Ballistic Missiles and Contemporary Devolpments in South Asia & IOR: Regulation, Transparency and the HCoC
24-25 August 2026
Bengaluru, India
On 24-25 August, the FRS and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) organised a workshop and visit in Bengaluru on the HCoC and transparency in space. The workshop was open to regional participants and allowed for in-depth discussions on how transparency measures such as the HCoC can contribute to the developement of space activities. Thanks to the expertise of representative of the NIAS, the UNRCPD, but also regional think tanks and space agencies, the meeting tackled the issue of ballistic missile proliferation and assessed the role in CBMs and export control mechanisms. On the second day, the group visited the headquarters of the company Bellatrix Aerospace, enabling to discuss first hand the issue of how the private sector can be included in these discussions.
AGENDA
INTRODUCTION
- Dr Xavier Pasco, Director, Fondation pour la Recherche stratégique (FRS)
- Dr. Valangiman Subramanian Ramamurthy, Emeritus Scientist, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
- Dr Ewa Suwara, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to India and Bhutan, EU Delegation in India (remotely)
SESSION 1: BALLISTIC MISSILES: DYNAMICS, RISKS AND REGULATIONS
MODERATOR: Dr Prakash Panneerselvam, Assistant Professor, NIAS
PANELLISTS
- Prof. PM Soundar Rajan, Professor at International Strategic and Security Studies Programme (ISSSP), NIAS
- Dr Javed Alam, Research Associate for the Nuclear Vertical at the Centre for Air Power Studies
- Ms Izzah Khairina Ibrahim, Analyst Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
- Mr Aaron Junhoung Yoo, Deputy Director and Political Affairs Officer, UNRCPD
SESSION 2: DESCRIPTION OF THE HCOC AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
MODERATOR: Mr Thibault Fournol, Research Fellow, FRS
PANELLISTS
- Mr Alexandre Houdayer, Secretary General, FRS
- Amb. Mohammed Hindawi, Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations in Vienna, HCoC Chair, 2026-2027 (recorded presentation)
- Mr George-Wilhelm Gallhofer, Head of Nuclear Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Delivery Systems, MFA, Austria, HCoC Executive Secretariat (recorded presentation)
SESSION 3: REGULATING MISSILE TECHNOLOGY WHILE PROMOTING SPACE DEVELOPMENTS
MODERATOR: Dr Xavier Pasco, Director, FRS
PANELLISTS
- Prof Rajaram Nagappa, Visiting Professor at the International Strategic and Security Studies Programme, NIAS
- Mr Ahmad Ammar Termizi, Research Officer, Malaysian Space Agency
- Mr Alexandre Houdayer, Secretary General, FRS
SESSION 4: CBMS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SPACE ACCESS
MODERATOR: Prof. PM Soundar Rajan, Professor at International Strategic and Security Studies Programme (ISSSP), NIAS
PANELLISTS
- Dr Anil Kumar, former Director, ISTRAC
- Dr Xavier Pasco, Director, FRS
- Dr Rajeswari (Raji) Pillai Rajagopalan, Resident Senior Fellow, ASPI
CONCLUDING REMARKS
