Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CIDS), during a seminar organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) in New Delhi on Wednesday (June 12), confirmed that China had recently carried out a simulated “satellite dogfight” in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The drill reportedly involved tracking and jamming of adversary satellites – a clear indication of China’s growing capability to neutralise space assets in a potential conflict.
AM Dixit cautioned that Beijing’s satellite programme has rapidly expanded in both scale and sophistication. More concerning, he said, is China’s increasing integration of space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems with terrestrial weapons platforms – a shift that dramatically enhances its warfighting potential.
“This kind of capability gives China the ability to monitor, disrupt, and potentially destroy adversary space assets in a conflict scenario,” Dixit warned.
Citing figures to highlight the pace of China’s space expansion, AM Dixit noted that in 2010, China operated just 36 satellites. By 2024, this number has skyrocketed to nearly 1,000 – of which approximately 360 are ISR-focused. The recent establishment of a dedicated Aerospace Force Command further underscores China’s intent to militarise outer space.
Air Marshal Dixit’s remarks were delivered in the context of India’s recent military success in Operation Sindoor – a precision operation that validated several indigenous defence platforms. He praised the performance of Indian systems, many of which, he noted, exceeded global standards in their battlefield roles.
Among the standout systems were the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and the Army’s Akashteer battlefield management system, both of which contributed significantly to operational success.
Air Marshal Dixit cautioned that Beijing’s satellite programme has rapidly expanded in both scale and sophistication. More concerning, he said, is China’s increasing integration of space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems with terrestrial weapons platforms – a shift that dramatically enhances its warfighting potential
Dixit also emphasised that modern warfare is no longer bound by geographic proximity. The deployment of long-range precision-guided munitions like SCALP, HAMMER, and BrahMos missiles – along with beyond-visual-range (BVR) weapons and drone swarms – has rendered traditional borders less relevant in a military context.
“Precision strike capabilities and surveillance technologies now allow militaries to target deep into enemy territory with pinpoint accuracy, regardless of terrain or borders,” he said.
Looking ahead, the CIDS Chief stressed that the future of military operations lies in space-enabled, AI-powered, multi-domain warfare. Space-based assets provide unmatched, persistent surveillance that terrestrial systems cannot replicate – enabling real-time tracking of missile launches, troop movements, and communications intelligence.
India’s push for Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in space technology, he argued, is not just an industrial goal but a strategic necessity in an increasingly contested domain.
“Thousands of small, affordable sensors can now form a surveillance mesh,” he noted. “This capability is foundational for modern military operations.”
He also highlighted the emerging role of fused ISR capabilities using electro-optical sensors, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and signals intelligence – all integrated with AI to generate a predictive, 24/7 battlespace picture.
In the wake of China’s expanding space footprint, Air Marshal Dixit called for the seamless networking of all surveillance systems across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains. Artificial intelligence, he said, must be at the core of this integration, enabling real-time command decisions and proactive threat assessments.
“The battlefield of the future will demand that sensors are omnipresent, data is processed in the cloud, and algorithms are not just analytical tools — but active participants in the decision-making loop,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, it seems that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is now in an actionable mode, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Wednesday (June 12) in an interview with a news channel that after record Rs 2.09 trillion awarded in FY25, defence contracts worth around Rs 2 trillion will be signed in the current financial year, with the bulk once again going to the domestic industry, as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) aims to sustain the pace of contract signings achieved in 2024–25 (FY25).
Underscoring that the value of contracts awarded by the MoD in FY25 had touched Rs 2.09 trillion – the highest ever, and double the previous record set in FY24 – Singh said “I won’t speak about next year, but going forward, we should be able to sustain higher levels of expenditure. For instance, this year we’ve already begun strongly, having achieved nearly 22 per cent of our annual spend early on.”
