Ajey Lele

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘India unveils its space vision to 2040’ has been published in ‘The Space Review’ on 02 September 2025. India has unveiled an ambitious space agenda from 2025 to 2040. While it includes some fresh proposals, the overall thrust appears to be on consolidating past achievements and systematically building upon existing initiatives, says Gp Capt Lele. Read more  Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘Defying the Odds’ has been published in the Independence Day 2025 Special Edition of Raksha Anirveda on 14 August 2025. ISRO is the story of how a developing nation built world-class space capabilities on a shoestring budget, turning Western sanctions into catalysts for innovation, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘NASA’s Curiosity rover – 4,620 Martian days on the surface of Mars’ has been published in Taaza News Khabar on 09 August 2025.

The story of the Curiosity rover is truly extraordinary. For 13 years, it has endured the harsh terrain and extreme climate conditions of Mars and it continues to make significant contributions to our understanding of the Red Planet. This valuable data is helping NASA and other space agencies plan future human missions to Mars more effectively, says Gp Capt Lele.

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Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘A NASA-ISRO joint radar satellite finally launches’ has been published in ‘The Space Review’ on 04 August 2025. It becomes increasingly important for NASA to look outward and collaborate with likeminded nations such as India, which can bring not only technical expertise, but also financial resources to support ambitious joint missions, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt Ajey Lele’s article ‘India’s SBS-3 Programme: A Test Case for Private Industry’s Active Engagement’ has been published in Raksha Anirveda on 14 July 2025. Under the Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) programme, India will launch a constellation of 52 satellites in the next five years to enhance the surveillance capabilities of the armed forces. Nearly half of these satellites are expected to be developed by private companies, a milestone for India’s space sector. The constellation is expected to be operational by the end of 2026, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+]

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘The first Indian on the ISS’ has been published in ‘The Space Review’ on 07 July 2025. Over the years, India and the United States have gradually deepened their cooperation in the space sector across multiple domains. India has also signed the Artemis Accords. Modern space diplomacy increasingly involves leveraging space technology and partnerships to enhance global cooperation and strengthen diplomatic ties. In this broader context, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s visit to the ISS should be seen as a significant milestone in India’s space diplomacy efforts too, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Strategic partnerships like the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative can play a crucial role in helping India secure access to critical minerals.

• Ajey Lele |
• July 04, 2025 |
• IDSA Comments

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘From Sharma to Shukla, India’s spaceflight goes from Russia’s goodwill to NASA’s partnership’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 25 June 2025. With Axiom-4 mission, India is buying more than a seat in space—it’s buying knowledge, credibility, and experience, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘Commercializing India’s SSLV rocket’ has been published in The Space Review on 23 June 2025. Today, small satellites play a vital role across a wide range of applications, including remote sensing, communications, weather monitoring, and military operations. Hence, it can be said that India’s SSLV is entering the market at the right time, says Gp Capt Lele. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Deputy Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Gp Capt (Dr) Ajey Lele’s article ‘Operation Sindoor: lights, camera, but no Gentlemen!’ has been published in Taazakhabar News on 15 June 2025. The younger generation is inspired to join the armed forces for a variety of reasons. However, the sight of retired military officers shouting aggressively and using abusive language during television debates can be deeply disheartening. Such conduct risks undermining the values the armed forces stand for and could dampen the enthusiasm of aspiring youth, says Gp Capt Lele.

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