CATEGORIES

TOWARDS A LARGER CRUISE MISSILE ARSENAL

India's cruise missile capabilities and precision-guided missiles have largely evolved as a credible conventional-level deterrence since the turn of the new millennium. But, much more needs to be done

MULTI-PLATFORM ARTILLERY SYSTEMS

Artillery, the King of Battle, has been in focus, especially post-Ukraine War. It is no longer the Arm with a long-range gun but has become complex with the command-and-control structure, different platforms and to reach the enemy accurately with minimum ammunition expenditure and cause the maximum damage outlines the criticality of this equipment in the army's arsenal

EMERGING TRENDS IN SURVEILLANCE

India's Defence and Space sectors are entering a transformative phase, driven by advancements in surveillance technologies. Moving beyond traditional methods, the country is adopting cutting-edge innovations to enhance security, ensure effective border monitoring and improve situational awareness. GIRISH LINGANNA explores the emerging trends shaping India's surveillance capabilities, highlighting key developments and their implications

INDIGENOUS DEFENCE MANUFACTURING LESSONS AND CHALLENGES

What is the current state of our Defence Manufacturing Industry, and to what degree has the government's objective been accomplished? What insights have been gained over the last ten years, and what obstacles still need to be overcome? R ADM SANJAY MISRA examines the policy and dissects the road ahead

HOME GROWN MIGHT

Indigenous platforms have grown in capability, but timely deliveries are vital for the armed forces argues

INNOVATION IN AMMUNITION TECHNOLOGY

Ammunition technology has undergone remarkable advancements, transitioning from early gunpowder cartridges to cutting-edge designs that enhance range, lethality, and efficiency. Innovations such as the 5.45x39mm and the U.S. Army's adoption of the 6.8mm hybrid cartridge demonstrate the continuous push for superior firepower while optimising soldier mobility. This evolution highlights the balance between weight, accuracy, and battlefield effectiveness in modern warfare, analyses

COLLECTIVE HIGH

India's indigenous rotorcraft development has made significant strides, with key programs like the ALH Dhruv, LCH Prachand, LUH, and IMRH/DBMRH shaping the country's aerospace and defense future. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) continues to expand production, strengthen self-reliance, and reduce dependence on imports. These advancements position India as a formidable force in helicopter manufacturing, highlights

THE FUTURE OF SMALL ARMS DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

The liberalization of the defence manufacturing sector to accommodate private investment, coupled with the initiative for self-reliance as outlined in the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” policy, has significantly transformed the small arms manufacturing industry. GAGAN CHATURVEDI maps the history and the future of this key segment

INDIGENIZE WE DID!

India's journey towards indigenizing airborne equipment has been marked by technical innovation, resilience, and immense challenges. G RAJ NARAYAN highlights the complexities of designing and certifying critical aviation components while navigating stringent regulations and environmental constraints. Despite proving that \"Make and Design in India\" is possible, he questions the sustainability of such efforts due to limited procurement support and bureaucratic hurdles.

INDIA'S SIXTH-GEN FIGHTER JET CONUNDRUM

China delivered a significant global surprise while unveiling two distinct prototypes of its sixth-generation combat aircraft. This development is one more affirmation that India has to do much to catch up with its neighbour in the east for aerospace supremacy reports on the development

GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURE

With a highly cumbersome procurement process on the one hand and poor production centres on the other, India should go for international partnerships in general and Brazil in particular that will allow it to rapidly modernise the IAF with advanced weaponry as well as systems that are cheap and effective

THE NEED FOR MORE AIRCRAFT FOR IAF

Given India's security imperatives, its significance as a regional player and its ambition to play a global role, the Indian Air Force needs various categories of aircraft, sooner rather than later

AERO INDIA 2025 THE RUNWAY TO A BILLION OPPORTUNITIES FOR AEROSPACE WORLD

DINESH KUMAR PANDEY looks at the evolution of Aero India as a convergence of technological expertise, experts and policymakers from all over the globe in advancing, collaborating and growing intellectually

INDIA'S AEROSPACE POWER IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD

India requires a comprehensive strategy that integrates policy reforms, increased investment, technology development, and human resource development to confront multifaceted challenges in the aerospace sector, writes JOSEPH P CHACKO

OVING M TARGET

India's evolving battlefield strategies emphasise the need for the Indian Army to accelerate the induction of Self-Propelled Howitzers, enhancing firepower, survivability, and precision, as highlighted by ATUL CHANDRA, driven by lessons from global conflicts and emerging technological advancements

INDIAN ARMY EMBRACES "SMART SOLDIER" FUTURE

JOSEPH P CHACKO examines the SMART Soldier initiative's historical context, current developments, and prospective aspirations, exploring its past, present, and future

REMINISCENCES OF THE 1971 INDO-PAK WAR

In the ancient world, the concept as it emerged during the BCE period wasn't about soldier-scholars. It is probable that it may have started off as the discipline of scholar-soldiers; a huge difference for the discerning. This is because soldier-scholar suggests military dominance in the development of warfighting norms and modalities. This dominance gets marginalised when the hyphenation is reversed and becomes scholar-soldier. It opens itself to introducing the civilian scholar who understood war and warfighting well enough to understand its nitty-gritty, perhaps even suggest how it could be conceptualised, planned, fought, and ended.

