CATEGORIES

A 'RED' ODYSSEY

In the space of eleven days, three incredible voyages to the Red Planet will occupy the attention of space scientists around the world. First off the mark was UAE’s Al Amal, followed days later by China’s Tianwen-1 to followed at the end of the month by the US Perseverance. If successful, these missions could well be the precursor of manned missions to Mars. A special report.

Dealing With China

Consistency has never been a virtue for the Communist rulers of China in settling their border disputes with the neighbours. They have used different principles for different countries. And this is the biggest bottleneck in arriving at an amicable solution to the present faceoff between the Chinese and Indian troops, argues Prakash Nanda

A Post Covid-19 World Order

Amit Gupta discusses what changes may emerge in the world affected by the Covid–19 pandemic and their potential implications for India

TRACKED METAL BEASTS OF THE INDIAN ARMY

AMARTYA SINHA reviews the fleet of India’s tanks and armoured fighting vehicles

WHY CHINA IS DOING WHAT IT IS DOING AND DELHI IS DOING LITTLE

Noted defence analyst BHARAT KARNAD suggests measures that New Delhi should take to deal with Beijing

THE UNIFORMED SAVIOURS OF HUMANITY

AMARTYA SINHA elaborates the large-scale mobilisation of Indian troops and their exemplary contribution towards handling the COVID-19 pandemic in the country

NUCLEAR ‘CHINDIA' RISING OR UNBOUND?

The sub-text is crystal clear…India and its armed forces; its warfighting support system and strategic infrastructure must be ready for the worst even as we insist on status quo pre-May 2020 as non-negotiable. This is because agreeing to “adjustment/acceptance” of current Chinese positions on ground “as is where is” will hand over critical strategic and geo-political space to China. It will make Sino-Pak collusion in Eastern Ladakh a nightmarish reality; make Leh, Siachen/Saltoro/DBO/Chushul and our communications/command and control set up fraught with risk of sudden attack and loss. GEN RAJ MEHTA examines the issue and takes a macro view above the cacophony of satellite driven nit-picking about weapons, bunkers, tents, vehicles and such wearisome detailing

SHIFT IN INDIA'S BORDER DEFENCE WIKIPEDIA PROVOKES CHINA

Explaining how China is systematically grabbing land in Ladakh by exploiting its topographical features, P STOBDAN suggests the way forward

KC 390 FLIES INTO TURBULENCE

With Boeing and Embraer parting ways, the KC-390 has run into some turbulence. It will now have to create a network to sell the aircraft and find new customers. Also, possibly a new partner

EJECTION SEAT SAGA REDEFINING THE NEW NORMAL OF COMBAT AVIATION

The Collins ACES II ® ’s stable, 9-13 G catapult at ambient temperatures is also important when the pilot is operating aircraft in hot environments. High temperatures affect the acceleration during the catapult phase and when the risks of spinal injuries tremendously increase around 20 G’s, having some buffer will ensure pilot safety, writes DON BORCHELT

A LIKELY GAMBLE

The latest announcement to raise the FDI cap in Defence is fine, but unaccompanied by the fast-tracking comprehensive reforms within the country in the areas of land, labour, infrastructure and governance, the environment will not be attractive enough to entice foreign and Indian investors, warns AMIT COWSHISH

Underwater Domain Awareness Framework In The Post Covid 19 Global Order

Arnab Das argues why the maritime commons will be the most important domain going forward and merit attention in the wake of the Corona-invasion

THE NUTS AND BOLTS

THE NUTS AND BOLTS

‘WE HAVE TWO FACTORIES TO HANDLE THE PRODUCTION OF MINE PROTECTED VEHICLES'

The revamped MPV is a superbly built world-class product and everyone is proud of it. It will prove to be a feather in the cap for all users. The cutting-edge vehicle is a symbol of India’s technological prowess in the third decade of 21st century, says DEVENDRA BHARDWAJ, Deputy General Manager, Ordnance Factory Medak in this interview with AMARTYA SINHA rounds. The vehicle can also be equipped with several weapons including a roof sensors like optical sensors and infrared sensors along with some radar sensors.

