Integrated Ops for Strengthening Defense Capability

In the coming era of hybrid, networked warfare, pre-eminence of spatial insights and space, changing face of reconnaissance, and increasing proliferation of multiple next-gen applications, it becomes imperative for India to be at the cutting edge of defense tech.

Militarisation of space is inevitable as technology empowers space and the cyber domains to control the outcome on the battleground. The future of warfare is being shaped by cutting-edge and transformational technologies. Space is now influencing how

By Lt Gen PJS Pannu (Retd)

the battles would be fought on the ground, making current landbased systems and traditional technologies relatively redundant.

This leads to a serious dislocation in the traditional ways, not just for militaries and industries, but nations as well. The Fourth Industrial Age has brought in

‘Information and knowledge’ as a new paradigm where operations have become more complex as threats are difficult to assimilate. Nations have understood the value of Artificial Intelligence (AI), linked to Communication and Technology. It has been realized that the Space and Cyber domains are intertwined, and both must grow synergistically.

New forms of warfare depends on disruptive technologies where data supremacy and sovereignty are seen as essential prerequisites to staying in the race for military dominance.

India, an active user and contributor to many features of the knowledge economy, needs to put in place a mechanism for ensuring data sovereignty.

Building and expanding national power is deeply influenced by the capacity and capability in owning credible data in totality and its protection against all types of threats.

In the 21st century, data is wealth that exudes power. The more data you have, the better analytical ability you possess, if you know how to interpret it. There's a need be cautious about wrong and manipulated data fed into our systems.

Countries that lead in AI and quantum technology will dominate the coming decade. Information and Intelligence are the foundational needs for military and business success. All nations are in a race to achieve Information Dominance.

Towards a New Arena Military service teaches the importance of ‘high ground’ and the ‘information’ as key factors for success. ‘Space’ is now seen as an essential and most significant domain of modern warfare.

It is the ‘ultimate high ground’ that makes it possible for an ordinary citizen to watch the world from God's eye.

Space Wars would be relevant because of the universal application of space technology to most digital platforms. PNT (Positioning, Navigation and Timing), Communication, Surveillance, planetary dominance, and counter-space assets would dominate the security paradigm.

Increasingly, 5G and beyond - IoT (Internet of Things) would be all-pervasive moving IoMT (Internet of Military Things) for strategic applications and warfighting applications.

Surveillance and Target Acquisition would be outsourced to space providing better resolution to identify the target and engage with the missiles of precision.

Due to these factors, decision-making would be more complex as Information Operations (IO) would need a highly developed Decision Support System (DSS) by cutting down the OO-SS-DA (Observe-OrientShare-Secure-Decide-Act) loop.

To counter the impact of disruptive technologies, we should not only nullify the technology edge of the adversary but build deterrence through superiority, making their military systems redundant.

Therefore, the Defence Space industry must invest in niche and disruptive technologies which are globally acceptable, competitive, secure, cutting-edge, and superior to that of the adversary.

‘Knowing the adversary’ has always been the most challenging part of warfare. With technology becoming its prime driver, ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance ) has emerged as the basis for IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the battlefield) and a tool to fight precise battles.

If an adversary is seen, identified, and tracked, it can be targeted at will, using weapons of choice. Space has emerged as the most important tool for ISR.

High-Resolution Scramble

Most satellites in LEO and MEO are ideal, however, those on the lower orbit, are fast-moving and need several passes and short revisit capability for constant imagery updates. For military purposes, a resolution of less than a meter (sub-metric) and hyperspectral imagery is compulsory.

As the resolution improves it gets possible to identify the target with a higher spatial resolution. Currently, 25-30 cm resolution is the best publicly available.

Satellite with the highest resolution was probably the KH-8 Gambit, known for imagery better than four inches of ground-resolved distance. This resolution may have been great enough to see a golf ball, but not read newspapers. 5 cm resolution is known within the limits of spy satellites.

American Hubble Space Telescope is meant for astronomical research. It is more focused on studying the universe. Hubble certainly will have to be more sensitive than a spy satellite, because the nebulas are too dim to see otherwise, while Earth is bright.

They probably have similar optics, but Hubble will be forced at infinity focus, while a spy satellite might adjust slightly.

