Indian Defence Review

Resizing the Army: One Size that Doesn’t Fit All

“It is too true, however disgraceful it may be to human nature, that nations in general will make war whenever they have a prospect of getting anything by it.” — John Jay, The Federalist Papers September 17, 1787. “You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to...

Grenade Attack in Amritsar – Caution Time Ahead

The primary aim of the recent grenade attack at the Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar was obviously to disrupt the communal harmony of Punjab. Three persons were killed and 10 reportedly injured in the congregation of some 200 hundred devotees. Luckily only one grenade was thrown. Targeting Nirankaris to create communal...

The Unmanned Battlefield Helicopter

The term ‘battlefield helicopter’ continues to live on and conjure up visions of sleek, fierce looking rotary-wing craft shrieking their way over friendly forces on the ground. Since the 1930s, the helicopter has made its presence felt in the battlefield. It began as a casualty evacuation tool, but has incrementally...

Maldives needs concerted Indian engagement

The defeat of Abdulla Yameen and emergence of Mohammad Solih, consensus candidate of the joint opposition, emerging winner in the recent presidential election was a stroke of luck for India and somewhat disappointing for China. Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Maldives to attend the swearing in...

Battle of Kasserine Pass: Lessons for China

In February 1943, US Forces, under the overall command of Gen Eisenhower, suffered a staggering rout at the hands of much feared Afrika Korps, in the Battle of Kasserine Pass, which holds vital strategic lessons today for the armies in general and China in particular. Even in complete retreat, a much harried Field...

War as a Multi-Dimensional Whole: A Framework for India in a Repolarizing World

As India celebrates the 19th anniversary of Vijay Diwas on 26th July – to mark our victory in Kargil war of 1999, there are much larger questions on Indian security, defence preparedness and military readiness that need to be answered. Couple of years back, in a workshop, a question that I asked to my audience was if...

Resizing the Army: One Size that Doesn’t Fit All

The Unmanned Battlefield Helicopter

Awakening to National Defence: Hope at Last?

Clausewitz had prophesized that it was mandatory for a nation’s political leadership to possess a fair understanding of the profession of arms. For the military institution to deliver commensurate to the resources committed to its war-worthiness, the Ministry has to free itself from abject dependency upon archaic...

Grenade Attack in Amritsar – Caution Time Ahead

Emperor Lalitaditya: One Among India’s Greatest Soldier-Statesmen

With the ascendance of the Karkotta dynasty, the Hindu Kingdom of Kashmir reached great heights of power and prestige. Its influence and fame spread far and wide, in the process, attracting respect and receiving tribute from neighboring states/kingdoms. Durlabh Vardana extended his kingdom to Poonch, Rajauri, Taxila and...

Beyond the Bomdila Episode

The Bomdila incident exploded in the media with video clip of the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 2 Arunachal Scouts, an Amy unit, warming a police officer to stay away from his men or face dire consequences. There was little mention of what instigated the CO, and why did he warn the said police officer. The police...

Vice Chiefs Financial Powers – and the intricacies within

The government has enhanced the financial powers of the Army, Navy and Air Force Vice Chiefs five times; from Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore for expediting the decision making process involved in the procurements of the Armed Forces. The MoD statement on the issue states, “The Defence Minister has taken this important...

Indian Army Inducts Its First M777 Ultra Lightweight Howitzers

The Indian Army celebrated receiving its first M777A2 Ultra Lightweight Howitzers (ULH) at an official handover ceremony today, a key step toward the modernizing and strengthening of the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities. The 155mm M777 systems will deploy to their first regiment in 2019. The gun systems, produced...

HTT 40 Successfully Begins Spin Testing

The HTT 40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft) began the most awaited phase of the `spin test’ by successfully entering in to two turn spin and subsequently recovering with the appropriate controls. Two test pilots undertook the first ever spin entry testing today at around 1.30 pm. The aircraft was piloted by Gp Capt (Retd)...

Punjab was always on Pak’s Radar

The recent grenade throwing incident in the Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar’s Rajasansi village left three dead and...

Kashmir Diary

I recently travelled to Kashmir valley in the month of October of 2018. And this must have been the nth time that I...

Maldives: Solih Takes Over- The Challenges ahead

On November 17th, Solih took over as the seventh President of Maldives in a glittering ceremony at the Galolhu National Stadium. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, former President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunghe as well as Senior Representatives of 46 countries were present for the occasion. While three former Presidents, Gayoom, Waheed and Nasheed were present, a notable absentee was...

Patel-Nehru rift over Tibet & China was deep

On October 31, the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The work on the 182-metre tall statue has been completed after round the clock work by 3,400 labourers and 250 engineers at Sadhu...

Drug menace in Kashmir: A challenge that merits serious attention

The foreign sponsored violence in Kashmir and the resultant trauma caused, especially to the youth, has largely remained unaddressed. Lack of focused healthcare services and increased proliferation of drugs has exacerbated the problems multi-fold. Drug addiction has been on the...

India-Japan Relations: Proximity to the Indo-Pacific Strategy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his third visit to Japan on 28-29 October 2018 to attend 13th Annual Summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Both countries reiterated their commitment to the Special Strategic and Global Partnership and issued a vision statement...

Communists rule in Nepal - but not the Chinese way

Nepal is among a handful of states in the world ruled by communists. While multiparty democracy and parliamentary politics may not sound synonymous to communism, Nepal’s case might be unique in the sense that the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) rose to power by winning the majority of seats in parliamentary elections last year. Nepal is not a nation ruled by a single-party as are China, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and Laos. Communism...