DEFSAT 2025 is set to take limelight at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, bringing together global leaders, defense experts, and technology innovators to explore the critical role of space technologies in modern warfare.  Organized by the Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India), this flagship conference and expo will focus on the theme of “Integrated Space Capabilities for Multi-Domain Operations.”

The 3-day event, spanning January 8-10, 2025, schedules a rich lineup of discussions, exhibitions, and interactive simulations. It will host delegates from government bodies, defense organizations, and private space-tech companies, highlighting India’s ambition to lead in space-defense integration.

DEFSAT 2025 Agenda:

DEFSAT 2025 will focus into several cutting-edge topics and disruptive technologies reshaping the defense arena:

Space Warfare and Quantum Key Distribution:

Strategies for securing communication and protecting critical infrastructure in contested environments. Development of space-based technologies and platforms for military operations, including offensive and defensive capabilities, which include satellite defense, counter-space operations, electronic & cyber warfare.

Quantum Key Distribution is a revolutionary method of securing communications using the principles of quantum mechanics. It ensures that encryption keys are exchanged securely between two parties, making it nearly impossible for an adversary to intercept or decode the transmitted data without detection.

Non-Kinetic Space Operations: Innovations in electronic and cyber warfare aimed at neutralizing adversarial threats, which include measures like dazzling (blinding optical sensors with lasers) or deploying robotic systems to disable satellites without physical destruction.

AI/ML in Defense Operations: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming defense operations by enhancing decision-making, precision targeting, and enabling autonomous capabilities. Deployment of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance battlefield situational awareness and decision-making, by bringing in autonomous drones, unmanned vehicles, underwater systems.

Satellite-Based Defense Infrastructure: Exploring India’s growing satellite constellations and their applications for multi-domain defense capabilities. Space warfare has become a critical domain for modern militaries as nations increasingly rely on satellites for communication, navigation (like GPS), surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Key Highlights

1. IndSpace Wargame 3.0: A marquee feature of the event, this interactive simulation will challenge participants to navigate real-world space security scenarios, emphasizing the complexities of space-based operations.
2. Exhibition Pavilion: A showcase of next-generation defense technologies, including AI-powered solutions, advanced satellites, and quantum-enabled systems.
3. Expert Panels and Keynote Speeches: Leading voices in defense and space industries will discuss strategies for collaboration, innovation, and maintaining global competitiveness.

Strategic Collaboration

Supported by the Department of Defense Production, Ministry of Defense, and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), along with knowledge partners such as the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), DEFSAT 2025 aims to bridge India’s defense modernization with its burgeoning space capabilities.

This event is not only an exhibition of India’s advancements but also a platform for growing international partnerships and creating the groundwork for future-ready defense operations. For defense enthusiasts, policymakers, and technologists, DEFSAT 2025 is the place to be as India paves the way for space-driven security in a rapidly evolving world