on a low orbit satellite 300 km above surface level.&nbsp;

To a public, even of the reasonably well-informed variety, the downing of our own satellite by an Indian missile and going into celebration mode must appear rather strange. The military-strategic implications of the achievement will take a little time to sink once the brouhaha over the application of Election Commission norms to the announcement, gets over.&nbsp;

A simple explanation from a military point of view is given here. Remember, having an eye in the sky in the form of satellites is a major advantage for militaries, which possess such capability. Besides the operational strategic domain involving close surveillance, there is navigation for aircraft, surface vehicles, vessels at sea and personnel on foot. Pinpoint targeting of long-range missiles is possible because of these. With the development of armed drones, the US operators have been located in Florida, US, and homing the drones to their targets in Afghanistan with the help of satellite surveillance and navigation. Surveillance from space has distinct advantage, in that it is like a permanent drone in the sky and covering an area well beyond imagination. It makes the verifiability of agreement on limitation of troops, or early warning signals of troop movement much more credible. India’s massive mobilisation before it can go to war with either adversary is vulnerable due to satellite pick up. In today’s world the Internet and many other networks are dependent for their area coverage on satellites. Modern wars without network centricity are almost unthinkable. Similarly, war without the cyber domain activated for offensive or defensive tasks cannot be imagined today. Satellites provide the capacity for wide area coverage and can assist with both offensive and defensive exploitation of the cyber domain.&nbsp;

Since so much now depends on satellites, making your adversary’s eyes, ears and nodes in the sky vulnerable to incapacitation through a physical attack (by kinetic contact) or other means was an obvious measure that militaries would pursue. When a satellite or satellites are taken out or rendered unusable, the resultant effect is most felt on the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability of a nation or force. It helps in the efforts to remain ahead in the information and decision cycle. There are networks for command and control, control of artillery, logistics and communications, without which military operations are rendered almost ineffective. The US has been pursuing a programme focused on this from as early as 1959. The first test missed a satellite by a couple of kilometres but in 1962 and 1963 successful tests were conducted with ballistic missiles going up to a vertical height of 400 miles. It was the time of President Ronald Reagan that research took a different turn with the ‘Star Wars’ programme which was designed to destroy all incoming projectiles or unfriendly equipment in space through kinetic of directed energy means.&nbsp;

China commenced testing in 2007 but its very first test left a tremendous amount of space debris from the destruction of a low orbit older satellite. Debris in space resulting from the use of ASAT weapons, even for testing purposes, is a major challenge as even small particles can ram against functional satellites and damage them. It is reported by the UN Outer Space Affairs Department that only 1400 of the 19000 artificial objects being currently tracked in space are functional satellites, the rest mostly being debris. A set of UN guidelines on space debris have been formulated. India’s ASAT test was in a very low earth orbit thus mitigating the danger emerging from the resultant debris after the test.&nbsp;

