India faces new security threats from the cyber world with the increasing convergence of technologies changing the rules of engagements, a top defence official said here on Friday.
"Cyber security is a major challenge as our operations are going to be on the network-centric system which is dependent on the information and communication technologies," scientific adviser to defence minister V K Saraswat told reporters.
Securing this network-centric system would be a major problem, Saraswat said, adding the country would have to build robust systems and platforms with proprietary software to make sure the networks were safe and almost invincible.
As a missile technologist, Saraswat is also director-general of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which designs and develops a range of technologies and products for the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy spanning aircraft, choppers, radars, weapons, missiles, battle tanks, submarines and a host of support systems.
"As far as the security threat is concerned, it is always evolving. Beyond the conventional threat from land, air or sea, the new threats are economic and cyber, where we have to become more vigilant," Saraswat said here.
While discussing the hypersonic cruise missile, Saraswat, said it is one of the most complex technologies.
Only two countries, the US and Australia, have done it so far. He also said the engine for the missile had been tested for 20 seconds on the ground and had performed reasonably well.
Meanwhile, he said India does not believe in space wars, but has the technology to integrate systems to defend its satellites, he added.
"Our country does not have a policy to attack anybody in space. But as part of the Ballistic Missile Defence Programme, we have the technology required to integrate a system through which we can defend our satellites or take care of future requirements."
As a country, "We do not believe in space wars", he said in response to a query if India had anti-satellite weapons capabilities.
India did not have a formal anti-satellite weapons policy of attacking satellites in space, but was well geared in case of any eventuality, he told reporters.
Giving updates on the various defence programmes, he said the 'Nirbhay' project, relating to a subsonic medium range cruise missile, is undergoing integration and the first flight trial is set to take place early next year.
On Agni-V missile, he said all the rocket rotors, first stage, second stage and third stage have been developed.
"We will ground test it," he said adding the software and hardware essential for control of guidance for a long-range missile is being developed.
"We expect that by end of this year we will have the first flight of Agni-V," he said.