THE SPACE MISSION OF A BILLION INDIAN DREAMS

The Gaganyaan programme has the potential to create an all new aerospace ecosystem for setting up associated industries in the country, boosting thousands of MSMEs in the sector and creating at least 15,000 jobs for Indian youth related to the domain. It will have huge geostrategic and geo-economic ramifications for South Asia’s geopolitical dynamics as India will become the only country in the region and the fourth country in the world with such a capability, writes AMARTYA SINHA

INFORMATION AS WARFARE

It seems that Pakistan is always ahead of India in projecting its anti-Delhi viewpoints in international capitals and other international platforms. The reason that India performs in such a lackluster manner on the information front lies both in a systemic lack of understanding of how to wage an information campaign as well as the Modi government’s inability to communicate effectively, points out AMIT GUPTA

DESTINATION MOON

Chandrayaan-3 is a flagship project that can propel India into the space race by attempting to soft land a rover on the Moon’s south pole – a feat never done before. Such spectacular projects are not merely about national pride, but can also capture the public’s imagination and kickstart a scientific revolution in India, argues RAKESH KRISHNAN SIMHA

THE MOON LANDERS

Nasa’s recent selection of three private space companies – include Blue Origin, owned by Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos; Elon Musk’s SpaceX; and Dynetics – that will provide the roadmap for the development of lunar landers for the proposed moon landings later this decade has fired the passion of the billionaires to showcase their skills. A detailed look at how these private companies propose to build the moon landers

Northrop Grumman and Raytheon partner on new interceptor

Northrop Grumman Corporation and Raytheon Missiles & Defense are partnering to pursue a US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) contract for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI).

DEFENCE VEHICLES EXEMPTED FROM BHARAT STAGE-6 EMISSION NORMS

The union government has officially declared that it has exempted the armoured and other specialised vehicles of Indian armed and paramilitary forces from Bharat Stage-VI vehicular emission norms that has come into force across the country with effect from April 1, 2020. Issuing a notification, the road transport and highways ministry has also granted exemption to these vehicles from BS-IV compliance.

BREAKING THE ENEMY'S ARMOURED JAWS

While the Indian Army has largely depended on imported anti-tank weapons since the last three decades, some indigenous projects have also started yielding satisfactory results in recent years. India’s anti-tank missile capabilities remain a work in progress with the acquisition of newer weapon systems and the formulation of indigenous projects, writes AMARTYA SINHA

How To Prevent Fishing In Troubled Waters

In view of the increase in threat perception in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy needs to prepare for conflict by scoping out the adversary before it comes within sniffing distance. Maritime surveillance provides commanders and sailors with accurate, timely and actionable intelligence, writes Rakesh Krishnan Simha

EDUCATION AS NATIONAL SECURITY

India’s educational system is falling into the danger of leaving the country behind countries with higher educational and innovation standards. This has adverse implications for Indian security, warns AMIT GUPTA

THE GRAND EXTRAVAGANZA IN LUCKNOW

The 11th edition of DefExpo was the largest defence exhibition ever organized on Indian soil in terms of number of exhibitors, area and achievements. Various live demonstrations were also put up for the visitors at Gomti riverfront and at the venue in Vrindavan Yojana. The investment commitments worth ₹50,000 crores will generate 3 lakh job opportunities for the youth in the state, reports AMARTYA SINHA

ASAT SYSTEMS INDIA'S REQUIREMENTS

While satellites are an important aspect of the application of space technology to military needs, it is also important to recognise the increasing possibility of the deployment of anti-satellite weapons and possibly space-based weapons in the medium to long-term future. SANJAY BADRI MAHARAJ spells out India’s ASAT journey

WAY FORWARD FOR KASHMIRI PANDITS

KANWALJIT SINGH TALWAR suggests ways to undo India’s largest internal displacement

A PEERLESS WARRIOR BRIGADIER SANT SINGH, MVC*

Sant is remembered as a loving husband, father who held that honesty, integrity, loyalty, compassion and trust were non-negotiable. A lifelong teetotaler, he was a deeply religious man who modeled himself after Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the saint-soldier founder of the Khalsa, writes RAJ MEHTA

WHY ‘MAKE IN INDIA' COMES UNSTUCK

Since independence, India has been one of the world’s largest importers of weapons. From high altitude socks for the Indian army to aircraft carriers for the Indian navy and almost everything in between is imported in hard currency from abroad. Though the Modi government has taken up ‘Make in India’ with a lot of intent, time has come for a clear roadmap to achieving that goal. This road map involves five elements, reports NINAD D SHETH

LOOKING BEYOND EFEXPO 2020

It is important that the festivity of DefExpo 2020 is supplemented by some honest, serious and sustained thinking on what needs to be done for digital transformation of defence, argues AMIT COWSHISH

Chief Of Defence Staff First Among Equals?

As the country waits for its first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Prakash Katoch warns that any half-hearted implementation of the idea will be a sheer waste and argues why the CDS is vital not only for providing single point military advice to the Cabinet but also to usher in synergy vertically and horizontally among the three Services with full operational powers