Space Is the Fourth Battlefield, Says Former DRDO Chief
Dr. Satheesh Reddy highlights space’s role in warfare and security
Vijayawada: Space has emerged as the fourth battlefield after land, air and sea. It is playing a decisive role in modern warfare and national security, said Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, former DRDO chairman and Technical Adviser to the Andhra Pradesh government.
Addressing the second day of the Andhra Pradesh Space Tech Summit–2026 at Vignan’s University, Dr. Reddy said space technology is integral to defence, governance and daily life. Any disruption to space-based systems, he underlined, would cripple communication, banking, transport, agriculture and broadcasting.
Highlighting the advances in surveillance, navigation and hyperspectral imaging, the former DRDO chief said modern satellites can now precisely detect even underground threats.
Vignan’s University chancellor Dr. Pavuluri Subba Rao said students are the torchbearers of India’s space future and must actively shape the sector.
AP Science City CEO Keshineni Venkateshwarlu asked students to view failures as stepping stones to success.
The summit featured the South India Rocketry Challenge and the signing of multiple MoUs, reinforcing the industry-academia collaboration in the space sector.