North America & Strategic Technologies

About Centre

The Centre tracks relations between India and the countries of North America. US and Canadian internal developments are also monitored to have a better understanding of their role as drivers of foreign and domestic policies. The large Indian diaspora in these two countries also serves as a bridge for strengthening bilateral relations.

The Centre also actively tracks and analyses trends in strategic technologies, with principal focus on critical technologies and their implications for national security. It addresses evolving threats in space security and cyber security, ensuring comprehensive research into these critical domains. 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.

China launches a communications satellite for Pakistan

China’s launch of Pakistan’s first communications satellite demonstrates a deepening of their technological cooperation.

Ajey Lele
August 24, 2011
IDSA Comments

Breivik’s Interest in Anthrax and Religious Extremism

The history of the use of biological agents by non-state actors indicates that radical groups, religious fanatics and even disgruntled scientists have engaged in bioterrorism

GSAT-12: Boosting Transponder Demand

The larger issue which the GSAT-12 launch brings to the fore is that of the mounting demand for satellite transponders and India’s capabilities in this regard.

Ajey Lele
July 19, 2011
IDSA Comments

Detecting Surgically Implanted Bombs

Aviation has been a favourite target for terrorist groups over the last three decades.

The Last Space Shuttle Flight

The US is stopping the shuttle programme by design and not for want of technology or money; nor does discontinuing the space shuttle indicate that the US has lost the space race.

Ajey Lele
July 13, 2011
IDSA Comments

Success of GSAT-8 and Future of India’s Space Programme

While the GSAT-8 has been successfully launched, the future of the GSLV programme continues to be under a cloud after the twin failures in 2010.

Ajey Lele
May 25, 2011
IDSA Comments

ISRO’s Successful PSLV-C16 Flight

With the successful sixteenth flight of the PSLV-C16, the “feel good” factor has returned to ISRO which was buffeted by failures and controversy over the last year.

Ajey Lele
April 25, 2011
IDSA Comments

Yury Gagarin and Space Rivalry

On the 50th anniversary of Gagarin’s space flight, the space scenario appears to be at a crossroads. Because of the economic and other geopolitical compulsions, major powers are found trading cautiously.

Ajey Lele
April 20, 2011
IDSA Comments

ISRO cannot afford failures

ISRO needs to conduct a thorough enquiry particularly because failure in a time-tested and launch proven “stage one technology” is undesirable.

Ajey Lele
December 28, 2010
IDSA Comments

ISRO’s French Connection

Sarkozy’s speech at ISRO was an interesting mix of issues relating to geostrategic significance, business, and collaboration in science and technology.