ADVANCING BALLISTIC PROTECTION AND AMMUNITION

SMPP, with a rich legacy in ballistic protection and ammunition components, continues to innovate in defence manufacturing. ASHISH KANSAL, Director SMPP, shares insights into the company's expansion into ammunition production, its ground breaking advancements in lightweight ballistic materials like Boron Carbide, R&D plans for precision-guided munitions, and ongoing collaborations for global defence opportunities, highlighting their contributions to both domestic and international markets.

THE RISE OF UGVs REVOLUTIONISING TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC MILITARY OPERATIONS

MANOJ K CHANNAN explains the history of UGVs, their role in modern warfare, their integration with advanced technologies, and their broader implications for military operations, intelligence assessments, and human-machine collaboration

INNOVATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS IN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY BY MKU

The defence industry is evolving rapidly to address the dynamic challenges of modern warfare, and MKU is at the forefront of this transformation. In an exclusive interaction, VAIBHAV GUPTA, Director India Business of MKU highlights their innovative approaches, spanning advanced ballistic protection, cutting-edge night vision and thermal imaging technologies, and strategic partnerships to enhance India's defence capabilities. From pioneering protective solutions for soldiers to leveraging indigenous technological breakthroughs, MKU continues to redefine the benchmarks of excellence in defence technology.

INDIA'S STRYKER CHOICE

India's selection of the US-made Stryker armored vehicle over the indigenous WhAP sparks debates on prioritiSing swift acquisitions and combat readiness versus commitment to self-

HANWHA AEROSPACE DEEPENS INDIA DEFENSE TIES AMID REGIONAL TECH RACE

Amid growing regional competition in defence technology, a prominent defence initiative is strengthening ties with India through successful artillery and air defence programs. This collaboration aligns with India's strategic focus on bolstering domestic defence manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports. By fostering advanced technology transfer and enhancing local production capabilities, the partnership is poised to transform the defence landscape in Asia, showcasing significant achievements in artillery systems, air defence solutions, and aerospace innovation

ADVANCING INDIA'S DEFENCE CAPABILITIES

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is advancing India’s defence ecosystem with ground breaking innovations, including next-generation combat platforms, autonomous technologies, and cutting-edge systems, underscoring its commitment to India’s military modernisation, highlights ARUN RAMCHANDANI, SVP & Head – L&T Precision Engineering and Systems IC

NEED FOR A LARGER ARTILLERY FORCE

At a time when India is increasingly facing a multi-front challenge on her borders, it is quite evident that the Indian artillery modernisation programme needs a massive thrust from the government, argues JYOTI SINGH

FORCE PROTECTION

The Indian Army faces an urgent need to equip Main Battle Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles with advanced Active Protection Systems to counter modern threats and enhance battlefield survivability. The lack of such systems could be addressed with the combat-proven Trophy APS, writes ATUL CHANDRA

THE INDIAN ARMY AND DRONES

AMIT GUPTA argues why the induction of Drones, which have changed the face of modern warfare, into the Indian Army needs to be in greater numbers

TECHNOLOGICAL SYNERGY REDEFINED: IAI'S COMMITMENT TO INDIA-ISRAEL INNOVATION

BRIG. GEN. (RES) EYTAN ESHEL, Executive Vice President of Technology, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), R&D and Innovation of IAI, highlights how nearly 40 years of India-Israel collaboration has fostered innovation, leveraging India's deep-tech talent for global aerospace and defence advancements while promoting sustainability and co-developing solutions with Indian startups and institutions.

INDIA EMBARKS ON DECADE-LONG PROJECT TO DEVELOP FUTURE-READY COMBAT VEHICLE

With a substantial portion of its borders shared with neighbouring countries, it is essential for India to have modern and robust tanks for both defensive and offensive operations. In this regard, the FRCV's advanced capabilities allow it to face changing ground obstacles like land and air threats. It will provide a decisive advantage in future conflicts and enhance operational effectiveness through its integration with air power, writes JOSEPH P CHACKO

THE NEW WAVE OF MARINE LANDING CRAFT.

BAE Systems' new Littoral Strike Craft combines advanced stealth, comfort, and modularity to redefine modern amphibious mission capabilities.

PROVEN AIP FOR S80 SUBMARINES

The BEST AIP system is capable of operating at any depth and in all operational conditions, allowing it to adapt to any Navy mission and making it the most advanced AIP system on the market.