India's Strategic Reach Hinges On Midair Refuelers

Geopolitics analyses the new contest in the midair refueler programme which has been pending for more than 10 years amidst flip-flops.

Building Indigenous Defence Industry Are Policy Statements Enough?

“The DPM has not received the same level of attention as the DPP, either from policy makers or the media” highlights CMDE LALIT KAPUR while comparing DPP and DPM.

East Or West, Desi Is The Best

The dictum goes for the Indian Army too. It has, in fact, begun procuring locally-made artillery guns in the last one year, including some foreign-origin guns that are to be assembled and produced by domestic private sector manufacturers. Geopolitics Bureau provides an insight into how the Indian Army artillery modernisation is going desi.

FRCV, FICV Have A Future In The Indian Army

Future armoured columns of the Indian Army would be state-of-the-art infantry combat vehicles and battle tanks. Geopolitics Bureau details the first step that has been taken to create the necessary environment to build future armoured vehicles.

Future Firepower

The Indian Army is looking for a next generation main battle tank.

Off The Mark

HAL moves forward on the LCA Mk-1A production following the IAF’s Request for Proposal for 83 fighters.

India's Firepower Depends on Mobility From Trucks

The primary question that comes to mind when we think of India's ballistic strategic and other tactical missiles, or artillery rockets is that how mobile are these? That depends on how our missiles and rockets are transported using a Transporter, Erector and Launcher or TEL for short, reports GEOPOLITICS Bureau.

Defence Mobility Tata Motors Storms Ahead

Tata Motors in April 2017 bagged an order for 3192 Tata Safari Storme (TSS) 4x4 utility vehicles for use by Indian Armed Forces. To be procured under the newly introduced vehicle category - GSS-800 (General Service 800) - the TSS is set to replace Maruti Gypsy, whose current inservice inventory of 40,000 suggests large TSS follow up orders would be inevitable. VERNON NORONHA, Vice President, Defence Business, Tata Motors gives Geopolitics an insight into future plans that include vigorous export push and sustained inroad into High Mobility Vehicle market.

Despite Tumult, Tatra Trucks Fleet Growing in India

All the buzz about Tatra trucks getting back into business in India after a two-year lull happened due to the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who in December 2014, soon after taking over, said he was open to reviewing all the cases of blacklisting by the previous UPA government, reports GEOPOLITICS Bureau.

DRDO Arms Indian Navy With Three New Products

With many such naval platforms, all significant for successful and effective operations of the Indian Navy, being supplied, DRDO has played a significant role and performed its duties towards India's maritime security, reports GEOPOLITICS Bureau.

Indian Leadership Must for Indian Ocean Region

With the Chinese eying the Indian Ocean Region for strategic imperatives and investing significantly to ensure their presence, India should take the initiative to guard itself against these Chinese advancements, writes DR. (CDR) ARNAB DAS.

India, Russia Move Forward to Iron Out Defence Supplies

The two deals were inked by Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with Russian companies United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation, for general terms and conditions governing long term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance over five years for the 272-jet Su-30 MKI fleet. The deals were worth $315 million, finds out GEOPOLIICS Bureau.

Jammu & Kashmir Is It Time To Show The Iron Fist?

From the point of view of most Indians, the situation in Kashmir has steadily deteriorated over the past few months.

Analysing The Kashmir Situation: Is Hard Power The Better Option?

A surge in violence - stone pelting, attack on security personnel - and an expansion in the scope of violence - bank robberies, attack on native Kashmiris - suggests that public discontent over Indian rule in Kashmir is rising. LT. GEN. SYED ATA HASNAIN (RETD.) analyses the situation for Geopolitics

Russia's Foreign Policy Challenges 2017

The US led sanctions and subdued energy prices have forced Russia into China's embrace, allowing China to treat Russia, a global power of no mean stature, as a mere pawn in its strategic gameplay with the US. The Chinese embrace has also isolated Russia from India and stymied its efforts to normalise relations with Japan, writes DR SUBHASH KAPILA

S-400 Triumph

Surface-To-Air Missile System.

