Modi Says Satellite Destruction Shows India Is Now a ‘Space Power’

(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India had joined the U.S., Russia and China in an elite group of nations that have the capability to target satellites.

In a televised address to the nation, Modi said India fired a missile to knock down one of its own satellites in low Earth orbit, calling the capability crucial for national security.

“India has today established its name as a space power,” Modi said. “Our scientists used an anti-satellite missile to bring down a live satellite, 300 kilometers away in space.”

The shoot-down involved an interceptor from India's ballistic missile defense program, showcasing the country's rising confidence in the technology. India's current missiles are mostly intended for confrontations with China and Pakistan, its foes in one and three wars, respectively.

“The test was done in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there is no space debris,” India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. “Whatever debris that is generated will decay and fall back onto the Earth within weeks.”

Modi's address comes just weeks ahead of general elections to determine whether he'll serve a second term as prime minister. Voting will take place in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, with results to be announced on May 23.

India's Election Commission said it has asked a committee of officers to examine Modi's address to determine if it violated rules that bar policy announcements before elections.

‘Nationalist Fervor'

“This address is an indication that Mr. Modi possibly is not very sure of the election campaign going completely his way,” said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst who has written a Modi biography, adding he may have violated the election code of conduct. “It's an attempt to bolster nationalist fervor by another means,” Mukhopadhyay said, after realizing the patriotic mood generated by tensions between India and Pakistan was “not sufficient” to continue until the end of elections.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated dramatically when India launched airstrikes on Feb. 26 to attack what the government said was a terrorist training camp inside Pakistan. The government in Islamabad retaliated the next day, shooting down an Indian jet. India's initial airstrikes were in response to a suicide bombing in Kashmir that killed 40 paramilitary troops.

“This is significant. India can now take out Chinese communication systems, for instance,” said Bharat Karnad, Delhi-based security expert at the Centre for Policy Research. “The PM is going to derive whatever political benefits he can in election season -- why would he give up the chance?”

In 2007, China first used a ballistic missile to destroy its own old weather satellite orbiting 535 miles (861 km) above Earth, while Russia has been testing a missile that could be used to strike and destroy a satellite or ballistic missile.

India's space and missile programs -- along with its economic growth of more than 7 percent and a bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council -- is a major part of the country's efforts to build up its defense capabilities and establish itself as a world power.

--With assistance from Anurag Kotoky, N. C. Bipindra and Vrishti Beniwal.

To contact the reporters on this story: Bibhudatta Pradhan in New Delhi at bpradhan@bloomberg.net;Archana Chaudhary in New Delhi at achaudhary2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Abhay Singh