DRDO to develop anti-satellite technologies

Thiruvananthapuram: India's defence research establishment will place greater emphasis on developing technologies that will provide the country with increased space-related security, according to the director general of the country's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dr VK Saraswat.  This will include developing capabilities in the field of anti-satellite technology.

The Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile

"We have the building blocks...What is needed is technology to track the movements of enemy satellites, for instance before making a kinetic kill. We are trying to build a credible deterrence capability...Many of these technologies may never be used," said Dr Saraswat, who is also scientific adviser to defence minister, AK Antony.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the Indian Science Congress.

Elaborating, Dr Saraswat said, space security involved the need for a gamut of capabilities including the protection of satellites, communication and navigation systems and denying the enemy the use of his own space systems. These technologies would be developed as part of the country's totally indigenous Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.

Touching on other issues, he said, the DRDO would launch a national programme for developing tank propulsion systems. This would be taken up in association with R&D institutions across the country.

He also said the DRDO was building an advanced version of its interceptor missile with a range of 120-140 km. The missile interceptor is expected to be test fired in September.