The DEFSAT 2026 Conference and Exposition, organised by SIA-India in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) as Knowledge Partner, was held from 24–26 February 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre under the theme “Space at the Core to National Security.” The three-day conference brought together senior military leadership, policymakers, strategic experts, global industry leaders, start-ups, and technology innovators to deliberate on the evolving role of space in India’s defence and security architecture. High-level plenaries and panel discussions addressed securing space as national critical infrastructure, strengthening cyber, spectrum and electromagnetic resilience, analysing adversarial military space doctrines, and enhancing integrated preparedness. Sessions focused on persistent multi-orbit capabilities, C5ISR-enabled command networks, satellite operations centres, deep precision warfare, A2AD strategies, service-based procurement models, and accelerating innovation under evolving defence acquisition frameworks. Dedicated discussions examined EU–India defence and space industrial cooperation, Indo-Pacific partnerships, responsive launch systems, on-orbit servicing, and the development of indigenous AI-enabled GIS platforms to support mosaic warfare and real-time decision superiority.
The conference emphasised building a self-reliant military–industrial–space ecosystem through deeper collaboration among government, armed forces, academia, and private industry, while strengthening supply chains, R&D partnerships, and indigenous manufacturing. Industry participation showcased capabilities across satellite communications, ISR, analytics, secure data systems, launch technologies, and next-generation space applications. A major highlight was INDSPACEX 4.0, a structured wargame bringing together uniformed strategists and industry stakeholders to simulate future space contest scenarios and stress-test resilience, doctrine, and mission assurance in contested environments. Through curated strategic dialogue and operationally grounded discussions, SIA-India and CLAWS facilitated a platform that translated policy intent into capability-driven outcomes, reinforcing space as a decisive pillar of national security and advancing India’s preparedness for emerging multi-domain challenges.
