North America & Strategic Technologies

About Centre

The Centre focuses on issues related to strategic technologies that have a potential impact on national security. Its main focus is on critical technologies and space technologies. The Centre is engaged in tracking and trend analysis of issues related to Space Security and Cyber Security. The other mandate of the Centre is to undertake research on Biological and Chemical Weapons with a focus on studying the dangers of proliferation and terrorism. The Centre is responsible for the publication of the CBW Magazine – a bi-annual magazine which covers a wide range of issues related to Chemical and Biological Weapons.

China to Launch Satellite for Sri Lanka: India’s Missed Opportunity?

India has much to learn from China with regard to using space as an ‘instrument of influence’ and also needs to expand the global footprint of its expertise.

Ajey Lele
November 16, 2012
IDSA Comments

Some takeaways from the Budapest Conference on Cyberspace

Even as imagined and real cyber security threats scale new heights, the story coming out of the recently concluded Second International Conference on Cyberspace in Budapest was one of a widening gulf between countries, notwithstanding the stated intent of bridging differences through dialogue.

Cherian Samuel
October 11, 2012
IDSA Comments

GSAT-10 is a success but ISRO needs to advance its Launch Capabilities

India’s inadequacies in the space arena are not limited to how much weight its launch vehicles can carry into space but also extends to the number of launches that ISRO can carry out in a year.

Ajey Lele
October 01, 2012
IDSA Comments

The Invisible War in West Asia

The two recent malware attacks on energy companies in West Asia are particularly worrisome since they represent a rapid escalation in capabilities and intent on the part of the perpetrators.

Cherian Samuel
September 07, 2012
IDSA Comments

Robot now, Human Later: America’s Mars Dream

The US will undertake a manned mission to Mars to once again demonstrate its supremacy as well as to demonstrate the limitations of China’s rise.

Ajey Lele
August 09, 2012
IDSA Comments

China Consolidates the Rare Earth Industry and Builds Strategic Reserves

China’s success in the rare earth industry is the result of both careful thought and consideration at the highest policy making levels which have constantly expedited reform in the industry.

Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Conflict

It is expected that the Syrian inventory could contain several thousand aerial bombs filled mostly with the chemical agent Sarin, and between 50 and 100 ballistic missile warheads.

Ajey Lele
July 30, 2012
IDSA Comments

Challenging China’s Rare Earth Monopoly

Over the last few years, realizing the dangers of Chinese monopoly, countries like India, Japan and Vietnam have started collaborating in Rare Earth Elements, while North America countries are planning to increase investments in this sector.

Ajey Lele
July 19, 2012
IDSA Comments

Should India Conduct an ASAT Test Now?

A decision to conduct an ASAT test has to be a nuanced one considering the strategic advantages such a test could offer and the diplomatic elbow room that it would give during negotiations on a space arms control mechanism.

Ajey Lele
July 11, 2012
IDSA Comments

What does the discovery of Higgs boson mean?

With the discovery of the Higgs boson, the missing link in the Standard Model of physics has been found and the Standard Model stands further strengthened.