Introduction
The United States newly raised ‘US Space Force’ launched a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V Rocket delivering a highly advanced communications satellite into its orbit on 26 March 2020. Space happens to be the next battlefield frontier. There is a race between all the three major powers of the world, i.e. US, China and Russia to assume dominance in this dimension. The present day armed forces heavily rely on space-based assets for reconnaissance, weather tracking, communication, navigation, etc. The US Air Force has been launching GPS and missile-defense tracking satellites into space on a regular basis. Besides, it also operates two classified X-37B robotic space planes. The Indian military had been completely dependent on foreign Satellite Navigation Systems (SNS) for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) information. The United States never committed to provide an uninterrupted use of GPS services by India during a war. Hence, it was an urgent compulsion for India to create an indigenous regional-navigation system. Consequently, after years of toil, the ISRO put into operation The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), meant for dual use by the military and civilians in 2018.
IRNSS comprises of seven operational and two as backup satellites. It provides services over the Indian mainland, as well as 1,500 km beyond it, which means that IRNSS will lend India with PNT capabilities in the Indian Ocean region, including some parts of Australia in the south, while covering a majority of China and Southeast Asia. In the future wars, the military force that is capable of neutralizing the communication, tracking and navigation systems of the opposing side will simply cause paralyses of the enemy, who will be then left groping in the dark and completely rudderless. The Unites States fears that China’s economy will eventually grow to two or three times the size of the U.S. economy, which will give the Asian nation a huge advantage in the space domain.
In order to bring out the urgency with which these nations are clamouring for space domination, I wish to highlight that China, amidst the din of the Corona virus pandemic, on 24 March 2020, successfully launched three new Yaogan-30 Group 6 surveillance satellites, using a Long March 2C Rocket for the Chinese military. These satellites used for electromagnetic environment detection and related technological tests forms part of a Chuangxin-5 satellite constellation, which now consists of 18 Yaogan satellites that China has been launching in batches of three since the first trio was launched in 2017. In order to protect US space assets from potential interference or aggression and helping the nation to maintain its dominance in the final frontier, a new branch of the US Department of Air Force, called the ‘US Space Force’ was raised last year.
The United States Space Force
President Donald Trump, recognizing the perceived threat in the space domain had made a series of announcements pertaining to the same in the beginning of 2018. As a follow up of his indulgence in the field, ‘The Space Force’, a separate military branch in the United States was established in December 2019.
The specific details about the Space Force are classified and still unclear. However, it’s safe to assume that the new branch’s priorities will include protecting US interests in space, discourage others (particularly China and Russia) from aggressive posturing in the space and to conduct timely space operations, as required. The White House’s 2021 federal budget released on 10th February, allocated $15.4 billion to the US Space Force. These funds are being sub-allotted for a variety of purposes, e.g. $1.6 billion is earmarked for three national-security launches, $1.8 billion will go toward Global Positioning System projects and $2.5 billion will support “space-based overhead persistent infrared systems.
Details about the Sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) Satellites Launched on 26 March 2020
The US Lockheed Martin has built this $1.1 billion AEHF constellation that consists of six secure military communications satellites and is meant to replace the military’s aging Milstar constellation. These six satellites will work in tandem to provide coverage from geostationary Earth orbit, about 22,200 miles (35,700 kilometers) above the planet. This orbit allows spacecraft to drift along in sync with Earth’s rotation, providing constant coverage over the same part of the planet. The AEFF-6 launch on 26th March was the sixth and last satellite of this constellation, which will provide jam-proof communications, including real-time video interaction between US national leadership and the military forces deployed on the ground.
Protection of India’s Space Assets
India presently has 15 communication satellites active in the geostationary orbit, 13 remote-sensing satellites active in low-earth orbit (2,000 km radius) and eight navigation satellites in medium-earth orbit. Apart from these, there are a number of smaller satellites present in the space. On 28 September 2018, the government established the Defence Space Agency, or DSA, to command the space assets of the Army, Navy and Air Force, including the military’s anti-satellite capability.
The agency became operational in November 2019 and has the mandate to formulate strategy to protect India’s interests in space, including addressing space-based threats. The DSA is headed by an Air Force vice marshal with a staff of 200 personnel from three wings of the armed forces and is under command the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Furthermore, in order to bolster India’s space warfare capabilities, the government approved the creation of the Defence Space Research Organisation (DSRO). DSRO provides technical and research support to its parent organization, the Defence Space Agency.
DSRO will be headed by a senior defense scientist who will lead a team of other scientists. The agency has been entrusted with the task of creating space warfare weapons systems and technologies. Besides, the organization is also charged with finding and implementing defense applications for India’s entire spectrum of space technologies. In March 2019, India conducted an anti-satellite test, which demonstrated its capability to successfully shoot down enemy satellites in space.
According to a report about 17,000 man-made objects are monitored in space of which 7 per cent are active objects, while the other objects, including dead satellites and debris present in space become inactive and collide with each other while revolving in space. Every year, there are many incidents of objects colliding in space and damaging active satellites. In Sep 2019, India launched the early warning system NETRA (Network for Space Objects, Tracking, and Analysis) to secure its satellites and other assets in space at an estimated to cost Rs 400 crore. NETRA gives India its own capability in space situational awareness (SSA) like the other space powers. It will be utilised to ‘predict’ threats from debris to Indian satellites. Moreover, it also goes so far as to serve as an unstated warning against missile or space attack for the country.
Conclusion
It is believed that rather than deploying soldiers in space, it will be more important to focus on national security and preserving the satellites and vehicles that are dedicated to communications, tracking, navigation and observation in the space. India’s approach towards this emerging frontier is on the correct lines. The government has been fairly proactive to create an organizational structure that will ensure that Indian assets in the space are appropriately safeguarded.