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Muscle-building in space

is fine, but act cautiously

ith Defence Research and through the test accentuates the military
Development Organisa- dimension and brings into play an over-
The LasT tion (DRDO) blowing up whelming assurance of what the Ministry
a satellite in a Low Earth
of External Affairs describes as a ‘cred-
Word eens, India has entered an elite space club. ible deterrence’ against attacks on India’s
W Orbit (LEO) into smither-
growing number of space assets. How-
Abdul WAsey Under Mission Shakti, carried out on March ever, the country needs to remain cautious
27, India successfully tested its Anti-Satellite and should avoid getting provocative in
(A-SAT) weapon in the space for the very any way. Too much boasting may goad its
first time. Only three other countries — the none-too-friendly neighbour Pakistan into
US, Russia, and China — had previously a competitive frenzy. Also, in the absence
demonstrated this capability. of a credible threat to India’s space assets
Interestingly, the DRDO had made public from China or any other country with Anti-
plans of such a project during the previous Satellite missile capabilities, whether the
government. However, this key milestone ‘deterrence’ sought to be achieved by this
came to fruition only recently. The launch test would lead to a more stable strategic
of the Agni V in 2012 was the first step security environment is not certain.
towards developing India’s anti-ASAT India has so far not shown any inclina-
capability. Plans had also been
announced for an exo-atmos- Mission Shakti — a
pheric kill vehicle.
In August 2018, the DRDO wholly indigenous
had successfully tested its in-
digenously designed and manu- endeavour — was
factured advanced air defence the result of the hard
interceptor missile. The mis-
sile had destroyed an incoming work put in by our
medium-range ballistic missile scientists for years
target amid many simulated
decoy warheads, marking a
major milestone in India’s plans tion towards space weaponization. It will be
to develop an indigenously better for one and all in the region if it con-
developed ballistic missile tinues to remain so. There are no two views
defence system. that foundations of peace should rest on
Initiatives such as Mission strong military capabilities. But then, pro-
Shakti are not aimed at invading other jects like Shakti should be aimed at muscle-
countries. India never did that even in the building and not muscle-flexing.
face of extreme provocation. It is to protect The timing of the A-SAT test, when the
the country from hostile nations attempt- country is already in election mode, does
ing to invade India’s airspace. During the raise concerns whether this was aimed at
Cold War era, for example, the space race encashing the long-due project just ahead
between rivals US and Russia had threat- of Lok Sabha elections. Political parties
ened to trigger a worldwide conflict that should refrain from using the mission’s suc-
could have brought about the end of human cess for gains in the election season. India’s
civilisation. But it also spawned pioneering premier institutions such as DRDO and
efforts in unmanned space explorations to ISRO should be protected from any sort of
Moon, Mars and Venus, the launching of political meddling at all cost.
satellites and human spaceflight.
The display of technological prowess letters@tehelka.com

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