China is reportedly developing a new telescope with a 300-times larger field of view than the Hubble Space Telescope.

The country is also constantly upgrading the China High-Resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS). There are rapid technology upgrades in every field of space taking place in the world and catching up would not be easy unless early steps are taken.

Beijing has invested in QC-QT (Quantum Computing and Technology), which would harden most of their future satellites. Post-launch of the first-ever Quantum communications satellite in 2016, China is experimenting with new capabilities. ISRO needs to focus on closing this gap by involving private players as technology partners.

Space Combat?

India conducted the first space wargame named IndSpaceX in July 2019. That time, three new entities of future warfare, the Defence Space Agency, Defence Cyber Agency, and the Armed Forces Special Forces Division, were announced under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff for integrated operations.

What sets these exercises apart from similar past events is that for the first time select representatives from the industry, academia, government, and professionals were invited to brainstorm space scenarios based on the ground realities.

While most space-faring nations started their space programs with a military objective, India did exactly the opposite, initially using space to promote developmental activities.

On 27 March, 2019 India successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test by destroying its satellite in the Low Earth Orbit, under an operation code-named Mission Shakti which was hit with a Kinetic Kill vehicle.

This demonstration made us the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to have successfully tested an ASAT weapon, signaling the country’s will and capability to use space, if necessary, for military purposes, while committing to peaceful space exploration.

Indigenous Incubation

Recent creation of INSPACe is a positive step to encourage start-ups and private players to contribute towards the development of dual-use space technologies and strive for indigenization.

Early this year, on April 23, another space exercise by the name of Ind-Space Exercise was held, led by the industry, under the aegis of the Satcom Industries Association (SIA), the knowledge partnership of the Indian Military Think Tanks such as Centre for Joint warfare and studies (CENJOWS), Centre for Land warfare and Studies (CLAWS), National Marine Foundation (NMF) and Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS).

This was the first Industrial Space Wargame conducted at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, as part of DefSat 2023.

Valuable lesson from these events is that India must use whole national approach to develop space domain through dual-use space capability.

Active Collaboration

Military space capability would continuously develop with DRDO and with public-private partnerships. The importance of space diplomacy and space collaboration would certainly optimize strategic needs of the nation as it continues to develop indigenous capability.

In recent times, the private space sector has played a significant role in providing ISR and communication support in clashes. The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict is a prime example.

Many private and international players are providing ‘Data-as-a-Service’ (DaaS) or even Intelligence-as-a-Service (IaaS) for which space diplomacy becomes an essential component of Military diplomacy. SSA (Space Situational Awareness) is also significant part of intelligence.

The CDS and Chief of Air Staff have urged the need to develop defensive and offensive capabilities in space. Space Warfare concepts of the nation would need to be defined; this would be possible only if doctrinal aspects are debated and enshrined as an integrated philosophy.

It is necessary for India to plan for capabilities of data services during the surge needs of conflict, therefore ‘Rapid Response’ needs attention such as ‘Launch on Demand' (LOD), and rapid activation such as Activation on Demand (AOD) must be factored into Military Space Capacity Development.

One of the significant issues that were discussed during the DefSat 2023 was the emerging role of near-space technologies. The A2AD (Anti Access and Area Denial) in the sovereign Air Space beyond 20-25 Km becomes a serious challenge. On the other side, the outer space above the Karman line that begins at 100 km is becoming increasingly congested.

Doctrinal Shift

Indian Air Force recently published Aerospace doctrine, declaring airspace and outer space as a continuum. It is realized that drones, balloons, and HAAPS need more attention as part of the aerospace domain. Aerial Photography and drone cameras are reliable but have a limit to the range they can fly.

During the exercise, certain technologies were discussed that make it possible to fly drones in tandem with satellites to beat the weather/cloud cover and /or amplify the pictures of satellites by terrain correlation.

Swarms of surveillance drones can be made to fly over the same territory being covered in real-time by the satellite. Low-flying drones, captive to satellites, can bring excellent real-time results.

Indian Army currently uses Israeli Heron I for surveillance with a ceiling altitude of 30,000 ft, and now is set to acquire Heron II with 45 hours of endurance. The Navy is using MQ 9B Sea Guardian Drones, a variant of an iconic armed predator.

