New Delhi:

U.S. Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan said he believed space had become an established domain of warfare and that it would have “impact” in the air, sea and land domains.

In a recorded video address played at the opening ceremony of the three-day Indian Defense Space Symposium in Delhi on Thursday, General Chouhan also said that “space diplomacy” will soon become a reality.

The event held at the Manekshaw Center in Delhi was attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Hari Kumar, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Chairman Samir V. Kamat and other senior officers of the armed forces.

In his speech, General Chouhan emphasized the evolving role of space in future warfare.

“I’m going to talk about where we are now and where we need to go,” he said.

“Space has been called the final frontier. Space is infinite and ever-expanding. Like all other frontiers, it’s difficult to define its edges very clearly. Humanity still has a long way to go to unravel the mysteries of space. To go. India wants to be part of this journey,” CDS said.

He also spoke about the four “astronauts in training” as part of India’s “Gaganyaan” programme.

“Space is also known as an emerging warfare domain. I believe it is already an established warfare domain. My belief is premised on the rapid developments taking place in this particular domain,” he said.

General Chauhan said that the history of war “tells us that in any war, the initial contest usually takes place in a new field.”

He added that new areas will also affect battles in old areas.

“Initially, naval power was able to influence land warfare. Later, air power influenced land and sea warfare. I believe that now, space will influence air, sea and land domains,” General Chauhan said in his video address.

He called space a “global commons” and said “there is no concept of sovereignty in space.”

CDS also stated that “space diplomacy will soon become a reality.”

You don’t have to be a neighbor to expand space cooperation to friendly countries. He added that distance and geopolitical separation could have “advantages for defense space cooperation.” PTI KND RC

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