Articles in Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014
How to Setup A Modern Defence Industry in India?
By: Bharat Verma | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 10 Apr , 2016
Sixty-seven years of Independence and not a single combat aircraft has been produced by India! Despite the word ‘indigenisation’ featuring repeatedly in political rhetoric, one of the reasons...
The IAF’s Elusive Quest for a New Tactical Transporter
By: Gp Capt Joseph Noronha | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 01 May , 2015
Although it is certainly important to have an indigenous aerospace production base, a monopoly (as HAL has enjoyed so far) is not conducive to efficiency. Some private sector competition might...
Indigenisation of the Indian Aerospace Industry
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 08 Mar , 2015
A National Aerospace Policy, that caters to the interests of all stakeholders, duly synchronised where necessary, is the need of the hour along with an Aeronautics Commission and a dedicated...
Artillery Modernisation: A Reality Check
By: Lt Gen BS Pawar | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 13 Sep , 2014
With changes in policy clearly stating that in all future acquisitions of defence equipment, the first priority would be given to Indian companies both private and public, a number of private...
Indian Army: Reminiscences of a Soldier
By: Danvir Singh | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 26 Jul , 2014
No matter how hi-tech the modern battlefield gets. No matter how powerful the Drones and the Robots become. The mission of the Infantry will continue to close-in and destroy the enemy, through...
Chief of Defence Staff: A Debilitating Dilemma
By: Lt Gen Gautam Banerjee | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 18 May , 2014
It will take years to streamline the archaic system of higher defence management in India. Meanwhile, trapped in the complexities of the geo-political adversities, India’s compulsion of...
Designing A Modern Dockyard
By: Cdr Douglas C Deans | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 14 May , 2014
Dockyards have often grown from older historical bases by “Alteration and Additions” during spikes of modernisation and expansion dictated by evolving rivalries between maritime nations. As...
Stealth Technology in Warship Design
By: Vice Adm Rajeshwer Nath | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 13 Apr , 2014
Providing stealth features in the design of a warship will entail additional costs. It has been reported that Visby stealth Corvette costs 50 per cent more than a conventionally built Corvette of...
Modernisation of Army Air Defence in India
By: Special Correspondent | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 10 Apr , 2014
The air threat envelope is increasing exponentially both in range and altitude, making it essential that the range and altitude of coverage of GBADWS is increased commensurately. Air defence in...
Special Operations Forces: Understanding the Dynamics of Change
By: Brig Deepak Sinha | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 02 Apr , 2014
The need for a unified headquarters for our SOF is an inescapable requirement as it will enable us to ensure optimum utilisation of resources. Not only will we be able to avoid duplication of...
An Increasingly Unmanned Future
By: Gp Capt Joseph Noronha | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 30 Mar , 2014
The main attraction of military UAVs stems from the fact that their acquisition and training costs are far lower than those of combat jets. They can also be operated or stored at a fraction of the...
Another Peace Dividend for the Defence Industry?
By: David Oliver | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 23 Mar , 2014
In the past three years, NATO countries have cut $120 billion from their combined defence budgets, and they are set to fall further in the next decade. In the US, the Budget Control Act will, by...
Implications of a Mountain Strike Corps
By: Special Correspondent | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 11 Mar , 2014
China’s past history is laced with aggression and blatant disregard to world opinion. The PLA is well ahead of the Indian Army and this ever-widening gap, if not checked and bridged, will...
Defence Collaboration: Strategic Partnership with USA
By: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 06 Mar , 2014
The US occupies, and in the foreseeable future, will continue to occupy a position of pre-eminence on the world stage. Indian perception of world politics is a multi-polar world where a...
The People’s Liberation Army: Post Plenum III
By: Claude Arpi | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 01 Mar , 2014
The Third Plenum admitted that the forthcoming reforms would decide the destiny of modern China. The statement concluded with “the need to deepen reforms in order to build a moderately...
The Indian Coastguard: A Non Performing Asset?
By: Commodore KP Mathew | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 22 Feb , 2014
Achieving maritime safety would entail ensuring that the laws and regulations which govern the operations of sea-borne craft are adhered to. The Indian Coast Guard has so far not been seen to...
Mountain Strike Corps: A Strategic Audit
By: Lt Gen (Dr) JS Bajwa | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 17 Feb , 2014
For India to emerge as a regional power and a global player, there is need for an attitudinal change. India has the wherewithal to protect its interests and assert its rights and claims. With...
Trends in Design of Amphibious Warfare Ships
By: Vice Adm BS Randhawa | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 09 Feb , 2014
Over the last four decades, the main factors influencing amphibious operations have altered, and these have had a bearing on the design of amphibious ships. In particular, the capability of...
Indian Military Helicopter Fleet
By: Gp Capt AK Sachdev | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 09 Feb , 2014
In terms of size, the Indian armed forces are amongst the largest in the world but in terms of equipment, they are lamentably lagging behind the leading edge of weapon systems and aircraft...
Airbus Group: “Defexpo will give us a platform...”
By: IDR News Network | Issue: Vol. 29.1 Jan-Mar 2014 | Date: 08 Feb , 2014
Looking back at 2013, how has the year been for Airbus Military? What are the high points and the low points in the context of Indian defence business? The first point is that 2013 was our last...