New Delhi: First ever exercise ‘Antariksha Abhyas’ aiming to secure India’s strategic objectives in space commenced on Monday, with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan highlighting space as a “critical enabler” for the country’s defence and security.

The Defence Ministry announced that ‘Antariksha Abhyas – 2024’, an exercise to simulate threats to space-based assets and services, is being held from November 11-13 by the Defence Space Agency under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

CDS Chauhan highlighted that space is becoming more “congested, contested, competitive, and commercial” and urged military leaders to safeguard national interests by fostering innovation and developing advanced technologies. He emphasized collaboration with ISRO , DRDO, and academic institutions to achieve this goal.

In the opening remarks, The CDS highlighted the importance of the exercise.

“Space, once considered the final frontier, is now the critical enabler of India’s defence and security apparatus. With its rich legacy of space exploration and growing military capabilities, India is well positioned to navigate the challenges posed to space-based capabilities,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

The space exercise aims to deepen the understanding of space-based assets and services, while also exploring the operational reliance on space systems among various stakeholders, according to the ministry.

In addition, the exercise intends to “identify vulnerabilities” in conduct of operations in the event of “denial or disruptions” of space-based services, it said.

It will have participants from the Defence Space Agency and its allied units along with personnel from the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

Specialist branches under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, viz., Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency and Strategic Forces Command would also be active participants in the conduct of the exercise.

Representatives from ISRO and DRDO will also take part in it, the statement said.

(with agency inputs)