India’s decision to purchase six Boeing P-8I Patrol Aircraft marks a significant milestone in its ongoing defense modernization and Indo-U.S. strategic partnership. The P-8I, a variant of the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon, is a long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft that enhances India’s surveillance and strike capabilities over its maritime domain, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region. The acquisition underscores India’s commitment to bolstering its maritime security while aligning closely with the United States in operational interoperability.
During his visit to New Delhi on February 15, 2026, Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, became the first senior American official to publicly commend India’s tactical execution during Operation Sindoor, a military operation against Pakistan. Admiral Paparo noted that the U.S. would seek to learn from India’s operational experience and emphasized that the bilateral defense relationship is on a “steeply upward trajectory.” This acknowledgment signals an unprecedented level of trust and strategic alignment between the two militaries.
Earlier, on February 10-11, the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, supported by the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), hosted the U.S.-India Space Business Forum in Bengaluru. The forum was the flagship event of the first U.S. Trade Mission to India focused exclusively on commercial space. It brought together 23 executives from 14 leading American space companies to engage with over 200 government and industry participants from both nations. As only the second space-focused trade mission ever organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce—and the first of its kind for India—the initiative underscored U.S. leadership in commercial space innovation and highlighted the growing momentum of the U.S.-India partnership in the global space economy.
The Indo-U.S. Trade Agreement signed on February 6, 2026, signals a revival of momentum in the steadily deepening security and defense partnership, which had experienced temporary setbacks. This agreement provides the framework for cooperative growth in advanced technologies, space exploration, and defense trade, facilitating broader collaboration between Indian and American industries.
Space has emerged as a critical domain in contemporary warfare, increasingly recognized as the “fifth domain” alongside land, sea, air, and cyber. Modern military operations are highly dependent on space-based assets for surveillance, communication, navigation, and precision targeting. The dual-use nature of space technologies means that scientific and commercial initiatives often carry inherent security implications. Cooperation in space between countries thus naturally intersects with national security concerns.
Space assets now provide capabilities that were previously impossible. Dedicated military satellites enable continuous surveillance of borders, coastlines, and maritime domains, providing secure communications and high-resolution imagery essential for command, control, and integrated warfare. Satellites also support missile launch detection, navigation, and intelligence functions, critical for avoiding miscalculations and unintended escalation.
Technological advancements, such as multi-sensor payloads, thermal imaging, high-resolution cameras, and synthetic aperture radars, have transformed satellites into indispensable force multipliers. Consequently, more satellites have been launched in the last five years than in the previous six decades combined, reflecting the rapid militarization and commercialization of space. Over 100 nations and multilateral organizations now possess at least one satellite, compared to just 14 at the turn of the century, and more than 10,000 active satellites currently operate in orbit, including for critical defense and national security functions.
The proliferation of space-based assets has spurred the development of counterspace capabilities. Major powers, including the United States, China, and Russia, have pursued anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, electronic jamming, GPS spoofing, and cyber operations targeting satellite infrastructure. While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit, it does not ban conventional or ASAT weapons, allowing strategic competition to escalate in space.
Additionally, the rise of space debris from collisions and ASAT tests poses a cascading threat to all nations’ orbital infrastructure, making space traffic management increasingly critical. In response, several countries have established dedicated space commands: the U.S. Space Force, Canadian Space Division, Australian Defence Force Space Command, U.K. Space Command, France’s Air and Space Force, and India’s Defence Space Agency (DSA), which became fully operational in 2019. The DSA oversees military satellites, space warfare strategy, and anti-satellite capabilities, exemplifying India’s commitment to safeguarding its space assets.
The Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group (EASLG), an independent initiative comprising participants from the United States, Canada, Russia, and fifteen European countries, issued a significant statement on February 13, 2026. It warned that without practical steps to prevent conflict in space, the risk of nuclear catastrophe—by design or accident—grows significantly. Factors exacerbating this risk include uncertainty over nuclear arms control, potential deployment of nuclear weapons in space, and the resumption of explosive nuclear tests by nuclear-armed states.
