Defence procurements sans competition

The government of India has been repeatedly stating that one of the objectives of the defence procurement procedure is ‘to demonstrate the highest degree of probity and public accountability, transparency in operations, free competition and impartiality’. However, the position in actual practice is totally different. Since the signing of the 1.4 billion dollar contract with [...]

India’s Multifunction Missile for Credible Deterrent

Introduction
Shourya1 And Sagarika is a new common missile that can be launched from multiple platforms, i.e. ground, submarine and mobile launcher. The naval version is called Sagarika, while the land based version is called Shourya. The Indian doctrine of Minimum Credible Nuclear Deterrence envisages “No First Use” (NFU) policy and a triad of nuclear counterstrike capability.

From Kashmir to Mumbai: Terror Comes Full Circle

The Mumbai Carnage, wherein a dozen terrorists, held an entire country to ransom for three days, is unprecedented and unusual, not only for India but for the entire world community. For close to three days the terrorists held centrestage against the might of the Indian state,

Way to a Credible Deterrent

Ten years after the Pokhran (POK-2) series of tests in May 1998, it is useful to examine the progress on the diplomatic front and see what is needed further.

India & China in Space

Is there a space race taking place between China and India? Discussions have started flowing after China’s Shenzhou-VII successful space walk during Sep 2008 & India’s

Ulfa’s niche war

Mr Hiteshwar Saikia told me: “These ULFA boys do not understand that they can not achieve their aim. They can only create hardships for the people of Assam. Where will they get such a large quantity of arms and ammunition from to fight the Army? And how will they bring it into Assam? 

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.

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 [...]

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:

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 [...]

Technologies and National Security

The world has witnessed two significant events during last three decades which has changed the contours of global strategic thought. The first being the end of the Cold War and second is the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attacks (9/11). The end of the Cold War could be said to have started [...]

ULFA’s Niche War

Mr Hiteshwar Saikia told me: “These ULFA boys do not understand that they can not achieve their aim. They can only create hardships for the people of Assam. Where will they get such a large quantity of arms and ammunition from to fight the Army? And how will they bring it into Assam?  With such [...]