India’s Mission Shakti anti-satellite test on March 27, 2019, caught US intelligence officials by surprise, according to David Grusch, who was then serving at the National Reconnaissance Office’s operations centre. The test used a hit-to-kill interceptor developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation to destroy the Indian Microsat-R satellite in low Earth orbit. Grusch said the immediate concern was the resulting debris and whether it threatened American reconnaissance satellites.
Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Grusch said US officials knew India was planning a missile test and had received a notice to airmen, or NOTAM, for an exercise off the coast of Odisha. They did not expect the missile to be used against a satellite. “I remember in my office, I had like all these different phones. I am like calling the embassy, all this. I am like, what the f**k?” he recalled.
Grusch said he asked orbital analysts at the NRO to map the debris field and determine whether any US satellites would need to change course. The interceptor was launched from Dr AP J Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha and destroyed Microsat-R, which had been launched earlier that year. The test made India the fourth country, after the United States, Russia and China, to demonstrate an anti-satellite capability.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the successful test in a national address shortly afterwards. The Indian government said it was intended to demonstrate India’s ability to protect its space assets, was not directed at another country and did not signal an intention to begin an arms race in outer space.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/world/i-am-like-what-the-fk-ex-us-intel-officer-recalls-washingtons-reaction-to-indias-anti-satellite-test-14050038.html
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Publish Date: 2026-10-02 20:46:00