The EASLG appealed to major militaries, including those of India, China, Japan, Germany, and Russia, to initiate dialogue aimed at preventing a space war and promoting the peaceful use of space. Concurrently, some experts advocate for democratic nations to coordinate their efforts against authoritarian powers like China and Russia, ensuring that space is used for transparent exploration, resource utilization, and strategic defense.
India and the United States have deepened cooperation across several dimensions:
- Military Space Collaboration: India’s DSA collaborates with U.S. Space Command to monitor space assets and track potential threats. India transitioned from observer to participant in the 2025 Global Sentinel exercise, enhancing shared surveillance capabilities.
- Human Spaceflight: Indian astronauts train at NASA facilities, and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla participated in Axiom Space’s Ax-4 private mission to the International Space Station in July 2025.
- Defense Innovation and Startups: The India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) supports startups developing satellite reconnaissance and secure communications technologies. In 2025, seven Indian startups were selected for mentorship and potential U.S. defense contracts.
- Geospatial Intelligence: Cooperation is reinforced through agreements such as BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement, 2020), COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, 2018), and the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Agreement (2022), enabling data sharing for satellite monitoring and debris detection.
- Earth Observation Projects: The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) project provides advanced Earth observation data for civilian and security applications, enhancing situational awareness.
- Lunar and Space Governance: India ratified the Artemis Accords in 2023, promoting principles for lunar exploration, transparency, and resource utilization, diverging from its traditional preference for UN-led multilateral frameworks.
- Critical and Emerging Technology Initiatives: The U.S.-India iCET initiative, rebranded in 2025 as the U.S.-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology), focuses on AI, semiconductors, and space technologies, including partnerships with Indian startups Bharat Semi and 3rdiTech to establish a national security-focused semiconductor facility in Kolkata.
Despite these advances, certain divergences persist. India continues to navigate challenges posed by U.S. export controls, including ITAR and EAR regulations, while maintaining selective engagement in international norm-setting. For example, India abstained from voting on the 2022 UN resolution banning debris-generating ASAT tests and the 2024 resolution on responsible space behavior. These positions reflect India’s policy of strategic autonomy and cautious engagement in space governance.
The convergence of defense, space, and technological cooperation between India and the United States reflects a strategic alignment that balances operational imperatives with normative caution. Admiral Paparo’s recognition of India’s operational capabilities and the U.S.-India Trade Agreement highlight the growing confidence in this partnership.
Space power is increasingly integral to national security, functioning as the backbone of multi-domain operations, missile defense, and real-time intelligence. The militarization and commercialization of space underscore the need for robust safeguards, cooperative surveillance, and dialogue to prevent conflict and escalation.
Looking ahead, Indo-U.S. cooperation in space is likely to expand across multiple fronts: joint satellite missions, human spaceflight, critical technology development, startup engagement, and secure communications. At the same time, India is expected to continue its cautious approach in international forums, balancing strategic autonomy with operational collaboration.
Dimitrios Stroikos, Head of the Space Policy Programme at LSE IDEAS, London School of Economics and Political Science, aptly summarized the situation: “While India is increasingly aligning with U.S. initiatives on operational and technological fronts, its approach to space governance remains cautious, characterized by selective engagement, normative ambivalence, and reticent behavior.” This nuanced stance reflects India’s broader strategy of maintaining sovereignty and autonomy while leveraging partnerships to enhance national security and technological capability.
Indo-U.S. partnership, characterized by defense modernization, operational collaboration, and a shared vision for the peaceful and strategic utilization of space. The acquisition of P-8I aircraft, Admiral Paparo’s recognition, the U.S.-India Space Business Forum, and initiatives under TRUST collectively signal an upward trajectory in bilateral engagement. As space becomes an increasingly contested and critical domain, India and the United States are positioning themselves to shape the future of security, technology, and strategic competition in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
