India’s PM Declares ’Space Superpower’ As Satellite Downed by Missile

By Staff, Agencies

India announced destroying a low-orbiting satellite in a missile test that proved the nation was among the world's most advanced space powers.

In a rare address to the nation on Wednesday, just weeks before a national election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India had joined the United States, Russia and China in accomplishing the feat.

A missile fired from a testing facility in Odisha, eastern India, downed the satellite at an altitude of around 300 kilometers in "a difficult operation" that lasted around three minutes, Modi said.

"This is a proud moment for India," Modi added, in his first televised national address since late 2016.

"India has registered its name in the list of space superpowers. Until now, only three countries had achieved this feat."

It comes a month after Indian and Pakistani fighter jets engaged in a dogfight over the disputed border in Kashmir -- a serious military escalation between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Modi said the anti-satellite missile [ASAT] test was peaceful, and not designed to create "an atmosphere of war."

"I want to assure the world community that the new capability is not against anyone. This is to secure and defend... fast-growing India."