Military preparedness increasingly tied to satellite-enabled capabilities: IAF Training Command Chief

Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Indian Air Force (IAF) Training Command on Monday said that with military preparedness increasingly tied to satellite-enabled capabilities, the IAF is fast tracking its focus on space as a critical operational domain.

Air Marshal Singh, speaking at the inaugural day of the International Conference on Space, said that space is the new high ground and modern warfare depends on satellite-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), navigation and communication.

Air Marshal Singh also spoke about how real-time satellite data has been indispensable for target tracking and post-strike assessments during recent operations like Operation Sindoor.

He also spoke about the ongoing plans to expand satellite constellations from the present 12 operational satellites to 78 satellites by the year 2031 and to also enhance ISR and regional Positioning, Navigation, and Timing services through the Naval Constellation which is set to operational by the year 2027.

Indian astronauts Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair also participated in the conference on Monday.

This was their first public participation in Bengaluru after the successful completion of the Axiom-4 mission.

Both Shukla and Nair are astronaut-designates for India’s Gaganyaan mission. While Shukla was the pilot for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) Nair was his back up for the mission.

The duo shared details about the training for the Axiom- 4 mission and the enthusiasm it has evoked among Indian’s especially school children.

Shukla spoke about India-long term plans which include the Gaganyaan mission, establishing the space station and landing on the moon by 2040 for which India would require a pool of 40 to 50 astronauts.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh speaking virtually at the inaugural session of the conference said that India is entering a transformative phase in its space journey, with ambitious goals ranging from a space station by 2035 to landing an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040.