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.

Remote Surveillance

India’s requirements for unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely piloted aircraft is growing at a rapid pace.

Boeing's Sees Growth In The Defence Services Business For India

Providing services and support capabilities is a significant growth area for Boeing in India and the company’s new Global Services business is working with the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy to provide training and support of Boeing platforms.

Meandering Road To India's Aircraft Carrier Plans

India’s plans for a formidable aircraft carrier fleet is at present in the realm of uncertainty. The Indian government is having second thoughts over the huge cost it may have to incur if it decides to go in for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for the future. Geopolitics looks at the current processes and tries to make sense of it.

Air Defence: Countering A Deadly Threat to Warships

Indian Navy is pursuing a project for Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SR-SAM) to fill the gaps in its capability and has found a boost in the recent months.

Giant On The Move

The emergence of Tata Aerospace and Defence could change the face of India’s defence industry.

Being Realistic On Strategic Partnerships And Technology Transfer

The real problem with India’s OFB and DPSUs should not be seen in terms of their “indigenisation” efforts, which, under the terms of their contracts, seem to be quite good, but rather in the excessive delays and cost overruns associated with manufacturing inefficiency as well as poor quality control which makes the foreign partners uneasy, writes SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

Alternative Narrative To The BRI For India

Multiple connectivity projects, through land, water, and air, with South East Asia, Central Asia and Africa could be a fitting response for India to China’s aggressive Belt and Road Initiative, argues BALADAS GHOSHAL

India And Japan In Africa

ABHISHEK MISHRA explains how due to complementarities in Japan and India’s development cooperation approaches and their blossoming strategic convergences, both are exploring the possibilities of trilateral cooperation with the continent of Africa

Big Challenge Of Non-Traditional Threats

The Indian state has slowly evolved and is yet imperfect but nonetheless has viable capability to deal with low level casualties that might be caused by either a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack or by a non-state actor or an incident caused either by accident or by deliberate action at a nuclear or chemical facility. There are, however, significant deficiencies in its response mechanisms that need urgent attention, writes SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

Selecting The Police Chief

The latest Supreme Court directive on the appointment of Police Chiefs in the States by bringing the “neutral” Union Public Service Commission in the picture is an attempt at minimising the political interference in the selection, argues AJAY K MEHRA

The New Brahmos: Faster, Stealthier, Deadlier

Envisioned as a more versatile and lighter variant of the deadly BrahMos missile, the BrahMos – Next Generation will enhance India’s offensive capabilities on a variety of battlefield platforms.