Creation of armed forces space cell significant: Report
By IANSMonday, March 29, 2010
NEW DELHI - The creation of an Integrated Space Cell (ISC) for the armed forces is “a significant step forward towards modernisation”, the defence ministry said in its annual report released Monday.
“The setting up of the Integrated Space Cell (ISC) under the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) as the nodal point for all space related activities of the tri-services was a significant step forward towards modernization,” the report says.
The ISC has worked out the overall satellite communication requirements of the three services till 2020 in coordination with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the report says.
It also notes that a contract was signed this month to equip two regiments of the Indian Army with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system.
On India’s indigenous missile programme, the report says that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans soon to conduct the fourth flight test of the long range Agni-III missile that is capable of carrying a 1,500 kg warhead.
The DRDO is also toying with the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System, based on the Embraer-145 aircraft platform. The first modified aircraft is expected in mid-2011, the report says.
