Articles By Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj
South Africa Boosts Naval Capabilities: But can it afford an expansion?
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 10 Feb , 2018
In February 2017, the Republic of South Africa RSA) announced the preferred bidders for two of the largest naval programmes in Africa. With Southern African Shipyards (SAS) being selected for the...
The Indian Air Force’s Declining Squadron Strength – Options and Challenges
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 03 Nov , 2017
At a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence on 27 October 2017, senior officers of the Indian Air Force, including Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.B. Deo, were...
Does India Need Thermonuclear Weapons
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 24 Sep , 2017
In the aftermath of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) testing a “thermonuclear” weapon on 3 September 2017, the focus upon that country’s nuclear capability has been on the...
The Tejas One Year After Induction – HAL must take Ownership of the Project
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 13 Jul , 2017
On 1st July 2016, No. 45 Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) inducted the first two Serial Production models of the Tejas Mk.1 Light Combat Aircraft. More than a year has since elapsed since...
Sri Lanka’s Fighter Selection – An Opportunity for India
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 21 Mar , 2017
In August 2016, the Sri Lankan government made the announcement that it was seeking to procure between eight and 12 combat aircraft to replace its ageing air force assets. While there has been...
The IAF Fleet Needs Rejuvenating, And Needs It Now
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: www.swarajyamag.com | Date: 16 Mar , 2017
On 3 January 2017, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar made a series of pronouncements on the country’s intended “Make in India” fighter project. Among the pieces of information revealed was...
Whither the Mexican Air Force Combat Fleet?
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 04 Mar , 2017
In September 2016, it was reported that the Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana – FAM) has retired the last of its tiny force of F-5E fighters.1 While these reports may be exaggerated, it...
HAL’s Gamble – Will the “Advanced Hawk” break into the Export Market?
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 18 Feb , 2017
On 5 February 2017, a version of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) was unveiled. The aptly-named “Advanced Hawk” is a joint-venture between BAE Systems and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited...
The Decline of the Cuban Armed Forces
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 24 Jan , 2017
Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Cuban armed forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias – FAR) were easily the most powerful in Latin America. Numbering over 200,000 active...
Decommissioned Military Hardware – A Potential Diplomatic Asset for India
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 12 Jan , 2017
India’s efforts to increase its arms exports have, to date, met with limited success. This is not entirely surprising as India is an unknown quantity in arms manufacturing on the global scene,...
A Game-Changer: Agni-V Marks a Shift in India’s Nuclear Deployment Strategy
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: www.swarajyamag.com | Date: 20 Dec , 2016
The long awaited fourth test of India’s Agni-V missile will mark a major milestone in the development of India’s Credible Minimum Deterrent posture (CMD). Expected in late 2015 or early to...
Caribbean Air Arms Requirements Offer an Opportunity for India
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 10 Nov , 2016
When one examines the air arms of the islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Guyana and Suriname, it is evident that a yawning gap in defence preparedness is emerging in the form of an acute...
The Importance of Passive and Active CBRN Defensive Measures
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 18 Oct , 2016
Even before the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes against terrorist targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on the night of 28-29 September 2016, Pakistan has long been fond of rattling...
South Korean Arms Exports to Latin America
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 21 Aug , 2016
In August 2016, the first photographs of the BAP Ferre (PM-211) appeared in the livery of the Peruvian Coast Guard. This sound, albeit decidedly unremarkable, ship would not have warranted a...
China’s Growing Influence in the Caribbean
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 04 Aug , 2016
In June 2013, during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Trinidad and Tobago, the then Prime Minister of the Caribbean nation, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in a fawning speech, had lauded...
Philippine Naval Weakness Hampers Response to South China Sea Award
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Date: 21 Jul , 2016
The July 12, 2016 award in the South China Sea Arbitration, which should have sparked elation in the Philippines, was greeted with a sombre, cautious and muted reaction, with Foreign Affairs...
Indian Arms Sales to Latin America
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 09 Jul , 2016
As India embarks on a quest to boost its currently paltry arms exports, the Latin America-Caribbean region offers India both markets and potential partnerships. India is not a stranger to the...
China’s Growing Arms Sales to Latin America
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 03 Jul , 2016
Over the last decade, China has made remarkable inroads into the Latin American arms market. From almost zero in 2005 to over USD 130 million in 2014, China has carefully and systematically...
Indian Naval Sales – The Cautious Emergence of a New Supplier
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Courtesy: IDSA | Date: 27 Jun , 2016
On June 10, 2016, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launched the first of the two 105m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) destined for the Sri Lankan Navy.1 These vessels, the largest India has exported...
Worsening Fault lines Militant Groups attacking the Pakistani Armed Forces?
By: Dr Sanjay Badri-Maharaj | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 08 Jan , 2016
On Friday 18th September 2015, militants attacked a Pakistan Air Force base in Peshawar. In the ensuing battle, 13 militants were killed along with the 29 victims of the attack, many of whom were...