Lack of military-civil cooperation framework impeding innovation in space tech: IAF Vice Chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari

The lack of framework for cooperation between military and civilian entities is preventing India from innovating and manufacturing next-generation space technology on a large scale, Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari said on Tuesday. “In our context, the Indian space eco system — at present being largely civilian in nature — works around the Space Commission and its constituent Department of Space,” said the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at an event of industry body FICCI.

The lack of robust “military-civil fusion”-like framework is preventing us from innovating and manufacturing next-generation space technologies on a large scale, he said, adding there is a need for a concerted focus on this regard.