Weapons have been termed devices used to target hostile targets, and so far, we have seen plenty of them being developed on Earth in various forms. Imagine when we have some weapons being launched from space to the earth and from the earth to space. The 21st century has the capability to achieve this feat in a profound manner.
Back in 1983, a concept named SDI or termed as the “Star Wars Program” initiated by the US, under the command of Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) various ballistic missile programme were initiated which includes ground to space and space to ground beam weapons. These weapons thence were made to study and implement for the long run in advanced capabilities to hold a significant advantage for USA in such niche technology development. The development was stalled due to the soviet war in the 1990’s then focussing entirely on the theatre ballistic missiles to refill the then reducing nuclear arsenal.it was after 25 years later in Trump’s administration the National Defence Authorisation Act was brought in and the work in space missiles was implemented.
In 2021, there was a shocker when we understood that China had tested a hypersonic missile launch from the low earth orbit in which it released the glider missile from the orbit and it hit the target in Chinese territory. The term shred to it was the “orbital glider-release system”. Much of the details of these tests are still unknown, but the technology was kept a secret to the entire world, and even the United States was left speechless that such a missile left the airspace unnoticed.
This clearly showed that China possesses the capability to penetrate the US’s territories and destroy its missile defence capabilities. While it is of great concern that China has possessed and is working on such major orbital weapons, the US has reportedly no such missile systems available currently in their arsenal.
A new term, FOBS, namely, Fractional Orbital Bombardment Systems, developed by Russian and Chinese scientists, had been a concern for the Pentagon as these systems could badly make a shift in power and affect the United States deterrence and strategic capabilities. Reports suggested that a high-level briefing was held in the Pentagon in the presence of Defence Secretary LLOYD Austin and deputy secretary with other delegates (as reported by space.com on September 1, 2022).
To brief FOBS, it’s a warhead that is delivered from outer orbital space, and it uses the lower earth orbital target to destroy the enemy area with the retrograde engine burn that uses its kinetic energy to hit the area with its shear force. It apparently will not have a target-specific area and instead will be an unrevealed target location to hit.
The learners website shows that China is using the FOBS technology developed by the Soviet Union, and the same was tested using the glider technology by the Chinese military, with the Pentagon not being aware of the same.
India needs to be alert. With the border clashes that happened in 2020 and the FOBS development in line with PLA’s arsenal, it would require a massive alternative to counter this technology in all aspects. There should be fully alerted S-400 systems with Brahmos missiles and AGNI missiles ready to counter such deadly bombardments.
To counter space, India has developed the ASAT weapons, which, under the programme Mission Shakti with the missile Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mark-II, were developed and tested by shooting its own satellite. Of course, China has developed their own ASAT weapons under three categories: “Direct Fire Systems”, “Directed Energy Weapons,” and “Micro Satellites,” while India is lacking behind and has only achieved direct fire and launch systems. ASAT weapons are the future, and there is a growing need to develop a space deterrent when countries are progressing really high in the space arena.
Although space has been a means for exploration, after numerous supporting resolutions by the UN General Assembly, the international community succeeded in agreeing to the Outer Space Treaty.
This document insists that space should be open for peaceful use by all nations. It bans the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in space and outlaws military tests and military installations on any celestial body, yet military surveillance has not been a part of this treaty, and countries have been using the most of this technology.
The general term used for this technology is Rods of God arriving from space. Well, this concept is indeed possible, and it has its own benefits and problems. They are non-explodable; it’s the kinetic force that impacts the site. In such scenarios, ICBM’s are a more feasible option than the kinetic rods exploding with impact on the ground. While China and Russia are at least into their development, western forces have notably no such innovations under development with them, yet Intel might be keeping a strong watch on these developments by them.
Also Read, How Chandrayaan-3 Will Make India a More Formidable Military Power?
India’s own Space Defense agency:
In all these developments happening around the world, it is understood that India has announced its developmental plans to have a space weapon system in a bid to be ready for a space war in the future. The government of India will soon be developing a Defence Space Agency (DSA) to counter and develop space weapons for combating future threats faced by our neighbour.
Needless to say, the ASAT programme, which was conducted in 2019, also falls under the development of DSA and DSRA (Defence Space Research Agency). The DSA was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in 2018 and is aimed at developing India’s race to develop space technology and compete with developing nations.
The current developmental programmes under this agency clude in Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), communication intelligence (COMINT), and areas like space-based tracking systems.
As time progresses, our developmental programmes could match China’s ongoing defence technology in outer space, which may be a better one.
Jai Hind.
