Ajey Lele

Senior Fellow, IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article on India’s space agenda, titled ‘Should India pursue a Space Force?’ has been published in The Space Review on May 13, 2019.

India’s ASAT test has provided an opportunity for the country to recalibrate its defense structures. It’s now clear that India needs to establish the fourth arm of its defense structure, the Indian Space Force, writes Gp. Capt. Lele.

Read Complete Article [+]

• Published: 13 May, 2019

Senior Fellow, IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article on India’s space programme, titled ‘India makes strides towards space security’ has been published in East Asia Forum on May 04, 2019.

India has a vibrant space programme and is keen to use space for developmental and commercial purposes. In the coming decades there could be a ‘space race for resources’ with asteroid mining becoming a reality. India needs to ensure that all treaties in the space domain are fair, writes Gp. Capt. Lele.

Read Complete Article [+]

• Published: 4 May, 2019

Senior Fellow, IDSA, Gp. Capt. Ajey Lele’s article on Mission Shakti, titled ‘A-SAT Mission Shakti: A project that made rocket science look simpler than politics’ was published in Financial Express on March 30, 2019.

Commenting on the political turmoil over the test, Dr Lele writes that internationally, India has significantly raised the stakes of the issues concerning Space Security. For India space is a tool for a growth and wellbeing of its people.

Read Complete Article [+]

• Published: 30 March, 2019

Senior Fellow, IDSA, Gp Capt Ajey Lele’s opinion piece on ASAT test, titled ‘The successful ASAT test has earned India its rightful place on the high table’ was published in The Indian Express on March 29, 2019.

The article describes the ASAT missile test as a demonstration of technological capability and a message of deterrence and says that it strengthens India’s claims to be a party to international negotiations on space.

Read Complete Aricle [+]

• Published: 29 March, 2019

Senior Fellow, IDSA, Gp Capt Ajey Lele’s article on SSLV rockets, titled ‘Once Ready, ISRO’s SSLV Rockets Will Enhance India’s Strategic Capabilities’ was published in Strategic News International on February 08, 2019.

With SSLV, India would soon have a space architecture allowing for almost a launch-on-demand facility. Such capability is an important need for the armed forces. It offers them an assurance that during war their requirements, both for communication and space reconnaissance, could be met almost in real-time. Small satellites have substantial strategic utility too, including potential counter-space capabilities, reads the article.

Read Complete Article [+]

• Published: 8 February, 2019

Technology and the armed forces have a symbiotic relationship. Many technologies which are presently used in day-to-day life, like the Internet or navigation systems (global positioning system [GPS]), actually have a link to, or are derived from, military innovations. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one arena of present generation technology that militaries have been developing mainly for two purposes: first, for juxtaposing it on their existing defence architecture for its performance enhancement; and second, for developing new types of militarily instruments and weapon systems.

• Published: January-March 2019
• Journal of Defence Studies

This 652-page book has six main sections and in total 21 chapters, including the introduction and conclusion. The basic themes discussed in the book include the prevention and disarmament issues related to the Chemical and Biological Weapons and the possible role for arms control, the ongoing advancements taking place in the field of chemistry and biology and the role of civil society to address various challenges posed by such weapons.

• Published: January 2019
• Strategic Analysis

Senior Fellow, IDSA, Gp Capt Ajey Lele’s article on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), titled ‘Why countries across the world trust ISRO to launch their satellites into space’ was published in ‘Daily O’ on September 22, 2018.

According to the Gp Capt Lele, ISRO is fast becoming a powerful vehicle of India’s soft power.

Read Complete Article [+]

• Published: 22 September, 2018

Senior Fellow, IDSA, Gp Capt Ajey Lele’s article on Prime Minister Modi’s ambitious plan to send the first Indian human to the space on Indian spacecraft, titled ‘Is ISRO Up for PM Modi’s ‘Indian in Space’ Challenge Without Cutting Corners?’ was published by News 18, on August 18, 2018.

The article suggests that it remains to be seen if PM Modi’s plan is ambitious, as well as pragmatic. However, at this point in time, some broad assessment could be made to appreciate the feasibility for this mission.

Read Complete Article [+]

• Published: 18 August, 2018

Senior Fellow, IDSA, Gp Capt Ajey Lele’s article on cyber security, titled ‘TRAI chief RS Sharma's Aadhaar debacle should be a learning experience for all’ was published in ‘Daily O’ on August 01, 2018.

There is a considered view that cyber security is actually a myth and anything and everything which operates on the system of ‘zeros and ones’ is hackable, reads the article.

Read Complete Article [+]

• Published: 1 August, 2018