Former DRDO chief VK Saraswat and now a member of government think tank NITI Aayog is elated about the successful demonstration of the A-SAT technology. In an interview to TOI, he says the success of the program has added to the country’s strategic capability and ranked it equal to the 1998 Pokhran nuclear test. Excerpts:

What delayed the program in 2012-13? 

If we had got a response then this program would have been completed in 2014-15. It could not be completed then because we did not get permission and resources. Now, PM Modi has taken the decision and encouraged the scientists in DRDO to make this program successful. 

What was the reason for the delay? 

We told the government at that time that we have the capability to demonstrate this, please give your concurrence. The government neither said yes nor said no but never gave any positive response. No reasons were assigned.

Would we have been better if this technology was demonstrated seven years ago? 

It’s a question of demonstrating your capability. Whenever you demonstrate the capability it has its advantage. The advantage today is that we have demonstrated to the world that India has got power to intercept a satellite in space so you please don’t mess up with my space objects. Neither your friend nor your enemy will mess up with space objects. It is like our statement that we will use nuclear power only for peaceful purposes. We believe in the theory of deterrence.

What is the kind of response that you expect from China since there is fear of an arms race? 

There is no arms race. Anti-Satellite activity is a deterrence capability and deterrence capabilities do not lead to any arms race. People have realised that nuclear warfare is only good as a deterrence.

What does this mean for an organisation like DRDO?

For DRDO, it’s a technological gain, a huge technological gain that has taken place because this is going to really make a major difference as far as the technology is concerned for intercepting long range ballistic missiles and having better accuracy for tactical missiles.

What is the next step of advancement from here?

As far as the fallout of this is in terms of — because we have developed a very nice kinetic vehicle today—this can be made use for intercepting the longer range missiles like IRBMs (intermediate-range ballistic missiles) and ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles). So, I presume, phase 2 of the program will make use of this kind of kinetic vehicle for engaging long range ballistic missiles.

In terms of a strategic capability how would you rate this?

It is equal to the Pokhran test of 1998 because the will of the nation is what is most important. At that time Atal Behari Vajpayee showed that will and that’s why such a thing happened. Everyone knew the ramifications. The ramification of that class is not there this time and we don't have to worry about that part. As far as technology is concerned as far as the nation's stature is concerned we have gone up by an inch.