Pushes for Space Culture, Warfare Schools, Doctrines at Indian DefSpace Symposium
New Delhi, April 7 – In a bold assertion of India’s future strategic direction, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said on Monday that space is emerging as a decisive domain of warfare, urging India to develop a robust “space culture” grounded in research, doctrines, and dedicated warfare schools.
Speaking at the 3rd Indian DefSpace Symposium, hosted by the Indian Space Association (ISpA) at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, General Chauhan said:
“We are on the cusp of an era where space will dominate future warfare. All three traditional domains—land, sea, and air—will be heavily dependent on space.”
🌌 Vision for a Space Culture
General Chauhan emphasized that space culture must go beyond technology and include ideas, doctrines, legal frameworks, and diplomacy.
“Space culture means doing seminal research, developing strategies and doctrines, creating institutions like space warfare schools, journals, and societies that can ideate,” he stated.
He noted the need for each armed service to establish its own space warfare school, highlighting parallels with how maritime and aerospace cultures transformed warfare in previous centuries.
🚀 From Sea to Sky — Now to Space
The CDS drew historical parallels, citing how maritime culture helped the Portuguese, Spaniards, British, and Dutch dominate global trade and conflict. Later, the aerospace culture enabled American and European powers to rule the skies.
“Today, like the air and sea domains before it, space will shape the outcome of future wars. We must create capabilities rooted in a deeper understanding of the space domain.”
📚 Call for Knowledge-Driven Strategy
Highlighting the paucity of literature on space warfare, General Chauhan called for the creation of space journals, articles, and ideation forums.
“Building a space culture is not just about creating start-ups. It’s about establishing academic and strategic ecosystems around space,” he said.
🌠 Space: From Fantasy to Reality
In a more reflective tone, the CDS acknowledged the wonder and fascination of space, referencing popular space movies like Interstellar and Star Trek:
“Most of us grew up watching movies about space and intergalactic travel. While part of that is fantasy, another part is our emerging reality.”
🛰️ Past Symposium Highlights
General Chauhan recalled that in previous editions of the symposium:
- He discussed the convergence of warfare domains.
- He outlined the armed forces’ vision for space integration.
🧠 Repositioning India as a Space-Aware Culture
Concluding his address, the CDS urged Indians to tap into the country’s rich legacy of knowledge and science:
“As a nation that reveres space through philosophy and science, we must now reposition ourselves as leaders in space warfare and strategy.”
📡 The Indian DefSpace Symposium continues this week with leaders from the military, academia, and private sector contributing to India’s space defense roadmap.
