Selected Articles from IDR

2020: Defending India

The Flashpoint. NATO’s Allied Force saw induction of more than 400 planes into the Balkan skies. Phase - I witnessed cruise missiles, F-117 Nighthawks, B-2 bombers, F-15/16 Eagles, F-16 Falcons and B-52 bombers which rolled in from as the diverse directions and places as Adriatic Sea, Missouri, Italy and England. With that Kosovo moved to a new level of misery. Read More »

Coastal and Maritime Security: two sides of the same coin

The Mumbai terrorist attack of 26th November 2008 has, correctly, focused on issues concerning the security of India’s vast coastline. Earlier, in 1993, the Maharashtra coast had been used to bring in huge amounts of RDX explosives which were subsequently used by terrorists in the several blasts carried out across the metropolis. This does not mean that the coastal route has not been used for other nefarious activities before or since then. Read More »

Public Sector: survival through circumventing competition

The current equipment profile of the Indian Armed Forces has been a matter of serious disquiet to all those who are concerned with national security issues. Many wonder if India possesses the necessary punch to safeguard its national interests. Articles appearing in the press indicate a requirement of 100 billion dollars and a time span of 10 years Read More »

Gaps in Maritime Security

Cross border terrorism has taken an entirely new dimension. The Indian security establishment is on high alert to tackle the newest frontier of terror - Maritime Terrorism. The Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Working Group has defined maritime terrorism as: Read More »

Is this how we treat our military?

At this critical juncture, India needs to demonstrate its resolve, and ensure the strength and morale of its armed forces. Instead, however, the self-pride of the armed forces is being subverted by parochial interests and narrow considerations. If some planted stories in the media are to be believed, the revised pay demands of the armed forces have not only been met, but enhanced by the government. Read More »

Is Nazi China emerging?

For years I have maintained that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is a government within a government. I have repeatedly pointed out that the actions of the Beijing government betray attributes of Nazi Germany. On September 1, 2004 in an article entitled “The Real Axis of Evil” I wrote: Read More »

Dismantle the Moghul Darbar!

Elders continue to glibly state that Pakistan being our neighbor, we cannot wish it away. Therefore, we have to learn to live with it. For the size and the resources of India, the fact is that Pakistan has a powerful neighbor in India and that it is time Pakistan learnt to live with us! New Delhi insists that it will not bend against terrorism and promptly succumbs - instead of sending a powerful signal that India will crush terrorism in its entirety through interventionist policy. Read More »

The Killers’ Mace of the Dark Visitors

In February 1999, the PLA Literature and Arts Publishing House in Beijing released a fascinating book written by Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, two Senior Colonels of the People’s Liberation Army. The title of the book was Unrestricted Warfare [available on Lancers Publishers website]1. Read More »

Aero India 2009: Defence Industries News

Boeing C 17 Globemaster

In response to the Request for Information (RFI) on strategic airlift aircraft from the Indian Ministry of Defence received in 2008, Boeing IDS responded with an offer of the C 17, Globemaster III. This most advanced military airlift aircraft in the world can undertake diverse mission demands around the globe.  Read More »

India Needs Independent Defence Think Tanks

During his address at the 42nd foundation day function of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), the Vice President of India, Mr M Hamid Ansari stressed the need for structured thinking. “Governments busy with the concerns of the moment sometimes do not have the time and the energy to devote themselves in sufficient measure to matters in the domain of the possible, the probable and even the improbable,” he added. He exhorted the strategic community to respond to security imperatives and energise the policy impulse. Read More »