Indian Defence Review

India’s Aerospace Industry: Structure, Strategies, Policies and the Road Ahead

The aerospace industry accounts for nearly 40 percent of global military expenditure which stood at $1,822 billion last year (Sipri 2018). The US is a major player in terms of military expenditure (30 percent), export of conventional arms (34 percent) and allocation to defence R&D (60 percent). Nearly two-thirds of...

Disorientations of National Defence – I

“Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.” — Norman Cousins Key Neighbours: Innately Animus Inter-state and regional level political, economic and hegemonic rivalries have ever been the common features in the life of any nation. But the case with India is unique. In this case, rivalries stem from the...

Is Pakistan Mainstreaming Lashkar-e-Toiba Again?

In October 2019, the Asia Pacific Group (APG) published the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) of Pakistan which is an assessment of Pakistan’s anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing measures.1 The MER contained some scathing remarks on Pakistan’s superficial action to curb terrorism financing and money...

Is Pakistan Mainstreaming Lashkar-e-Toiba Again?

Middle-East Conundrum and Indian National Security

The second decade of the 21st century has had an inauspicious start in the Middle East. The killing of an Iranian General in American drone strike has raised the temperatures in the Middle East to an intolerable level and an intensification of conflict in that theatre is very likely. India has two basic interests in the...

Dragon inveigles Naypyitaw

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Myanmar on January 17, 2019 carried the hallmarks of China’s strategy of planning and preparations decades in advance. Economic and military aid to Myanmar had been ongoing past several years with China investing in multiple projects including oil-gas pipeline from the Indian...

India’s Aerospace Industry: Structure, Strategies, Policies and the Road Ahead

Disorientations of National Defence – I

Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft for the IAF

The Indian Air Force (IAF) air strike across the international border to target a Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) camp 60 kilometres deep in Balakot, well beyond Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the air combat next day in which an IAF MiG-21 Bison reportedly shot down a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 has again brought the...

Are We Missing Woods for Trees?

A recent statement of newly appointed Chief of Defence Statement Gen Bipin Rawat is being blown out of proportion. Like any concerned Indian, Gen Rawat had expressed his disquiet against growing radicalisation in the country which is targeted, particularly, at the youth for the obvious reasons. He had suggested that no...

Kashmiri Pandits offered three choices by Radical Islamists

On Jan, 04, 1990, a local Urdu newspaper, Aftab, published a press release issued by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, asking all Pandits to leave the Valley immediately. Al Safa, another local daily repeated the warning.These warnings were followed by Kalashnikov-wielding masked Jehadis carrying out military-type marches openly....

Kashmir: Lessons from the Rise and Fall of a Decorated Cop

For the J&K Police, which till now was being lauded for its resolute anti-militancy operations despite being targeted by terrorists, Dy SP Davinder Singh being caught red-handed while ‘escorting’ two high-profile Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists out of the Kashmir Valley has come as big shock and embarrassment....

Reforms in Defence Acquisition

Defence is a strategic component of Sovereign India and the Services have the onerous responsibility to discharge this ‘integrity’ mandate. The expenditure, that the country commits, though not in the ‘charged’ category, is nevertheless a holy cow in Parliamentary debates. It roughly accounts for 2% of India’s...

Defence Minister flags-off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from L&T’s Armoured System

Armoured Systems Complex is currently producing 100 ‘K9 Vajra-T’ 155 mm 52 Cal Self-propelled Tracked Howitzers under first major Make in India Program of the Indian Army All the 51 Guns have been dispatched ahead of schedule – a testimony to planning prowess and execution efficiency of L&T Defence Minister...

Lockheed Martin has appointed William Blair as Vice President and Chief Executive for India

Lockheed Martin has appointed William Blair as Vice President and Chief Executive for India. In this role, Mr. Blair will lead the growth and development of Lockheed Martin’s business in India and serve as the executive representative for all of Lockheed Martin’s programs, products and services in the country. He...

Orientations of National Defence - II

“If the wind will not serve, take to the oars” — Latin Proverb Hard Realities of Military...

India and Israel Partnership is Comprehensive and Strategic in Nature:...

Dr Ron Malka is the Ambassador of Israel to India. In an exclusive interview to Manish Rai, Editor of Viewsaround...

26-January-2001: Lest We Forget

As we go into celebrating our 73 Republic Day, putting on display for the world to see, our culture alongside our military might we must not forget the date. The figure 26 has an indelible mark in the history of India it was 26th January that we transformed into a Republic and it was this very Date that saw devastation in Kutch and Gujarat. On 26th Jan 2001, it was a normal morning for the...

Situation worsens for Tibetans as China dictates terms to Nepal and Myanmar

While addressing a Chinese Lunar New Year reception held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, President Xi Jinping remarked: “From now to the middle of this century, the Chinese people will strive to build China into a great modern socialist country.” “It will be a...

Japan & India Convergent Strategic Perspectives on ‘China-Threat’ Analysed

Japan and India while adhering to diplomatic niceties may under-play or de-emphasise the ‘China Threat’ as detrimental to Asian Security and to respective national security interests of Japan and India but undeniably the strategic reality is that it was their convergent...

Nuclear Energy: Is it in or out?

Two contrasting news on nuclear energy from two different parts of the world greeted the dawn of the new year. Germany announced the decommissioning of another of its nuclear power plants in keeping with its plan to phase out nuclear energy by 2020. India, on the other hand,...

Army Chief has assured that nation remains secure in strong hands of its Armed Forces

The Indian nation celebrates Army Day on January, 15 every year with great fervour. January, 15 has a historical significance; it was on this day, in 1949, that the Indian Army divested itself from British control with General (later Field Marshal) K. M. Cariappa taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from Sir Francis Butcher. A number of parades, memorial lectures, equipment displays, investiture ceremonies organised by...