India's Anti-Satellite Weapon Test: An Opportunity to Improve US-Indian Military Cooperation
Abstract
On March 27, 2019, India became the fourth nation to show the indigenous capability to destroy a manmade satellite in orbit with a surface-launched missile. India's anti-satellite (ASAT) test, codenamed Mission Shakti (meaning energy), confirmed India's policy decision to militarize space to defend its security interests. Like other space powers, India has increased investment in modern technology, reorganized their military forces, and overhauled national policies to prepare for competition in the space domain. India's Nehruvian-Hindutva ideological transition shapes its politics in space. The kinetic ASAT demonstration cemented India's commitment to securing national interests in space. Independent U.S. and Indian deterrence efforts vis--vis Chinas counterspace activity suggests that cooperative opportunities exist. India's fledgling military space capacity can gain from the U.S.s experience. The U.S. can leverage India's transition in space policy to counterbalance China. Their respective civil agencies have laid the groundwork for collaboration in space; military cooperation in the maritime and air domains has improved steadily in the twenty-first century. The next logical step is to collaborate on mutually advantageous military space activities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 16, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1177824
Entities
People
- Shaun D Phipps
Organizations
- Marine Corps University