Digital Desk: China’s latest demonstration of physically relocating a disabled satellite to a new orbit poses a new threat in the race to weaponized space, said Indian Air Force Chief V R Chaudhari.
Furthermore, he stated that no single service, such as the air force, army, or navy, can win wars on its own and that this remains true in the future.
Last month, China’s Shijian-21 spacecraft changed the geostationary orbit of a damaged Chinese satellite. Earlier, only the United States had previously demonstrated the capability of physically modifying a satellite’s orbit.
“China’s newest demonstration of physically relocating one of its disabled satellites into graveyard orbit is ushering in novel risks in the drive to weaponized the space domain, which was previously thought to be rather safe,” said Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari.
“We’re looking at a continuum that includes kinetic and non-kinetic weapons, lethal and non-lethal weapons, from small drones to hypersonic ballistic missiles. Future armed forces will face substantial challenges as a result of this huge and ever-changing continuum,” he added.
He believes the IAF’s training philosophy should be modern, versatile, and adaptable, with a strong emphasis on “jointness.”
According to the IAF chief, a well-trained air warrior who is technologically sound and can respond to interruptions would be a force multiplier.
“The next phase would be to evolve employment philosophies and CONOPS (Concept of Operations) using our doctrines and well-trained workforce,” he said.
Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari highlighted that this would necessitate cooperative planning and implementation of strategies.
“No single service can win a war on its own, and this is true in the future as well. This gets me to the next command and control challenge, “ he stated
According to the IAF chief, the priority of who will accomplish what cannot be determined by a pro-rata system based on who possesses a higher mass of forces or equipment.
“The thought process needs to shift, and it’s critical to comprehend each service’s potential to make two plus two equal five,” he stated.
Moreover, the IAF chief emphasized the importance of developing combined command and control systems for the integrated and synergized of fighting power.
Continue Reading
