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New Delhi: At the Indian DefSpace Symposium 2026, organised by the Indian Space Association (ISPA), a common forum to voice the aspirations of commercial players from India in the space domain, the focus was on India’s accelerating shift towards an integrated space power. The Defence Space Agency (DSA) coordinates tri-service space efforts, and is evolving towards a potential Space Command. There is an emphasis on self-reliance in space tech, including satellites and launch vehicles to reduce vulnerabilities. Having sovereign surveillance, communication and navigation capabilities are considered crucial for national security, with the private sector being actively roped in alongside ISRO and defence PSUs.

Director General of the Defence Space Agency, Air Vice Marshal Manu Midha said, “The future of national security will be defined by how effectively we integrate space capabilities into our operational framework, where speed of sensing, decision-making and action becomes critical. For India, empowering a robust and indigenous space industry is not just a technological objective, but a strategic imperative to strengthen deterrence and ensure long-term security.”

Focus on Defence and Synergy

Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army, Lt Gen Vikas Rohella, said “Space-based data has become a force multiplier for engineering planning, enabling more precise, efficient and cost-effective decision-making across diverse terrains. For us, integrating geospatial intelligence and space-enabled capabilities into operations is no longer optional, it is essential to enhance operational readiness and resilience.”

Former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall VR Chaudhari (retd) said “Space is fast becoming central to modern warfare, with its ability to enhance sensing, decision-making and operational effectiveness across domains. As reliance on space grows, it is imperative that India strengthens its space security architecture, fosters civil-military-industry collaboration, and builds resilient capabilities to safeguard national interests.”

Overall, these statements reflect India’s recognition that future conflicts will be multi-domain, including land, sea, air, cyber and space, with space superiority acting as a decisive enabler. The focus is on building sovereign, resilient, and rapidly integrable capabilities rather than depending on external systems, that can be manipulated or denied.