Outer Space Vs Battlespace: Emerging Domain of Warfare

History shows that every medium-land, sea and air-has seen conflict. Reality dictates the space will be no different. The access to space and its use cannot be put in reverse gear. Outer space is still a peaceful place but the possibility of this domain turning into a theatre of armed conflict cannot be ruled out. Will battlespace engulf outer space? It is imperative to define how the military can use space assets, protect them, and devise new ways of handling this unique environment.

Certain questions relating to the exploitation of outer space demand clear answers. For instance: Is outer space a part of battlespace? What is the international responsibility for the actions of commercial establishments and non-state actors in outer space; What military activity could be permitted on the Moon and celestial bodies; Where are the thresholds for interference, intervention, use of force, and armed attack in self-defence lies; and, Whether IHL applies in the event of an armed conflict occurring in the outer space? This book attempts to search for answers to some of these issues.

Dr U C Jha, a former Wing Commander, is an independent researcher in international humanitarian law, military law and human rights law. Some of his recent publications include, Chinese Military Legal System: An Analysis; Nuclear Weapons: Untangling the Societal Enigma; Modern Non-Lethal Weapons; Protection of Prisoners of War; Biological Weapons: The Evolution of Military law in India; Ethics in the Indian Military; Killer Robots: Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems: Legal, Ethical and Moral Challenges; Human Rights in the Indian Armed Forces: An Analysis of Article 33 of the Constitution; The Law of Armed Conflict; and Child Soldiers: Practice, Law and Remedies.

Kishore Kumar Khera is an independent analyst. He served as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force for 33 years. He was a pioneer member of Composite Battle Response and Analysis (COBRA) Group and headed the Operational Planning and Analysis Group at Air Headquarters. His recent books include Combat Aviation: Flight Path 1968-2018, Modern Non-Lethal Weapons: Concepts, Application, Legal and Moral Perspective and Nuclear Weapons: Untangling the Societal Enigma.