Policy Update
Agamya Goyal
Background
Since the early 2000s, India and the United States have gradually deepened their strategic partnership, moving beyond trade and culture toward technologies, defence, and security. Space and cyberspace have emerged as domains of critical importance due to their increasing role in national security, economic infrastructure, and strategic competition. Cooperation in these areas helps both countries:
- for the US, to support stability in the Indo‐Pacific region;
- for India, to enhance technological capacity, resilience, and global stature.
Timeline:
- 2023: iCET launched; Artemis Accords signed.
- Mid‐2023 to 2024: INDUS-X (India-US Defence Accelerator Ecosystem) established.
- February 2025: Joint Leaders’ Statement and TRUST Initiative.
Beneficiaries include: India’s defense & space industries (public + private start-ups), ISRO and NASA collaboration, U.S. firms involved in dual-use (space & cyber) technologies, governments in both countries (defense, space, cyber agencies), civil society (via improved infrastructure resilience), and potentially third countries via data (e.g., Earth observation) or shared norms.
Functioning
Institutional and Policy Mechanisms
- iCET / TRUST Initiative: These create frameworks for cooperation in “critical and emerging technologies,” including space and cyber domains. TRUST builds on iCET with more emphasis on strategic technology, human spaceflight, etc.
- INDUS-X: A defence innovation bridge/platform connecting start-ups, industry, and academia in India and the US for joint development, dual-use technologies, and defence innovation. It includes summits, challenges, and private sector engagement.
- Joint statements and strategic dialogues: Leaders’ statements in 2024-25 have included space and cyber cooperation explicitly. There are regular dialogues, joint working groups for civil and defence space, cyber working groups, etc.
Recent Concrete Cooperative Projects
- NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR): A dual‐radar mission mapping Earth’s surface to track changes, hazards, infrastructure, etc. Scheduled for early 2025.
- First joint Indian astronaut mission via AXIOM to the ISS: Under TRUST, there is a plan for an Indian astronaut to go to the ISS. Training cooperation at NASA.
- Space Situational Awareness & Traffic Coordination: Exchanges on SSA, space traffic coordination, which are key for detecting and managing threats, debris, and unsafe operations.
- Start-ups & dual-use tech: Seven Indian space/defence start-ups selected for India-U.S. defence/space collaboration program (joint mentorship, access, partnerships with big U.S. defence contractors).
Cyber Defence Cooperation
- Threat information sharing & vulnerability mitigation: Both governments have agreed to share cyber threat intelligence and collaborate on protecting critical infrastructure like energy and telecommunications.
- Cybersecurity training: In the joint fact sheets, new cooperation in training and joint capacity building.
- Cooperation between cybersecurity agencies: E.g., US CISA, India’s NCIIPC, CERT-In, etc. Agreements or MoUs exist for exchanging best practices, etc.
- Digital Public Infrastructure / Emerging Tech: Collaboration in AI, quantum, secure communication, etc., all have cyber defence implications.
Challenges & concerns noted in literature and official sources
- Export controls / regulatory restrictions: U.S. export licensing, Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and dual-use technology transfer rules continue to constrain what India can access or co-develop.
- Norms, voting differences: India abstained from some UN/UNGA resolutions on space norms (e.g. debris-generating ASAT testing, norms for space threats), reflecting concerns about being bound to rules made by others without sufficient voice.
- Mismatch expectations & pace: Indian industry/start-ups may find U.S. bureaucratic/backwards procedural delays, cost/finance issues; the U.S. side may be cautious about technology leakage, IP, security vetting.
- Cyber threat sophistication: India’s cyber infrastructure, cyber law enforcement, and detection capabilities still have gaps; partners often call for improvements in governance, oversight, and transparency.
Performance (Last 2-3 Years)
Here’s what the available data shows up to 2025 in space security + cyber defence cooperation.
Space Missions / Projects
- NISAR Mission: Jointly developed, scheduled for early 2025.
- Human Spaceflight: First Indian astronaut to AXIOM-ISS under TRUST; training in progress.
- Space Situational Awareness (SSA): Bilateral expert exchanges on SSA & space traffic management.
Industry / Start-ups
- Start-ups Collaboration: 7 Indian start-ups (e.g., KaleidEO, EtherealX, Shyam VNL) selected in 2025 for space & defence tech.
- Semiconductor Fab: US Space Force + Bharat Semi + 3rdiTech collaboration to set up compound semiconductor fab in India for national security platforms.
Cybersecurity
- Dialogue & Frameworks: Joint training, cyber threat intel sharing, vulnerability mitigation (Sep 2024 fact sheets).
- Capacity Building: CERT-In, NCIIPC, Cyber Swachhta Kendra strengthening; implementation gaps remain.
Overall, performance has been positive: many new agreements, start-ups being engaged, concrete missions, and growing institutionalised cooperation. However, full realisation in terms of speed, scale, technology transfer, etc., is still in progress.
Impact
This section looks at what outcomes are emerging and how they align with intended goals.
- Enhanced capabilities for India: ISRO with NISAR will gain better Earth observation capacities; training of astronaut(s) and ESA-like collaborations increase technical strength; joint SSA/space traffic work helps India monitor space threats and debris.
- Strengthened deterrence / strategic posture: In the context of space being a contested domain (e.g., China’s ASAT/military activities), these collaborations give India more tools and alliances to respond, or at least be aware and resilient.