That Sinking Feeling

Despite being India’s dominant arms supplier for decades, Russia finds its influence in military procurements is waning. But that does not mean that the time-tested military relationship between the two countries is under serious threats, points out.

Is Modi's Life In Danger?

The death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri remains a mystery. Another former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated despite intelligence inputs about attempts on his life. Obviously these warnings were overlooked. Given this history, it is not surprising that some powerful sections within the country are ridiculing reports about the threat to the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, argues.

Red Star Over Nepal

Nepal is now the sixth country in the world to have a Communist government in power, possible with the merger of various Leftist factions who fought a competitive democratic election to come to power. While it is premature to predict how long this Left unity will survive, the new government is a big foreign policy challenge for India.

Radar Technologies From India Change Battlefield Dynamics

India's public sector efforts at developing radars has been a success story that has been left unsung for long. Here is a compilation of what the defence R&D institutions of India have worked on so far

Stealth Tactics And Utilisation

It is unlikely that stealth fighters will replace fourth generation fighters in the future. More likely, stealth and fourth generation fighters will team up to present the adversary a formidable challenge, using technologies and tactics that are still evolving

South Korea Gets Big In India, To Help HSL Build Ships

Following the recent MoU between India and South Korea for Korean help in building 5 Fleet Support Ships at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) Visakhapatnam, and an earlier tie up between L&T and South Korea’s Techwin for collaborative manufacture of 155mm guns for the Indian Army, South Korea’s profile as an Indian defence partner is on the rise. A deal on building minesweepers at Goa Shipyard is likely

Multiple 'Plan B' Options For Growing India's Submarine Fleet

The delay in formulating guidelines for selecting and working with a Strategic Partner under the Defence Procurement Policy has frustrated the Indian Navy’s desire to augment its submarine fleet, to meet the emerging threat scenario. The good news is that the MoD has other options for procuring submarines - government to government contract, or an additional order on Mazagon Docks for AIP equipped Scorpenes

'Made In India' Small Arms

PUNJ LLOYD gets its defence business right in small arms, and has made a smart move along with Israel Weapons Industries to launch into defence manufacturing for products that already have a huge market in India

India Overhauls Policy Towards Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu politics no longer determines New Delhi’s ties with Colombo and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the common Buddhist linkage to woo the majority Sinhalese,

Enhancing Defence Manufacturing Capability In India

What ails the process of enhancing Defence Manufacturing capability in India? That is a serious question that needs to be answered since the government is keen to ensure that the ‘Make in India’ programme is a success.

Global Arms Industry From Hi-Tech To Lo-Tech

The international arms industry is now globalised. Gone are the days when a country could engage in techno-nationalism and build a weapons system purely at home—with the exception of a few nations like the US, Russia, China, and France. Instead, countries either collaborate to build systems or include a range of components from other nations. Considering this phenomenon, Indian defence production has to be broken into three categories: that which cannot be imported, that which can be assembled and co-produced in India, and that which can realistically be made in India.

I Am Now Like A Bania; No More Mufth Things To The OFB

Having obtained his BE (Hons) in Electronics & Communication Engineering from University of Madras and M.Tech in Microwaves and Radar Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur and Ph.D in Antennae and Measurement Techniques from IIT, Madras, DR. S CHRISTOPHER has been one of the most distinguished scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the field of missiles and Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). He was heading the Bengalurubased Centre for Airborne Systems before being appointed in May 2015 as the Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO. He spoke to PRAKASH NANDA about the changes in the work culture of the DRDO and its many success stories to dispel the common impression that the organisation was marked by lethargy and ineptitude. Excerpts from the interview:

Defence Acquisitions Wanted: A Paradigm Shift

While a recent internal report of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) points to the structural and procedural inadequacies in the acquisition process of defence items, it will be unrealistic to expect any structural improvements in the near future, especially if the ministry continues to follow the past practice of merely tinkering with the existing disjointed system built around the capital acquisition wing. This approach is unlikely to achieve much as this wing is not even in complete charge of the entire procurement process. This needs to change.

A Fresh Start

The Saras light aircraft programme has received a fresh impetus.