The Defence Space Agency, under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, has launched India’s first-ever space war-gaming exercise, ‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024,’ in the capital. This groundbreaking three-day exercise, running from 11th to 13th November, is aimed at addressing the growing threats to and from space-based assets and services, enhancing national strategic security in the space domain.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan inaugurated the exercise, emphasizing the criticality of space in India’s defense framework. “Space, once considered the final frontier, is now a crucial enabler of our defense and security apparatus,” said General Chauhan. He highlighted the increasingly congested and contested nature of space, underscoring the importance of innovation and the development of cutting-edge technologies through collaboration with organizations like ISRO, DRDO, and academic institutions.
The exercise seeks to deepen the understanding of the role of space-based assets and their operational dependencies among stakeholders. It aims to identify vulnerabilities in space operations, especially in scenarios of denial or disruption of space services.
Participants include personnel from the Defence Space Agency, its allied units, and branches of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Specialist units such as the Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency, and Strategic Forces Command are also actively engaged in the exercise. Representatives from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) are contributing their expertise.
‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024’ represents a significant step forward in India’s quest to integrate space capabilities into military operations and safeguard its strategic objectives in an increasingly contested domain.
