Ajey Lele

The proposed BRICS Space Council could provide a platform for BRICS states to reconcile their differing positions on space security and sustainability.

• Ajey Lele |
• September 14, 2026 |
• IDSA Comments

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s Commentary ‘ISRO privatisation: The writing is on the wall’ has been published in Deccan Herald on 12 September 2026 ISRO is expected to support this growth through technological assistance, with the government organisation and private start-ups eventually driving the expansion of the national space economy together, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s opinion piece ‘ISRO's Employees Must Be Heard, Govt's Plans to Transfer Tech to the Private Sector Raises Valid Concerns’ has been published in ‘The Wire’ on 11 September 2026. ISRO’s staff associations have raised concerns not only about their own future but also about the future direction of the organization, writes Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India

Deputy Director General Manohar Parrikar IDSA Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s commentary ‘ISRO’s comeback with the successful launch of EOS-05’ has been published in ‘The Space Review’ on 08 September 2026. For India, the orbital launch record in 2026 is a matter of concern. Until July the country had conducted only one launch and that was a failure. SpaceX logged its 100th launch of the year in mid-August, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (D) Ajey Lele’s opinion piece ‘The Success of EOS-05 Says the Seven-Month Launch Hiatus for ISRO Is Over’ has been published in ‘The Wire’ on 05 September 2026. ISRO is best placed to address its manpower shortages, project delays and other organisational challenges. Its track record demonstrates a capacity to overcome various setbacks, writes Gp Capt Lele. https://thewire.in/space/the-success-of-eos-05-says-the-seven-month-launch-hiatus-for-isro-is-over Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘NASA wants ISRO on its Moon base. India must consider the risks’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 19 August 2026. The Artemis Accords are a voluntary, non-binding arrangement but they are developed outside the UN negotiating process. Particularly in relation to space-resource activities, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘Falcon 9 Rocket Crash on Moon Exposes Gaps in International Space Law’ has been published in ‘The Wire’ on 06 August 2026. Broadly, the Falcon 9 impact represents more than an isolated mission anomaly; it offers valuable scientific insights while highlighting emerging challenges for future lunar exploration, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s opinion piece ‘Vikram-1: A success for India’s entire space ecosystem’ has been published in ‘The Space Review’ on 20 July 2026. The successful orbital launch of Vikram-1 marks a defining moment in India’s space journey, demonstrating that the country could emerge as a hub for private launch services in near future, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s opinion piece ‘Skyroot’s Vikram-1 success shows it’s time for ISRO to redefine its role’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 21 July 2026. India's private space sector has progressed because of the mature ecosystem created by ISRO. Vikram-1's success is not solely an outcome of Skyroot Aerospace's efforts, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘With Its Reusable Rocket Breakthrough, is China Set to Become a Challenger to SpaceX’s Dominance?’ has been published in ‘The Wire’ on 17 July 2026. LM-10B has been developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which is the country’s leading state-owned rocket manufacturer involved in designing and developing launch vehicles for commercial missions, writes Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.