So why has India undertaken the ASAT test? Firstly, much like nuclear weapons, ASAT could remain a strategic weapon for only deterrence and not be involved in actual war fighting although its direct life-threatening capability is lower by volumes. It is important to demonstrate the capability for deterrence especially since China has been developing its capability for fairly long. Secondly, it is always possible that a Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) kind of international agreement may force a moratorium on development and testing of ASAT in the future. That would leave India in the lurch and future testing against the treaty would draw sanctions and international ire. A physical test with data all canned gives a boost to strategic capability. While the MEA may have made the right move by discounting any objective or country being focused upon by India’s ASAT programme, it is important that the successful test has been done at a time when the subcontinent has just emerged from its latest crisis involving a near showdown between India and Pakistan. Pakistan is known for its copy cat approach and it could just be tempted to acquire such a capability of its own; of course with the assistance of its all-weather friend, China. Affordability is not something Pakistan usually looks at despite its almost paralysed economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are fast emerging technologies in this field and we have to hear more about India’s progress in the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) domain for a future ‘iron dome’ concept. The US and Russia have the capabilities of launching an ASAT from the ship, land and space, while India, presently, has used a land installation. No doubt progress towards that will also be made as ISRO has demonstrated.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-blinding-the-eye-in-the-sky-2734548">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had successfully shot down one of its own low-grade decommissioned satellites with the help of an indigenously made missile produced by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had successfully shot down one of its own low-grade decommissioned satellites with the help of an indigenously made missile produced by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was unclear which missile from the family of missiles India possesses was employed for this. With a process code-named Mission Shakti, India became the fourth country in the world to develop this specialised technology and successfully test it, after the US, Russia and China. The test was carried out off the coast of Odisha and on a low orbit satellite 300 km above surface level. To a public, even of the reasonably well-informed variety, the downing of our own satellite by an Indian missile and going into celebration mode must appear rather strange. The military-strategic implications of the achievement will take a little time to sink once the brouhaha over the application of Election Commission norms to the announcement, gets over. A simple explanation from a military point of view is given here. Remember, having an eye in the sky in the form of satellites is a major advantage for militaries, which possess such capability. Besides the operational strategic domain involving close surveillance, there is navigation for aircraft, surface vehicles, vessels at sea and personnel on foot. Pinpoint targeting of long-range missiles is possible because of these. With the development of armed drones, the US operators have been located in Florida, US, and homing the drones to their targets in Afghanistan with the help of satellite surveillance and navigation. Surveillance from space has distinct advantage, in that it is like a permanent drone in the sky and covering an area well beyond imagination. It makes the verifiability of agreement on limitation of troops, or early warning signals of troop movement much more credible. India’s massive mobilisation before it can go to war with either adversary is vulnerable due to satellite pick up. In today’s world the Internet and many other networks are dependent for their area coverage on satellites. Modern wars without network centricity are almost unthinkable. Similarly, war without the cyber domain activated for offensive or defensive tasks cannot be imagined today. Satellites provide the capacity for wide area coverage and can assist with both offensive and defensive exploitation of the cyber domain. Since so much now depends on satellites, making your adversary’s eyes, ears and nodes in the sky vulnerable to incapacitation through a physical attack (by kinetic contact) or other means was an obvious measure that militaries would pursue. When a satellite or satellites are taken out or rendered unusable, the resultant effect is most felt on the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability of a nation or force. It helps in the efforts to remain ahead in the information and decision cycle. There are networks for command and control, control of artillery, logistics and communications, without which military operations are rendered almost ineffective. The US has been pursuing a programme focused on this from as early as 1959. The first test missed a satellite by a couple of kilometres but in 1962 and 1963 successful tests were conducted with ballistic missiles going up to a vertical height of 400 miles. It was the time of President Ronald Reagan that research took a different turn with the ‘Star Wars’ programme which was designed to destroy all incoming projectiles or unfriendly equipment in space through kinetic of directed energy means. China commenced testing in 2007 but its very first test left a tremendous amount of space debris from the destruction of a low orbit older satellite. Debris in space resulting from the use of ASAT weapons, even for testing purposes, is a major challenge as even small particles can ram against functional satellites and damage them. It is reported by the UN Outer Space Affairs Department that only 1400 of the 19000 artificial objects being currently tracked in space are functional satellites, the rest mostly being debris. A set of UN guidelines on space debris have been formulated. India’s ASAT test was in a very low earth orbit thus mitigating the danger emerging from the resultant debris after the test. So why has India undertaken the ASAT test? Firstly, much like nuclear weapons, ASAT could remain a strategic weapon for only deterrence and not be involved in actual war fighting although its direct life-threatening capability is lower by volumes. It is important to demonstrate the capability for deterrence especially since China has been developing its capability for fairly long. Secondly, it is always possible that a Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) kind of international agreement may force a moratorium on development and testing of ASAT in the future. That would leave India in the lurch and future testing against the treaty would draw sanctions and international ire. A physical test with data all canned gives a boost to strategic capability. While the MEA may have made the right move by discounting any objective or country being focused upon by India’s ASAT programme, it is important that the successful test has been done at a time when the subcontinent has just emerged from its latest crisis involving a near showdown between India and Pakistan. Pakistan is known for its copy cat approach and it could just be tempted to acquire such a capability of its own; of course with the assistance of its all-weather friend, China. Affordability is not something Pakistan usually looks at despite its almost paralysed economy. There are fast emerging technologies in this field and we have to hear more about India’s progress in the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) domain for a future ‘iron dome’ concept. The US and Russia have the capabilities of launching an ASAT from the ship, land and space, while India, presently, has used a land installation. No doubt progress towards that will also be made as ISRO has demonstrated. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Having an eye in sky in form of satellites is a major advantage for militaries

A day after India's successful anti-satellite missile test, DRDO Chairman G Sateesh Reddy said that ASAT missile programme started a few years back and entered ‘mission mode’ six months ago.&nbsp;

About 100 scientists worked around the clock to reach the intended launch date target, he added.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> DRDO Chairman GS Reddy to ANI says, “NSA (Ajit Doval) whom we report to on strategic matters gave direction to go ahead with the test &amp; he had the concurrence from PM. The development started a few years back &amp; we went into mission mode in last 6 months.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissionShakti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissionShakti</a> <a href="https://t.co/QPoPobC9pp">pic.twitter.com/QPoPobC9pp</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1111112603915505665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
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According to Reddy, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, who had the concurrence from the prime minister, gave the go-ahead for the test.&nbsp;

DRDO reports to Doval on strategic matters.&nbsp;

Reddy said A-SAT missile was capable of targeting all ‘Low Earth Orbit’ (LEO) satellites and has a range of up to a 1000 Kilometers plus.&nbsp;

''We have the ability to handle LEO satellites but we intentionally chose at low altitudes as a responsible nation to see that all the space assets are safe and debris decayed fast,'' he added.

The missile has been developed specifically as an anti-satellite weapon, Reddy said and added, it&nbsp;has the technologies developed for ballistic missile defence applications, particularly the kill vehicle.

A day after India's successful anti-satellite missile test, DRDO Chairman G Sateesh Reddy said that ASAT missile programme started a few years back and entered ‘mission mode’ six months ago.

A day after India's successful anti-satellite missile test, DRDO Chairman G Sateesh Reddy said that ASAT missile programme started a few years back and entered ‘mission mode’ six months ago. About 100 scientists worked around the clock to reach the intended launch date target, he added. #WATCH DRDO Chairman GS Reddy to ANI says, “NSA (Ajit Doval) whom we report to on strategic matters gave direction to go ahead with the test & he had the concurrence from PM. The development started a few years back & we went into mission mode in last 6 months.” #MissionShakti pic.twitter.com/QPoPobC9pp — ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2019 × According to Reddy, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, who had the concurrence from the prime minister, gave the go-ahead for the test. DRDO reports to Doval on strategic matters. Reddy said A-SAT missile was capable of targeting all ‘Low Earth Orbit’ (LEO) satellites and has a range of up to a 1000 Kilometers plus. ''We have the ability to handle LEO satellites but we intentionally chose at low altitudes as a responsible nation to see that all the space assets are safe and debris decayed fast,'' he added. The missile has been developed specifically as an anti-satellite weapon, Reddy said and added, it has the technologies developed for ballistic missile defence applications, particularly the kill vehicle.

ASAT missile project began 2 years ago, went into 'mission mode' in last 6 months, says DRDO Chairman

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