North America & Strategic Technologies

About Centre

The Centre focuses on issues related to strategic technologies that have a potential impact on national security. Its main focus is on critical technologies and space technologies. The Centre is engaged in tracking and trend analysis of issues related to Space Security and Cyber Security. The other mandate of the Centre is to undertake research on Biological and Chemical Weapons with a focus on studying the dangers of proliferation and terrorism. The Centre is responsible for the publication of the CBW Magazine – a bi-annual magazine which covers a wide range of issues related to Chemical and Biological Weapons.

Challenging China’s Rare Earth Monopoly

Over the last few years, realizing the dangers of Chinese monopoly, countries like India, Japan and Vietnam have started collaborating in Rare Earth Elements, while North America countries are planning to increase investments in this sector.

Ajey Lele
July 19, 2012
IDSA Comments

Should India Conduct an ASAT Test Now?

A decision to conduct an ASAT test has to be a nuanced one considering the strategic advantages such a test could offer and the diplomatic elbow room that it would give during negotiations on a space arms control mechanism.

Ajey Lele
July 11, 2012
IDSA Comments

What does the discovery of Higgs boson mean?

With the discovery of the Higgs boson, the missing link in the Standard Model of physics has been found and the Standard Model stands further strengthened.

Arvind Gupta
July 09, 2012
IDSA Comments

Deliberating the Space Code of Conduct

Ajey Lele argues that, in its present avatar, the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities is not capable of realizing its stated aim fully because it lacks an accountability mechanism.

Ajey Lele
June 29, 2012
Issue Brief

Space Code of Conduct: Inadequate Mechanism—A Response

An “imperfect” International Code of Conduct can help establish and strengthen norms for responsible space-faring nations. We must make hard choices about which less-than-perfect approach can best serve national and international security.

CBMs in Cyber Space: What should be India’s Approach?

India should support the idea of TCBMs (transparency and confidence building measures) as a first step towards a code of conduct or eventual cyber security convention.

Arvind Gupta
June 27, 2012
IDSA Comments

Space Code of Conduct: Inadequate Mechanism

The EU’s Code of Conduct has been advertised as a mechanism to preserve the sustainability and security of space, but it is difficult to comprehend how a non-binding and voluntary mechanism could help achieve this.

Ajey Lele
June 18, 2012
IDSA Comments

Panetta’s Prescription for New Directions in US-India Defence Relations: Cyber and Space Security

There is an ongoing global competition to gain dominance in the space and cyber domains; while going it alone might be the best policy, collaboration with clearly laid out guidelines and end-goals is not without its benefits.

India Launches Radar Satellite

ISRO has done its job and now the onus lies on other agencies to make appropriate and timely use of the inputs that will be provided by RISAT-1.

Ajey Lele
April 27, 2012
IDSA Comments

Agni V Launches India into the ‘Strat’-o-sphere

The Agni-V launch is a significant milestone for the Indian scientific community as this is the first missile with a strike-range covering major Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai.