Developing cyber and space war capabilities (English Version) Rakshak News 19 Jun 19
http://www.rakshaknews.com/vishesh/initiatives-for-the-development-of-cyber-space-war-capabilities
Developing cyber and space war capabilities (English Version) Rakshak News 19 Jun 19
The government sanctioning the creation of the cyber and space commands to be run by the armed forces has been a small step in the right direction. This should have been done a decade ago. However, lack of interest in enhancing national security has led to its delay. Soon after its creation, the army conducted a cyber warfare workshop in conjunction with the Indian Defence University.
The workshop was titled, ‘exploitation of technology by non-state actors and building capacities of own forces to counter them.’ It was attended by representatives of police, intelligence agencies and other services. It was the start point for the newly created Cyber Warfare Command and covered the ‘exploitation of technology across the world by terrorist organisations, exploitation of Dark Web, state support for hybrid war, existing capability in exploitation of technology in counter-terrorist operations and future trends.’
Simultaneous was the announcement that the government has finalized the broad contours of the Defence Space Research Agency. This has been entrusted with the task of creating space warfare weapon systems and technologies. It will have in its structure a team of scientists working in close coordination with the newly created Tri-services Defence Space Agency (DSA), which has been created to fight wars in space. It is likely to command all space assets including the A-SAT capability (weapons to shoot down satellites in space), which India demonstrated recently.
While India has been building structures to physically defend the country against hostile forces as also expand its footprint in its areas of interest, the nation has ignored modern dimensions of warfare. Pakistan and China are both working jointly to enhance their capabilities in asymmetric and hybrid warfare, which may become the warfare of the future. Cyberattacks crippling major national networks and institutions can be more damaging than a military assault which may not succeed. It implies exploiting Indian weaknesses rather than strengths for their advantage. Hence, along with physical security, cyber and space are becoming tools of future warfare, for which India needs to be well prepared.
These agencies which have been created are still not of the level which they should have been as the government has delayed implementing modernizing apex management of defence. Ideally, they should have been headed by Lt Generals and equivalent and placed under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). This would give their heads the ability to take tough decisions, avoid looking over their shoulders for clearance and push forward. However, with the government hesitating to integrate the services and appoint a CDS, the responsibility of these commands is curtailed.
The advantage which India has in these fields is the strong base available with ISRO in matters of space and the expertise in the private sector which can be tapped for Cyber warfare. As a start the armed forces would conduct their first ever simulated space war exercise, termed IndSpaceEx, under the aegis of the DSA in July this year.
The exercise is aimed at getting a better understanding of the current and emerging challenges in the space security domain. It would also enable determining the capabilities which India needs to develop in order to protect its assets and secure its national interests.
The start may be slow, the appointments nominated not of the desired rank, yet there has been a step taken. These commands need to be developed and their progress monitored as space and cyber are the warfare of the future and their impact can be more crippling to the nation than an actual assault. Presently, India can deter its adversaries in the field, however, needs to ensure the same in the fields of space and cyber. Unless the government reorganizes apex management of defence and nominates a CDS, such joint commands would never become effective in the manner they should.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army