New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- Under a global treaty, space must stay free of weapons of mass destruction, but eyes in the sky have long aided military action on the ground.

Satellites provide valuable intelligence, as exemplified by this year's India-Pakistan conflict in which data feeds from orbiters helped Indian forces strike targets deep within Pakistani territory, while our adversary was suspected of relying on Chinese space assets.

So, it's heartening to see India grant this aspect of national security the attention it warrants. New Delhi is reportedly planning 'bodyguard' satellites to counter threats to its existing orbiters. Data-jamming techniques that are not explicitly covered by the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 are thought to be und...