The Defence Space Agency (DSA) of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) has launched ‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024’, a landmark three-day exercise focused on simulating and war-gaming the emerging threats to space-based assets and services. Running from November 11 to 13, the exercise aims to bolster India’s strategic position in space and enhance its integration with military operations. This first-of-its-kind exercise is designed to secure India’s space-based assets and ensure their effective use in national defence.
In his opening address, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan emphasized the growing significance of space in modern defence operations. He stated, “Space, once considered the final frontier, is now the critical enabler of India’s defence and security apparatus. With its rich legacy of space exploration and growing military capabilities, India is well positioned to navigate the challenges posed to space-based capabilities.”
Highlighting that space was becoming increasingly congested, contested, competitive and commercial, the CDS impressed upon the military leadership to secure our national interests in space by fostering innovation and developing cutting edge technologies and state of the art systems in collaboration with DRDO, ISRO and Academia.
The primary aim of Antariksha Abhyas – 2024 is to provide a deeper understanding of space-based assets and services while exploring the operational dependencies across military branches. The exercise will also focus on identifying vulnerabilities in military operations, particularly in the event of disruptions or denial of space-based services, which are vital to modern warfare.
The exercise will bring together a range of participants from across the Indian military. These include personnel from the Defence Space Agency and its allied units, along with representatives from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Specialized branches under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, such as the Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency, and Strategic Forces Command, will also play a key role in the exercise’s execution. In addition, experts from ISRO and DRDO will actively contribute to the war-gaming and planning processes.
This exercise is seen as a crucial step toward securing India’s strategic objectives in space and reinforcing the role of space as an indispensable component of modern military operations. As the global competition for space intensifies, Antariksha Abhyas – 2024 is expected to enhance India’s capabilities in protecting its space assets and maintaining a dominant presence in the increasingly contested domain of space.