The MQ-9B drone can fly for about 48 hours and carry a payload of about 1,700 kilo- grams (3,700 pounds). It will give the Indian Navy the ability to better monitor Chinese warships in the southern Indian Ocean, equipping. it to engage targets along the LOC or LAC.

Space Wars would keep the human soldier away from the fires and tribulations of the battlefield, with inherent safety would be provided by fighting from standoff ranges. Remote-controlled wars would be an extension of the ‘Systems of Systems’ network.

The digital arena and Industry 4.0 would make it possible to create a network with Command,

Control, Communications, Computers, and Cyber (C-5) connecting machines with the surveillance means of enmeshing ground and aerial platforms, including drones and satellites, making ISR a real-time possibility.

Quantum Leap Sky and space would provide a strategic vantage point for decison-makers at operational and strategic levels. There would be enough data and information available to decide, cutting short the Observe-Orient-Decide-Act (OODA) cycle, it making it possible for decision-makers to control operations of strategic importance.

With the advent of AI and sensors, it would now be possible to robotize the battlefield. This would indeed be a gamechanger. Battles can be fought on pre-programmed ‘targeting on appearance’.

When target acquisition and robotics are brought together, we will have nearly achieved the Military Industrial Revolution for ‘Military 4.5’. Call it C5-IS2-STAR2 (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence and Information - Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance, and Robotics).

It is a substantial name for a substantial capability: a networked battlefield where decentralized, robotic-initiated decision-making would be norm. Command, Control, and Surveillance would largely be linked through Space. These assets in

Space would need protection; how that is achieved is another race in Quantum Technologies.

Imagine, for example, that humans pre-program a satellite to identify targets in a certain area. AI can enable them to set the parameters by which the target would be eliminated autonomously - the system would designate the weapon for doing so and take action if the criteria fit.

In another situation, humans might serve as the final confirmation before the autonomous system locks on to a target for action. Another step forward would be to designate pre-sanctioned targets, to be engaged on appearance.

Airborne Early Warning Aircraft have better ability to detect and recognize targets as compared to surface-based radars, observation systems, and ground sensors.

PLA has built a digital surveillance wall along the borders with India for Electronic Warfare (EW) and targeting. Unmanned smart borders should be able to carry out unmanned tactical and operational recce.

Reinforcing Capability

Cyber surveillance, detection, and analysis is the emerging field for accessing military intelligence at all levels. AI applications must be used to quickly process the data collected from all the above intelligence feeds and make it available as Common Operating Picture (COP) for decision-making at each level.

Network-centric operations cannot happen without the fusion of smaller, smarter sensors, network connectivity, signal intel- ligence devices, aircraft, UAVs, and space networks. A secure, private network is the core layer of data communication. This will require scalable satellite connectivity for narrowband applications plus fiber and microwave links to support broadband applications.

These would ultimately connect millions of devices and sensors operating ubiquitously and support data transfer. AI would play a critical role, enabling the IoMT to transition from mostly telemetry and sensing to complete autonomous action, guided by rules defined by individual countries.

Computer networks are efficient, desirable tools as they can move massive machine data simultaneously to multiple subscribers. This can also turn disastrous, if disruption is caused by technology limitations, an incident driven by adversarial action, or a simple human error.

The military faces this challenge – it needs its machines and networks secured and protected against these possibilities. High assurances and strong protection tools will need to be delivered by the industry.

Call it military-grade secrecy; security protocols would need to be well-defined. Secure Chips, Quantum Technology, and IP concealment (i.e. no IP Address) would form this baseline.

Technological deterrence is the new security assurance benchmark to be achieved synergistically in integrated theatres. In this context, the Indian security apparatus must maintain a high-tech edge to dissuade an attack from the adversaries while imposing fear of swift reprisal.

Building science & technology capability, along with deploying physical force, will give us the edge over an adversary, establishing deterrence. Technological prowess should be the main component of Comprehensive National Power (CNP).

Lt Gen PJS Pannu, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (R) is former Deputy Chief of Indian Integrated Defence Staff, who initiated the raising of the Defence Space Agency, Defence Cyber Agency, and Armed Forces Special Forces Division.