AM Dixit also emphasised that modern warfare is no longer bound by geographic proximity. The deployment of long-range precision-guided munitions like SCALP, HAMMER, and BrahMos missiles – along with beyond-visual-range (BVR) weapons and drone swarms – has rendered traditional borders less relevant in a military context
He added that if the high levels of utilisation are maintained, then MoD could make a stronger case for a larger budgetary allocation. “If you’re asking whether we deserve a higher share of GDP – yes, we should,” he said.
Highlighting the goal of Aatmanirbharta, Singh said the MoD’s policy is to make imports the exception, not the norm. “Our intent is to manufacture in India, preferably with design also in India. Where we don’t have the technology, we will opt for technology transfer. We will encourage public and private industries to get those technologies, but the manufacturing process will have to be in India,” he said.
He added, “When it comes to foreign original equipment manufacturers, they will have to set up business in India in order to get access to our procurement orders.” Stressing the need to adapt to emerging trends in warfare, he said domestic production of military unmanned systems must be scaled up.
Meanwhile, it seems that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is now in an actionable mode, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Wednesday (June 12) in an interview with a news channel that after record Rs 2.09 trillion awarded in FY25, defence contracts worth around Rs 2 trillion will be signed in the current financial year, with the bulk once again going to the domestic industry, as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) aims to sustain the pace of contract signings achieved in 2024–25 (FY25)
“India’s drone manufacturing ecosystem, for the most part, is confined to drones that are not military grade. When we conducted trials recently, we didn’t find too many manufacturers who are achieving military grade drone technology capacity. However, there are at least three or four promising companies, some of which are indigenous while others have technology tie-ups with foreign vendors,” he said.
“We are hoping some of them will come of age, and we will have our own large domestic drone manufacturing capacity in the country because India needs to be a drone superpower in order to enhance its military prowess.”
The Secretary also assured that nearly all major programmes would be awarded through competitive bidding – not nomination – to enable price discovery and ensure private sector participation.
However, just a day before Singh’s interview i.e. on June 11, Nagpur-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), as if presaging Singh’s concerns about few manufacturers in India with military grade drone technology capacity, successfully conducted a key trial of its hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle, Rudrastra, at the Pokharan Firing Range.
The test validated Rudrastra’s precision strike and battlefield readiness under stringent Indian Army standards. The UAV demonstrated a mission radius of over 50 km with a stable, high-resolution, real-time video feed. With a total operational range exceeding 170 km -including extended loitering time over the target – it clocked an endurance of approximately 1.5 hours, meeting all mission-critical parameters for tactical deployment.
Just a day before Singh’s interview i.e. on June 11, Nagpur-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), as if presaging Mr Singh’s concerns about few manufacturers in India with military grade drone technology capacity, successfully conducted a key trial of its hybrid Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle, Rudrastra, at the Pokharan Firing Range
A highlight of the demonstration was the successful release of a precision-guided anti-personnel warhead. Deployed from medium altitude, the warhead performed a low-height airburst, delivering a lethal area effect—critical for neutralizing enemy positions in active combat. The test met high tactical benchmarks, underscoring Rudrastra’s effectiveness in modern battlefield scenarios.
The successful Rudrastra trial further cements SDAL’s position as a rising force in India’s drive for defence indigenisation. A subsidiary of Solar Industries India Ltd., SDAL is steadily expanding its portfolio in advanced munitions, explosives, and unmanned systems.
It follows the successful May trial of Bhargavastra, SDAL’s low-cost, hard-kill counter-drone system designed to neutralize drone swarms with precision micro-rockets – especially effective at altitudes above 5,000 meters.
The development and testing of systems like Rudrastra and Bhargavastra mark a tangible shift towards self-reliance in high-tech defence platforms. These indigenous solutions not only reduce dependence on imports but also enhance the Indian Army’s ability to respond swiftly and precisely to contemporary threats.
The Army is now expected to evaluate Rudrastra for further induction, potentially adding a new edge to its surveillance and tactical strike capabilities.
