NEW DELHI – As nations race to expand their capabilities in orbit, a stark warning has emerged from defense and industry leaders: without robust cyber resilience, space power is dangerously fragile. At the DefSat 2026 conference, a central theme was the inseparable link between space operations and cybersecurity, framing them as the twin pillars of modern national security.
The global space economy, valued at approximately US$613 billion in 2024, is on a trajectory to reach nearly US$2 trillion within the next decade. However, this rapid growth, fueled by commercial innovation and geopolitical ambition, is creating unprecedented vulnerabilities that could undermine critical infrastructure on Earth.
Key Takeaways
- Defense leaders at DefSat 2026 emphasized that space and cyber domains are now inseparable for national security.
- The booming commercial space sector, while driving innovation, is also significantly expanding the potential attack surface for cyber threats.
- Artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword, enhancing satellite capabilities while also creating new, sophisticated methods for cyberattacks.
- Protecting long-life space assets like satellites presents unique challenges compared to terrestrial IT systems, requiring a new focus on "orbital assurance."
The New Frontier of Conflict
The conversation at the conference's opening plenary in New Delhi made it clear that space is no longer a distant frontier for exploration but a core operational domain. In an era of increasing geopolitical instability, assets in orbit are fundamental to how nations project power, gather intelligence, and protect their interests.
Speakers, including Lt Gen PJS Pannu (Retd) and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, highlighted how space-based systems are deeply integrated into daily life and military readiness. These systems are essential for communications, financial transactions, navigation services, and disaster response. The consensus was that control over data flowing from space is now as critical as energy security or nuclear deterrence.
A Shift in Strategic Thinking
For decades, space was primarily the domain of government agencies focused on scientific discovery. Today, with the rise of private companies and lower launch costs, space has become a crowded and contested environment. Major world powers have officially designated space as a warfighting domain, acknowledging that future conflicts will likely extend beyond Earth's atmosphere.
This shift has turned satellites and ground stations into high-value targets. The threat is no longer theoretical; anti-satellite capabilities, electronic jamming, and sophisticated cyber intrusions are active concerns for defense planners worldwide.
Commercial Growth and Expanding Risks
The rapid expansion of the space economy is largely driven by the private sector. Innovations like reusable rockets and large-scale satellite constellations have dramatically lowered the barrier to entry, leading to an explosion of new companies and services.
While this commercialization fosters innovation, it also complicates the security landscape. Every new satellite, ground station, and data link represents a potential entry point for malicious actors. Startups and mid-sized firms, focused on rapid growth, may not have the resources or expertise to implement the same level of security as established government agencies.
The global space economy is projected to grow from US$613 billion in 2024 to nearly US$2 trillion within ten years, driven by private sector investment and technological advancements.
This creates a vast and distributed attack surface. High-resolution satellite imagery and sensitive geospatial data, once the exclusive property of superpowers, are now widely accessible. The deep integration between orbital systems and terrestrial digital networks means a vulnerability in one can easily cascade to the other.
The AI and Orbital Assurance Challenge
Artificial intelligence is further accelerating the convergence of space and cyber. On one hand, AI is revolutionizing the industry by enhancing satellite design, automating the analysis of vast amounts of imagery, and shortening decision-making timelines. It helps operators manage complex satellite constellations and process data at unprecedented speeds.
On the other hand, AI provides adversaries with powerful new tools. AI algorithms can be used to identify system vulnerabilities, automate the exploitation of weaknesses, and conduct cyber operations at a scale and speed that human defenders cannot match. This dual-use nature of AI presents a significant challenge for security experts.
"Space is not standalone supremacy, but integrative power. It connects defence, economy and digital infrastructure. It amplifies capability — and exposes vulnerability if left unsecured."
Securing space assets is uniquely difficult. Unlike a server in a data center, a satellite in orbit cannot be easily accessed for physical repairs or upgrades. With operational lifecycles often spanning 10 to 15 years, these assets can become outdated and difficult to patch against new cyber threats.
This has given rise to the concept of "orbital assurance" — a comprehensive approach to protecting space infrastructure from launch to decommissioning. It involves building security into the design of satellites, securing supply chains, and developing methods for remote updates and threat detection.
India's Strategic Position
India is a key player in this evolving landscape. With successful missions like Chandrayaan and the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, the nation has demonstrated its growing strategic capabilities. The 2023 National Space Policy is designed to further accelerate this by opening the sector to private industry on a large scale.
A significant advantage for India is its robust domestic cyber ecosystem. The country has an estimated 65,000 cybersecurity professionals and hundreds of specialized product companies. The challenge, as highlighted at DefSat 2026, is to effectively align this talent pool with the unique security requirements of the space domain.
As nations continue to invest heavily in space, the conclusion from the conference was unambiguous: future national strength will not be measured by the number of satellites in orbit alone, but by the resilience of those assets against digital threats. In this new strategic order, cyber defense is the essential foundation for power in space.