India Launches First Space Defense Exercise Antariksha Abhyas – 2024

The Defence Space Agency, under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, is conducting Antariksha Abhyas – 2024, a groundbreaking three-day exercise from November 11 to 13, 2024. This first-of-its-kind space exercise aims to simulate and address the growing threats to space-based assets and services.

Exercise Overview

• Antariksha Abhyas – 2024 is a three-day space defense exercise conducted from November 11 to 13, 2024.
• Organized by the Defence Space Agency under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, the exercise focuses on simulating threats to and from space-based assets and services.

Purpose and Objectives

• To enhance India’s capability to secure its strategic interests in space.
• Aims to integrate space capabilities into India’s military operations, helping to protect national security.
• Provides a deeper understanding of operational dependencies on space-based assets among different defense stakeholders.
• Seeks to identify vulnerabilities and improve resilience against possible disruptions or denial of space services during military operations.

Opening Address by Chief of Defence Staff

• General Anil Chauhan emphasized that space, once the “final frontier,” is now a critical enabler for India’s defense and security.
• Highlighted India’s positioning, with a rich legacy in space exploration and growing military capabilities, to handle space-related challenges.
• Stressed the need for innovation and advanced technology development in collaboration with DRDO, ISRO, and academic institutions.
• Described space as increasingly “congested, contested, competitive, and commercial.”

Key Participants

• Personnel from the Defence Space Agency and its allied units.
• Members of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Specialist branches under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, including:
• Defence Cyber Agency
• Defence Intelligence Agency
• Strategic Forces Command
• Representatives from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

Exercise Focus Areas

• Gaining practical insights into the use and management of space-based assets and services for defense purposes.
• Identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities in space operations to strengthen security in case of service denial or disruption.
• Promoting interagency collaboration to enhance India’s space defense capabilities through shared knowledge and expertise.

Strategic Implications

• Antariksha Abhyas – 2024 marks a milestone for India’s space defense readiness.
• The exercise aligns with India’s broader objectives of innovation, resilience, and technological advancement in space security.
• Strengthens India’s position in managing the complexities of a militarized and commercially active space environment.