Civil-Military Integration
Author: Tianjiang Shuo
Source: Feng Songjiang, et al. (2021) "Analysis of India's Space Power Development and Strategic Priorities" [in Chinese]
Website: https://cislunarspace.cn
Definition
Civil-Military Integration is a development model described as "embedding military within civilian, integrating civil and military, and employing civilian for military." It achieves overall enhancement of space capabilities through coordinated development of civilian and military space programs. India has adopted this development model and, through a process of "develop, import, digest, absorb, and re-innovate," rapidly advanced its military space capabilities.
Development Model
The development pathways adopted by India's space program:
- Embedding Military Within Civilian: Military space capabilities are embedded within civilian space development
- Civil-Military Integration: Unified planning of military and civilian space resources
- Employing Civilian for Military: Civilian space technologies and results can be directly applied to the military domain
- Import, Digest, Absorb, and Re-innovate: Digesting, absorbing, and independently innovating on the basis of imported foreign technologies
Development History
The development history of India's civil-military space integration:
| Phase | Period | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Stage | 1960s--1970s | Establishment of the National Space Committee; beginning of space research |
| Growth Stage | 1980s--1990s | Development of launch vehicles and application satellites |
| Expansion Stage | 2000s--present | Simultaneous development of deep space exploration and military space |
Organizational Framework
Organizational safeguards for India's civil-military integration:
- Department of Space: Unified management of national satellite application systems
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): Core research and development institution
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): Military space R&D
- Chiefs of Staff Committee: Space operations command
Policy Support
Policy measures India has implemented to advance civil-military integration:
- Policy Framework: In February 2021, the Department of Space announced it was developing a human spaceflight policy framework and long-term roadmap
- Commercial Space Reform: In June 2020, India announced commercial space reform measures, including promoting commercial space development, absorbing private sector advantages, and reducing government investment share
- Technology Roadmap: The Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap 2010--2025 guides space capability development
Strategic Significance
Civil-Military Integration holds major strategic significance for India's space capability development:
- Resource Integration: Maximizes the use of civilian space resources for military capability development
- Cost Effectiveness: Avoids redundant construction and improves investment efficiency
- Technology Transfer: Rapid conversion of civilian technology achievements into military applications
- Industrial Development: Drives overall growth of the domestic space industry
Relevance to Cislunar Space
The civil-military integration development model has important implications for cislunar space missions:
- Technology Accumulation: Civilian deep space exploration technologies can support cislunar space military applications
- Infrastructure: Civilian launch facilities can support cislunar space missions
- Talent Pipeline: Cultivates a large pool of aerospace professionals
Related Concepts
References
- Feng Songjiang, Chang Zhuang, Wang Qian. "Analysis of India's Space Power Development and Strategic Priorities" [in Chinese][J]. 2021.
- Huang Zhicheng. "New Developments in India's Space Power" [in Chinese][J]. Space International, 2021(1): 52--58.