India's Integrated Defence Staff evolving strategies for use of space assets
12 Jun 2008
New Delhi: Top Indian armed forces commanders have discussed strategies to use satellite imagery as a force multiplier for ground operations at a combined services conference held here. These discussions took place a day after a similar conference announced the setting up of an integrated cell to counter threats to the country's space assets.
With recently-launched ISRO satellites, such as Cartosat-2 and 2A, providing the capability for a wider and clearer coverage of ground conditions around the country's borders and beyond, commanders are now deliberating moves to coordinate its applications among intelligence agencies for defence purposes.
Defence planners are now working on linking up such satellites with other sensors and platforms about to be inducted, such as the air early warning and airborne control systems (AWACS) as well as the network centric systems being deployed separately by the army, air force and the navy.
The Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) headquarters would be the nodal agency for control of the technical intelligence inflow through satellite imagery, according to ministry of defence sources.
Given the sensitive nature of the technical intelligence gleaned through satellites, the conference had earlier also debated the imperatives on the defence establishment to devise means of securing the space assets.
