New Challenger

India announced Tuesday that it will develop new weapons systems for combat in outer space.

The government approved plans to launch a weapons research agency called the Defense Space Research Agency, according to Business Standard, further establishing India’s militarized interests in space.

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The scientists and engineers building space weapons for the Indian government would formally report to the Defense Space Agency, a separate military agency set up to fight any future space wars, Business Standard reports.

Bold Statement

The new announcement comes just three months after the Indian government used a missile to destroy a satellite orbiting the Earth, a show of force that was later criticized for introducing more hazardous space debris that could collide with other satellites or spacecraft.

Business Standard speculates that the missile test serves in part as a deterrent against hostile countries that might consider targeting its satellites. But with news of the new space weaponry research division only just breaking, it remains unclear just how aggressive India’s space program intends to be in the future.

READ MORE: Modi govt approves new agency to develop space warfare weapon systems [Business Standard]

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