New Delhi, July 24: In a bid to assess threats in expanse beyond Earth, Indian armed forces will conduct the country's first space war drill this week. One of the motives of this space warfare exercise is to draft a joint space doctrine for future battles in outer space. The development comes in the backdrop of China's continuing efforts to enhance its space and counter-space capabilities.

A two-day "IndSpaceEx" programme will be held by the tri-Service integrated defence staff under the Ministry of Defence on July 25 and 26. In the form of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India has had an expansive civilian space programme, however, the country is yet to capitalize space mainly for surveillance, intelligence and communication for armed forces. India's A-SAT Mission Planned in a Way That Debris Will Decay Soon: DRDO Chief.

The armed forces started planning for a space warfare exercise after India in March this year successfully tested an anti-satellite (A-Sat) interceptor missile, which destroyed the 740-kg Microsat-R satellite, at an altitude of 283-km in the low Earth orbit, in a "hit-to-kill mode". "PM Narendra Modi said the A-Sat test in March was conducted to make India stronger and more secure. IndSpaceEx is being conducted to identify key challenges and shortfalls if a conflict escalates to space dimension," an official was quoted by TOI as saying. NASA Calls India's A-SAT Test 'Terrible Thing'.

China has been developing A-Sat weapons. According to officials, India has no option but to develop deterrence capabilities to protect its assets in outer-space. "There is a need to explore effective tactical, operational and strategic exploitation of the final frontier of warfare. We can't keep twiddling our thumbs while China zooms ahead," another official said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2019 08:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).