The Role and Impacts of Space Technology in the Transformation of Conflicts

Abstract

The study examines how space technology has transformed conflicts and, more recently, what kind of gains space technologies have provided in conflicts. The study has been prepared within the framework of historical analysis, comparison, technological impact analysis, and an interdisciplinary approach. The study presents the evolution of conflict from the past to the present and how inventions and technological advances have diversified conflict tools, actors, and effects. The study also focuses on how space technologies have contributed to conflicts, the defence-based impacts of space technologies, and the support they provide to conflicts. Space-based technologies substantially enhance national defence and ensure security in both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial domains. These technologies facilitate advanced intelligence acquisition, contributing to strategic deterrence and bolstering defence frameworks. However, they simultaneously expose critical infrastructures to heightened vulnerabilities, as potential adversaries could target space assets. The militarization of space introduces a dual-edged dynamic, where the advantages of strengthened defence are tempered by emerging risks that necessitate comprehensive governance and mitigation strategies to maintain global security and prevent escalation.