- Industrial & startup growth: The select Indian start-ups gaining access to U.S. defence contracts or mentorship help strengthen India’s defence innovation ecosystem; semiconductor plant projects help build critical supply chains.
- Cyber resilience: Shared threat intelligence, increased training, and cooperation on protecting critical infrastructure improve India’s ability to respond to cyber attacks. Also, joint norms and frameworks help both governments plan with better clarity.
- Norms & international governance: India’s signature of Artemis Accords, participation in UN / multilateral dialogues on space sustainability, and cooperation with the U.S. help shape space governance collectively. India, however, remains cautious of norm-making that does not sufficiently represent its interests.
- Economic & diplomatic gains: India’s space and defence industries get foreign investment and market access. Diplomatically, close cooperation strengthens the bilateral strategic partnership, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Some unintended or less visible impacts:
- Tech transfer bottlenecks still slow down industrial growth.
- Cyber threats remain evolving faster than many policy responses; challenges remain in making cooperation uniformly effective across all Indian states/regions/infrastructure.
- Data privacy, sovereignty and regulatory concerns continue to surface as dual-use/cyber activities increase.
Emerging Issues
Here are visible issues/challenges, followed by suggested solutions, in pointer format:
| Issue | Stakeholders | Suggestions / Remedies |
| Export Control & Licensing Delays | US government, Indian industries/start-ups | Simplify licensing procedures; create fast-track mechanisms for dual-use tech; negotiate clearer bilateral frameworks for what is permissible; include the private sector in shaping export policy. |
| Normative Divergence (space norms, vote abstentions) | India govt, international bodies, US allies | More inclusive norm-making; India should seek a greater voice in the UN, COPUOS, etc.; jointly propose norms instead of reacting to existing ones; ensure transparency. |
| Cyber Infrastructure Gaps / Fragmented Governance | Indian central & state governments, cyber-agencies, private infra operators | Strengthen regulatory oversight; more investment in detection/prevention; ensure standards (e.g. secure defaults, best practices) are adopted; capacity building at state & local levels. |
| IP, Data Privacy, Sovereignty Concerns | Indian industry, civil society, government | Clarify legal/regulatory frameworks, data handling agreements; ensure protections; give Indian entities confidence in collaborations; strong oversight and transparency. |
| Scalability & Inclusion of the Private Sector | Start-ups, SMEs, industry, academia | Expand INDUS-X / INDUS Innovation; improve access to finance; ensure small players aren’t excluded by bureaucratic hurdles; promote joint R&D funding; encourage public-private funding partnerships. |
| Adversarial Threats & Space Debris | ISRO, US Space Force, and defence agencies | Develop joint debris mitigation strategies; collaborative sensors and tracking; share SSA data; invest in redundant & resilient systems; prepare for ASAT scenarios. |
| Cyber Threat Evolution (ransomware, supply chain attacks, etc.) | Cyber defence agencies, critical infrastructure operators | Continuous updating of threat intelligence; regular joint exercises; stronger legal frameworks for cross-border cybercrime; drills and response capabilities. |
Way Forward
Looking ahead, for India–USA cooperation in space security & cyber defence to fully deliver toward the aspirational goals, the following macro strategies are important:
- Institutionalising cooperation frameworks so that changes in government don’t disrupt momentum (e.g., formal bilateral treaties, joint agencies).
- Holistic technology transfer and capacity building, especially for India’s private sector, academia, small & medium enterprises, so that innovation is broad-based.
- Norms leadership: jointly leading in international forums to shape norms for responsible behaviour in space (ASAT testing, debris, space traffic) and cyberspace (data sovereignty, cross-border norms, supply chain security).
- Robust cyber defence ecosystem: more funding, human resource development, detection/response tools; especially for critical infrastructure in energy, telecom, finance.
- Leveraging commercial & dual-use opportunities: space tourism, advanced manufacturing, geospatial services, Earth observation, remote sensing for climate, disaster management.
India–USA cooperation in space security and cyber defence has made strong strides in 2023-25. To become a true game-changer, continued acceleration, addressing regulatory and normative bottlenecks, and ensuring inclusive and resilient capacity will be essential.
References
- “U.S.-India Joint Statement Highlights Space Cooperation.” Space.com, Feb 13, 2025. Office of Space Commerce
- “India’s Space Policy: Between Strategic Autonomy and Alignment with the United States.” Council on Foreign Relations, June 5, 2025. Council on Foreign Relations
- “One Year of the INDUS-X: Defence Innovation Between India and the U.S.” Carnegie Endowment, June 18, 2024. Carnegie Endowment
- “Fact Sheet: U.S.-India Advance Growing Space Partnership.” White House, Dec 18, 2024. The White House
- “Joint Fact Sheet: The U.S. and India Continue to Expand Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.” White House, Sept 2024. The White House+1
- “Strategic Upgrading: Emerging Trends in United States-India Cyberspace Cooperation.” ISAS, National University of Singapore, May 2025. ISAS
- “First Indian startups picked for Indo-US defence programme, investor says.” Reuters, Jan 17, 2025.
About the Contributor
Agamya Goyal is a Research Intern at IMPRI and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Economics from Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow.
Acknowledgment: The author sincerely thanks the IMPRI team for their valuable support.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.
