New Delhi, April 23 -- Space is no longer just a supporting tool for national security, it has become the dominant domain that will determine the outcome of future conflicts, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Samir V. Kamat said on Thursday, calling for a "whole-of-nation" approach to close India's capability gap with rivals whose space programmes are expanding at an alarming pace.

Speaking at the 4th Indian DefSpace Symposium at Manekshaw Centre on "Strengthening India's Defence and Space Industry Synergy," Kamat outlined DRDO's growing role in military space while stressing that catching up will be a "Herculean challenge" without greater investment and collaboration.

While ISRO remains the lead agency for I...