Interoperability is the pathway towards innovation. The space sector is no different, as emphasized by Lt. Gen Gurmit Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Hon. Governor of Uttarakhand in his inaugural speech on the second day of the DefSat 2024.
The session highlighted the importance of space and defense collaboration and the role of space in the daily lives of the people.
Power of Collaboration
“We need to integrate, share, and increase collaboration. That’s where the real changes happen. We have to collaborate in data, communication, information, and other technologies,” emphasized Lt. Gen Gurmit Singh.
“The focus on technology, R&D, and startup innovation has become a part of our personality now”.
While talking about the recently presented budget by the government of India he said that the allocation for technology and innovation is absolutely important.
“This path of AI, semiconductors, 5G, and space communication is definitely reshaping our mission, vision, and the roadmap,” he emphasized.
“Looking at food security, clean energy, health, education, and infrastructure, I think space is going to balance all these areas only if we integrate it.”
Safeguarding Critical Infra
Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO said, “We need to get prepared not only to become capable of using the cyber and space domains but to help our warfare in our conventional domains, but also to protect our critical infrastructure in space.”
He further explained how it is a dual challenge; “the importance of space for communication as network centric warfare is becoming increasingly common for navigation, providing ISR which is required especially in hypersonic and ballistic missiles, but it would be very critical to have significant space based surveillance capability to ensure you get early warning.”
He explained how the New Space policy has been introduced by the government, there has been a spurt of startups in the domain. We have to leverage this startup ecosystem to work on defense technologies.
He explained DRDO’s technology development fund which is focusing on startups.
“One of the startups funded by us, Bellatrix aerospace, recently demonstrated a green propulsion system in the PSLV 58 which was launched recently,” he said.
