Indian Defence Review

Future Aerial Weapons

The inventory of aerial weapons such as missiles and Precision Guided Munitions is far from sufficient for even a 20-day war. The Indian Armed Forces had sought six months time from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to build up ammunition stocks before undertaking any operations against Pakistan in 1971. While nations give...

CDS – A Long Way to Tipperary

Irish soldiers marching off to the Western Front in World War I sang It’s a long way to Tipperary, it’s a long, long way to go; a longing for home but underlying the near certainty of death or disability and never returning home. It was popular across all nationalities involved in the conflict. The announcement of...

Article 370 had nearly killed Kashmiriyat

In February India struck Balakot because Jihadis were being programmed by JeM under the patronage of Pak military to be pumped across the Line of Control (LC) into India. Six months after, India has annulled Article 370. Thereby aggressing both the external and internal facets of the Pakistani proxy war. No sooner we...

Article 370 and Pakistan’s Nuclear Bombast

“The world will not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita; Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and, to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, ‘Now I am become Death,...

War Clouds Over Kashmir: Expect Commando Raids!

The abrogation of article 370 by India has put Pakistani army, its ‘real’ ruler, at horns of a dilemma. Indications are that the world body like UN has refused to take up the issue. Pakistani Army’s vast budget and its stranglehold over the state is based on its image of invincibility and the only means to wrest...

Tibet and The Next Dalai Lama

All media in China is government-controlled. Every journalist must be member of the All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) which conducts periodic training capsules for all journalists; psychological treatment to keep tethered to the Communist Party of China (CPC). Anyone crossing the line can face fiscal fine, job...

CDS – A Long Way to Tipperary

Future Military Helicopters — Design & Development

Military Aviation today is looking at the next generation of military helicopters and the strategy to modernise vertical lift capability with improved avionics, electronics, range, speed, propulsion, survivability and high altitude performance. The philosophy is to improve upon the present limitations by examining...

An Indian Philosophy of A Soldier

Members of the Indian Armed Forces swear to observe and obey all the commands, not only of their Supreme Commander, the President of India, but of any officer set above them. Significantly, when swearing their allegiance in this manner, they assert that they would do so even to the peril of their life! It is very...

Article 370 had nearly killed Kashmiriyat

Politics over J&K Lockdown and Way Ahead

Politicization of the J&K lockdown has been gaining momentum with those opposing government move counting days and hours. The crescendo can be expected to rise with each passing day. Absence of reports of violent incidents during partial lifting of the lockdown has depressed those looking for a killing. Numerous...

The Emptiness of Red Fort Republicanism

• There are several reasons to look beyond the Lal Qila symbolism of Independence Day On August 15, India will mark its 73rd Independence day. Delivering his 6th consecutive address Prime Minister Modi will brave the monsoon to address hundreds of school children and the cream of India who will be shepherded before...

Future Aerial Weapons

Defence Corridor: UP’s golden gate to high growth

In setting up a Defence Corridor in the biggest state of the country, the Modi government has opened up huge opportunities which if exploited intelligently and creatively could make Uttar Pradesh one of India’s leading states in terms of industrial production of the highest quality and caliber, and could also put the...

Lockheed Martin Inks Three Memorandums of Understanding with Indian Start-Ups

Lockheed Martin announced the establishment of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with three Indian Start-ups. The MOUs pave the way for Terero Mobility, Sastra Robotics, and NoPo Nanotechnologies, graduates of the India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP), to integrate with Lockheed Martin’s supply chain, and...

J&K: “Experts” should take back seat; let the people decide their future...

The situation in Jammu and Kashmir has been more or less stable ever since the legislative process for...

CDS – will it include comprehensive reform?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on August 15 that India will have a CDS to head the Army, Navy and Air...

The Uncertain Terrain of Chief of Defence Staff

John F. Kennedy had said “Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion, without the discomfort of thought”. In voicing an opinion on the recently announced creation of a CDS by the PM on the Independence Day, one should be guided by sobering thought than revelling in irresponsible opinion. From crossing the Line of Control to abrogating Articles 370 and 35A, and the recent rumblings by the RM...

Singapore’s Grand Procurement Plan for Greater Naval Power

A tiny yet wealthy city-state, Singapore is a major financial hub of Asia. While this moneyed image has become the mainstream depiction of Singapore, many are unaware of the fact that Singaporean armed forces are active contributors to the security of the region, and in particular...

Ship attacks in Persian Gulf and the need for Unmanned Surface Vehicles for mine counter-measure

During May 2019 the US has warned shipping companies and ship’s owners that “Iran or its proxies” could be targeting maritime traffic in the region[1]. Those warnings came after few incidents during May 2019, at the Gulf of Oman, in which three ships attacked by mines, were...

The Chinese Panchen Lama on the Indian Border

Interesting developments have recently taken place in Western Tibet (Ngari Prefecture). The Chinese Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu is said (by the Chinese media) to have conducted an ‘inspection tour’ of the region, including a village bordering Ladakh. Extensive Media...

Future-proofing A&D manufacturing for Industry 4.0

A checklist for manufacturers to ensure they take advantage of the benefits of Industry 4.0 The benefits of Industry 4.0 for A&D manufacturers are enormous but involve critical decisions on digital investments and an increasingly cyber-aware ecosystem. Here, Evan Butler-Jones, Director, Defence Product Line, Aerospace & Defence Business Unit, IFS, explores how A&D manufacturers can ensure they extract value from Industry 4.0 to stay...