The US Space Force's X-37B initiative offers valuable insights for India to augment and refine its defence R&D capabilities and achieve its ambitions for 'Make in India'.
Technological innovation has always been the primary yardstick in assessing a nation's military capabilities. It explains why new technologies are often developed through military research before spilling over to societal applications. The United States (US) Space Force's X37-B programme provides a shining example of how this dynamic plays out. From testing novel space manoeuvres in the past to now experimenting with quantum inertial navigation systems, X37-B exemplifies why the US has been a pioneer in future technologies and serves as an indicative case study for India on how to hone and develop future military capabilities in an increasingly complex neighbourhood environment.
X37-B exemplifies why the US has been a pioneer in future technologies and serves as an indicative case study for India on how to hone and develop future military capabilities
Based on NASA's X-37 programme (1999-2004), the X-37B was built by Boeing, which describes it as "an uncrewed, autonomous spaceplane designed for advanced experimentation and technology testing." Though initially operated solely by the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (DAF RCO) since 2010, it is now jointly run by the DAF RCO and the US Space Force's Delta 9 unit, which is responsible for orbital warfare. Starting from 2010, the X-37B programme had launched seven orbital test vehicles (OTVs) till March 2025.
Throughout its history, the initiative has served as a testbed for several novel and innovative technologies. OTV-4's payload included a Hall-Effect thruster for experimentation, which was subsequently integrated into the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military satellite communication programme. It also carried about 100 different types of materials for testing in a space environment as part of NASA's Materials Exposure and Technology Innovation in Space (METIS) programme. OTV-5 included a payload to test experimental electronics and heat pipe technologies in a long-duration space environment lasting 780 days. Furthermore, OTV-6 also tested an on-orbit power beaming system, a novel technology which collects solar power and subsequently converts it into a microwave beam.
OTV-7 broke new ground in testing new orbital regimes as it was the first X-37B mission to operate in a Highly Eccentric Orbit (HEO) instead of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It further tested novel aerobraking manoeuvres, which essentially utilise Earth's atmospheric drag to transition between different orbital regimes in contrast to burning fuel. Consequently, OTV-7 could have significant implications for enhancing space domain awareness in the future.
The X-37B OTV-8 was launched on 21 August 21 2025, from the Kennedy Space Centre, utilising SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. One of the pivotal technologies being tested by OTV-8 is a quantum inertial sensor, built by a startup called Vector Atomic, under contract from the Pentagon's Defence Innovation Unit (DIU). This could be particularly important for future military and space capabilities, considering quantum sensing holds enormous potential for supplementing or even eventually replacing current positioning, timing, and navigation (PNT) systems, which are heavily reliant on the Global Positioning System (GPS). Given the increasing instances of GPS-jamming and spoofing in recent conflicts, quantum sensing-based PNT systems could be instrumental in GPS-denied environments.
Another critical technology being tested by the flight is space-based laser communication for both satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-ground communication, which are currently based on radio-frequency data links. Laser-based links can allow more secure communication in the future while simultaneously enhancing bandwidth and data-carrying capacity. This likely ties in with the Space Development Agency and DIU's future initiatives, which aim to set up satellite constellations based on "hack-proof" optical communication.
Though there is also some speculation regarding orbital warfare testing aboard the OTV-8, particularly due to Delta 9's oversight, this has not been officially confirmed.
While the quantitative aspects of a sophisticated programme such as X-37B can be analysed ad infinitum, some qualitative takeaways do stand out, and can aid significantly if incorporated into India's long-term military research strategy:
The X-37B programme was ahead of its time, and recognised the importance of enhanced space capabilities and domain awareness at a time when it was not considered feasible or particularly relevant. Even the majority of the current discussion on space capabilities is centred around LEO satellites, whereas X-37B focuses on spacecraft with enhanced orbital manoeuvrability in HEO, the apogee of which can extend to 35,000 km compared to 2,000 km in the case of LEO. The example set by the visionary nature of the initiative has inspired China to pursue a similar programme, Shenlong, which completed its third test flight in September 2024, performing proximity manoeuvres not too dissimilar from the X-37B OTVs.
While there is much deliberation over the doctrine of civil-military fusion, the X37-B programme has successfully implemented it on a practical basis.
However, novel ideas also involve taking significant risks, necessitating specific government-backed funding mechanisms for exploring new and unexplored domains, as well as the willingness to pursue them. This, in turn, requires developing a culture for innovation.
While there is much deliberation over the doctrine of civil-military fusion, the X37-B programme has successfully implemented it on a practical basis. It serves as a worthwhile case study on how government, military, private sector, and academia can cooperate effectively, synergising individual strengths to develop novel military technologies, which is indispensable in solidifying foundational military research and development (R&D). This is evident in the active involvement of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), DAF RCO, Space Force, DIU, Boeing, SpaceX, Vector Atomic, and other diverse stakeholders. On the academic front, OTV-6 deployed an experimental satellite called FalconSAT-8, developed by USAF academy students. Harmonising and coordinating such a wide variety of stakeholders is an arduous, though necessary, prerequisite for achieving civil-military fusion.
The X37-B initiative recognised the importance of space-based experimentation in enhancing terrestrial and naval capabilities by serving as testbeds for other emerging technologies, such as quantum sensing and laser-based optical communication. Recognising and pursuing the intersection of novel technologies is critical in providing the all-important competitive edge to any nation's military capabilities.
On the whole, the US military establishment has been quite reluctant to share details throughout the programme's history, with outreach being largely limited to achieving power projection based on prevailing geopolitical circumstances, while inhibiting the disclosure of the majority of the disruptive and offensive capabilities of the spacecraft. India needs to be similarly discreet regarding its military capabilities and research. It should divulge only necessary details to maintain this status quo.
Recognising and pursuing the intersection of novel technologies is critical in providing the all-important competitive edge to any nation's military capabilities.
Although India has initiated multiple steps towards developing a dedicated space command, it still suffers from several inadequacies, largely stemming from a general lack of military involvement within the Indian Space Commission. Up until now, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has played a leading role in space research. However, it must be noted that despite its pioneering research and initiatives in the field, it is primarily a civilian organisation, not a military one. India's over-reliance on ISRO has been detrimental to furthering its military ambitions in the space domain. For instance, while ISRO has tested autonomous spacecraft such as the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX), its capabilities are limited in comparison to its peers in the absence of military involvement and oversight. With the future of warfare gradually tilting towards the space domain, this situation needs to be rectified as soon as possible. The circumstances necessitate the establishment of an integrated Indian military space command, similar to the US Space Force, which would enable focused military R&D in the space domain as well as streamlined coordination with scientific organisations like ISRO and the country's growing space startup ecosystem.
The circumstances necessitate the establishment of an integrated Indian military space command, similar to the US Space Force, which would enable focused military R&D in the space domain.
Despite recent political and economic upheavals, the US has served as the dominant global military power since the post-World War II era. This has been largely due to its culture of developing innovative technologies, as exemplified by the X-37B initiative. To achieve its ambitious goal of "Make in India" in the defence sector, India must lead with military research and development (R&D). By analysing the precedents set by the United States in this area, identifying relevant case studies, and incorporating suitable elements into its military strategy promptly, India can make significant progress toward this objective. China's growing military and space capabilities through initiatives such as Shenlong, coupled with its willingness to supply these technologies to Pakistan as witnessed during Operation Sindoor, should impart a further sense of urgency to the cause.
Prateek Tripathi is a Junior Fellow with the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology (CSST) at the Observer Research Foundation.
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