The Cabinet Committee on Security, led by the Prime Minister, recently approved the establishment of the Defence Space Research Agency (DSRA). This agency has been charged with creating space warfare weapon systems and tech. The DSRA will employ a team of scientists, and will work in close collaboration with an integrated group of Defense staff officers from the three service branches – Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The Role of the DSRA
The primary role of the DSRA is to provide research and development support to the Defence Space Agency (DSA), an organization made up of members from the three services. The DSA’s mission is to support the country’s capacity to wage wars in outer space. It was set up in Bengaluru under an Air Vice Marshal-rank officer and is expected to eventually take over the space-related capabilities of the three forces.
Integrated Defence Staff (IDS)
The Integrated Defence Staff was established in October 2001, under the Ministry of Defence, following ‘Operation Vijay’ (the Kargil Operations). Its fundamental purpose is to promote synergy among the three Services and to align these with the Ministry of Defence. IDS includes representatives from all three services, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with the Department of Defence and Department of Finance. The overarching goal of the IDS is to secure ‘Victory through Jointness’.
| Organisation | Established | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| DSRA | Recently Approved | Develop space warfare weapon systems and technologies |
| DSA | Set up in Bengaluru | Help the country wage wars in outer space |
| IDS | October 2001 | Promote synergy among the three services and integrate them with the Ministry of Defence |
The Future of Space Defence
The creation of DSRA reinforces the country’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities in the realm of space warfare. Developing advanced weapon systems and technologies for this purpose is a primary strategic goal. With the IDS working towards synergizing the efforts of all three service branches, the future of the nation’s space defence seems to be heading in a promising direction.