With the introduction of a specialised Military Space Doctrine and National Space Policy in the next two to three months, India is well-positioned to formally establish its military presence in space. Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, made the declaration, which marks a major turning point in India’s changing space strategy and coincides with a growing emphasis on defence-space cooperation on several fronts.
The Developing Framework for Military Space
According to CDS Anil Chauhan, the Defence Space Agency is actively developing India’s first comprehensive Military Space Doctrine in conjunction with a National Space Policy. This advancement expands on India’s current framework for space security, which first took on a formal form with previous doctrines that placed a strong focus on deterrence.
The 2021 space doctrine from the Takshashila Institution had already established that “India will pursue a doctrine anchored in deterrence and requiring both defensive and offensive capabilities” with the primary objective of preserving India’s use of space. The forthcoming military doctrine is expected to significantly expand these principles while providing more concrete operational guidelines.
CDS Chauhan emphasised that the new doctrine will accelerate growth in the defence space sector specifically, complementing the broader Indian Space Policy 2023. The 2023 policy had already set out guiding principles to “augment space capabilities; enable, encourage anddevelop a flourishing commercial presence in space,” while creating a “level playing field and favourable regulatory environment for players within the Indian private sector”. While upholding India’s commitment to peaceful space use, the military policy is expected to further clarify strategic duties between military and civilian space uses.
India’s Space Economy Vision: $44 Billion
A key component of India’s space aspirations is the goal of creating a $44 billion space economy, which CDS Chauhan particularly mentioned in his most recent speech. This target aligns with projections he shared earlier in February 2024, when he noted that “the Indian Space economy is currently estimated to be around $8.4 billion” and “is expected to grow to $44 billion by the
year 2033″. Achieving this ambitious growth trajectory will require extensive coordination between multiple stakeholders.
“India envisions a $44 billion space economy, which will require strong collaboration between private companies, the armed forces, DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), and IN-SPACe,” CDS Chauhan elaborated in his recent statement. This multi-stakeholder model represents a significant evolution from India’s traditionally government-dominated space program, acknowledging the necessity of private sector involvement for rapid advancement.
The Private Sector’s Pivotal Role
Space capabilities were acknowledged as “a vital determinant of national power” and “India’s growing use of space could make its space assets attractive targets for adversaries” in previous doctrinal documents, which are in line with this pragmatic approach. India seems to be prioritising defensive and force-multiplication capabilities over a wider militarisation of space by concentrating military attention on orbital regions that directly affect security.
“To my fellow members of the armed forces in the audience today: we, as military professionals, need to remain practical and focused,” the CDS said, explicitly advising military personnel to keep this focused approach. The realm of interplanetary or intergalactic travel belongs tothe world of science fiction for now. Let’s let others do the exploring. It is our duty to define military space precisely and to operate inside it.”
International Cooperation and Regulatory Developments
CDS Chauhan referred to the upcoming Space Activities Bill 2025 as “a pivotal reform in the space sector,” and it will establish the legal framework required to enable this enlarged goal. This will likely build upon earlier drafts of the Space Activities Bill, which was first made public for comments by ISRO in November 2017 and has been under consideration since then. By regulating and encouraging private involvement in India’s space industry, the bill seeks to foster an environment that is favourable to expansion.
In parallel with these domestic developments, India is actively expanding its international space cooperation. Recent developments include plans for Indian military personnel to formally participate in the US Space Command’s annual Global Sentinel exercise in 2025, after having attended as observers in February 2024. Such international cooperation provides India with valuable experience in space domain awareness and allied space operations, potentially informing the development of its own military space doctrine.
Conclusion
The announcement of India’s forthcoming Military Space Doctrine represents a significant evolution in the country’s approach to space security and defence. By formalising military space operations within a comprehensive doctrine, India is signalling its intent to develop robust space
capabilities with a practical emphasis on near-Earth applications that directly affect security.
The country’s balanced approach to space development—seeking security while simultaneously pursuing economic growth—is reflected in the combined emphasis on military capacity and private sector involvement. The doctrines will probably set the direction for India’s space aspirations for years to come as they finalise in the upcoming months, possibly making the nation a major space power with clear military and civilian space goals.
IDN
