India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on Wednesday that with an anti-satellite missile system the country has shot down a satellite in the space, further hailing the test as the major breakthrough in India’s space program.
According to Reuters news reports, during a televised address to the country, Modi made this announcement where he claimed his country would be the only fourth nation who have made use of such an anti-satellite missile weapon after China, Russia and the United States.
Modi took it to Twitter earlier to announce plans for national broadcast over this space capability, stating he had something important announcement to make.
An important message to the nation. Watch. https://t.co/0LEOATgOOQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2019
Such capabilities and developments have raised fears of setting off competition between rival powers and the weaponization of space.
Calling it a historic feat, Modi said, “Some time ago, our scientists, shot down a live satellite 300 kilometres away in space, in low-earth orbit.”
Speaking in Hindi, Modi said India has made “an unprecedented achievement today”. India has registered its name as a “space power”.
#MissionShakti is special for 2 reasons:
(1) India is only the 4th country to acquire such a specialised & modern capability.
(2) Entire effort is indigenous.
India stands tall as a space power!
It will make India stronger, even more secure and will further peace and harmony.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2019
Modi tweeted, “In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. One such moment is today. India has successfully tested the Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile. Congratulations to everyone on the success of #MissionShakti.”
In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come.
One such moment is today.
India has successfully tested the Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile. Congratulations to everyone on the success of #MissionShakti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2019
#MissionShakti was a highly complex one, conducted at extremely high speed with remarkable precision. It shows the remarkable dexterity of India’s outstanding scientists and the success of our space programme.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2019
A security expert at New Delhi’s Centre of Policy Research, Brahma Chellaney said China, Russia and the US were persuing anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons.
He said, “Space is being turned into a battlefront, making counter-space capabilities critical. In this light, India’s successful “kill” with an ASAT weapon is significant.”
There were no tests for more than 20 years, until 2007, when China entered the anti-satellite arena.