New Delhi: The former chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Dr VK Saraswat on Wednesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of "Mission Shakti" and cautioned others not to "mess with India".
Terming the space mission as a 'historic feat' for the country, Dr Saraswat said, "India is ready for warfare. If today nations across the world want to militarise the space, India has the technological capability to match them."
Hailing the DRDO, former DRDO chief said, "Our scientists have done a wonderful job. DRDO has demonstrated that we are the best amongst few."
"We have mastered anti-satellite capability. India has entered an elite club of nations to become one of the four nations which have the capability of destroying an active satellite in the space."
Lauding the Prime Minister for having a political will to successfully launch the mission, he said, "India is now a space super power. We have reached the climax of technology. It's a historic day for India and the achievement is unlike any other."
"We use space only for the peaceful purpose. But if tomorrow there is a war in the space, today's success will warn our adversaries and at the same time it will give time for defence preparedness to fight in that direction. We have the ability to destroy an enemy satellite," he said.
Asked if the project could have been completed earlier, he said, "No such initiative was taken in the previous UPA regime. After the launch Agni 5, we proposed for such satellite engagement, but we didn't get the response from the defence and security establishment of the previous regime."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that anti-satellite (A-SAT) weapon has successfully destroyed a decommissioned Indian satellite on a low earth orbit (LEO). Anti-satellite weapons or A-SAT are space weapons designed to incapacitate or destroy satellites for strategic military purposes.
