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North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and India share several commonalities of interests and threats and, therefore, have tremendous scope for cooperation. India is the world’s largest democracy, while NATO involves several staunch democracies, with the US being the oldest-standing democracy.
Illustration by The Geostrata
As the world is witnessing turbulence through the conflicts in Eurasia, Indo-Pacific, West Asia, etc, it opens an avenue for these democracies to collective threat response.
NATO is keen to engage with India as their interests align to tackle common challenges such as terrorism, maritime security, advanced technological threats, threats from authoritarian regimes, etc.
Despite India not being a formal NATO ally, with shared values of democray, freedom, sovereignty, human rights, etc, it widens the scope for deeper NATO-India cooperation.
A decade ago, the news surfaced regarding NATO’s invitation to India for defence cooperation in the ballistic missile defence (BMD) system. This article delves into the potential engagement between NATO and India in defence cooperation and learning from each other, mainly focusing on the ballistic missile defense system.
ADOPTING AND CORDINATING INTEGRATED DEFENCE SYSTEMS
Primarily, NATO has an advanced integrated system for defence against missiles. These include the Patriot Missile Defence System and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence System. They are designed in a way that they can work in tandem across various NATO nations. It facilitates enhanced detection, tracking and interception capabilities.
This integrated command and control approach assists in coordinating the deployment of missile defence systems, improving its effectiveness to utilise it in the broader spectrum. Therefore, India can inculcate NATO’s integration model to advance its BMD system.
India has a BMD system; its first layer - Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) - can perform at altitudes beyond 180 km and outside the earth’s atmosphere. The second layer is the Advanced Air Defence (AAD), which can intercept up to 15 to 50 km within the Earth’s atmosphere. India’s BMD system is integrated; however, NATO’s advanced integration models can strengthen and enhance interoperability within the current systems, expanding India’s defence and deterrence capabilities.
DEVELOPING SPACE-BASED MISSILE ASSETS
India has increased its emphasis on utilising space assets in missile defence technology. The growing capabilities in space technology make India aspire to integrate these technologies for effective missile defence systems. This includes satellite surveillance, warning systems, etc.
A significant learning for both NATO and India would be using space-based assets for its missile defence. It can be aspirational for NATO to enhance its missile defence capabilities through satellite-based detection systems with assistance from India. Moreover, NATO’s Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) initiative aims to improve space-based surveillance and intelligence.
JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF COST-EFFECTIVE MISSILE TECHNOLOGIES
India balances innovation in cutting-edge technology with keeping it cost-effective. The Akash missile defence system is designed to intercept ballistic missile threats at various altitudes, providing a multi-layered defence without expensive technology. NATO can adopt cost-effective approaches and balance advanced capabilities with a pragmatic budget.
DEVELOPING TRACKING CAPABILITIES FOR INDIA'S BMD SYSTEMS
India’s BMD system faces various challenges, like tracking and neutralising multiple warheads, primarily when the opponent uses advanced manoeuvring technology. Therefore, the latest technology transfer from NATO can eliminate India’s chances of error and advance its BMD capabilities. Integrating the BMD system with the existing air defence network is another challenge for India.
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NATO nations are well-versed in such technologies of interoperability. NATO member states collaborate on defence technologies and are ahead regarding Research and Development in BMD systems. This collaboration has accelerated the development of cutting-edge technology in BMD systems.
In partnership with NATO, India, too, can engage with like-minded nations to attain these advanced technologies. India seeks to develop the indigenous system, and with assistance from NATO, it can achieve technological transfer, thereby enhancing its BMD program.
There is a vast potential for collaboration between NATO and India in the defence sector, mainly about ballistic missile defence systems.
On the one hand, NATO’s advanced technology, strategic framework, and enhanced interoperability skills can benefit India by augmenting its capabilities in defence. On the other hand, India’s innovative, cost-effective approach can be practical for NATO to expand its defence capabilities.
Collaboratively, NATO and India can partner in joint research and development (R&D), share advanced technologies and interoperability capacity, and aid in forming a strategic framework to strengthen their cooperation. The engagement between like-minded nations can ensure regional and global security in the face of aggravating global critical threats.
BY ARYA GHADIGAONKAR
TEAM GEOSTRATA
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