India next in line after NATO and the US to strategize for war in space

• India will conduct its first ever simulated space war exercise this week.
• ‘IndSpaceEx’ will last two days with the aim of discovering which ‘imminent threats’ face India in outer space.
• India’s apprehension is preceded by China developing space weapons and the US announcing its own Space Force.

The Indian Defence ministry is conducting its first ever simulated space war exercise this week called ‘IndSpaceEx’ that will last for two days.

It’s not alone in worrying about a conflict. Space is getting increasingly congested and competitive — especially with China developing weapons that it can deploy in Earth’s orbit.

The US President, Donald Trump, has already announced plans for the country to set up its own Space Force. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which includes the US and most European nations, has outlined its own strategy for operations in Earth’s orbit.

Looking for ‘imminent threats’

IndSpaceEx will be conducted by tri-service integrated defence staff (IDS) on Thursday and Friday to determine ‘imminent threats’ that it could face in outer space in the background of China expanding its capabilities.

The space defence exercise is only one part of the puzzle. India reportedly has plans to launch a new agency — the Defense Space Research Agency — to develop new weapons systems for outer space combat, according to ANI.

Other nations have similar reasons to have a contingency in place in case outerspace does ever end up becoming a battlefield.

The impetus for US’ Space Force is that space is a "war fighting domain" and that other global powers like Russia and China are already treating it as such, according to US Vice President Mike Pence.

NATO, on the other hand, is not looking to start an arms race in outer space.

“From the ability to navigate and track forces, to satellite communications, and detecting missile launches, our new policy will guide our approach to space, the opportunities and the challenges. This is not about militarizing space,” stated NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Nonetheless, anti-satellite weapons tests and surveillance satellites are toeing the line of what could be considered an act of aggression. According to the MIT Tech Review, it’s not uncommon to find examples of US satellites spying on other countries or China engaging in what looks like preparations for anti-satellite strikes.

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