Indian Carriers: Are They Good Enough?

The emphasis on aircraft carriers can only be one part of the Indian Navy’s modernisation efforts. It requires a large and modern submarine fleet that can engage in successful sea denial to China and Pakistan, launch attacks on Pakistani land-based assets using cruise missiles, and be the essential part of a secondstrike capability for India’s nuclear force, argues AMIT GUPTA

Military Diplomacy Mantra: Love Thy Neighbour

After China, India is Asia's fastest growing military power this Century. That is an acknowledged fact. India has, in the last decade, astutely built its security ties with the US, also widening its basket beyond Russia to look for arms and defence systems to transform its 13.1 million military into ‘lean and mean’ fighting force. But, it quickly needs to address its defence diplomacy issues with its neighbourhood, even as it aspires to be permanently on the high table at the United Nations (UN).

Indian Navy's LPD - Procurement Picks Pace

Bracing itself for a possible "out of area" operations, the need for the Landing Platform Docks (LPD) has been projected and the process has restarted to build indigenously. It might take a while for the capability to be part of the Indian Navy's repertoire, but when it does, this is one capability that most of India's enemies would fear. A Geopolitics report

India's New Submarine To Join Fleet

India is yet to induct the six Scorpene submarines and expects to commission the first in August 2017, five years behind schedule. The programme for building the next six modern submarines has just begun, again behind schedule by over five years now. A Geopolitics compilation

India's Single - Engine Fighters Race Hots Up

It is yet another combat plane competition that the world is keenly watching, after the 2007 126-plane contest that India had announced. But this time, there are only two contenders for bagging this $25-billion contract for a 'Make in India' combat plane of global standards. A Geopolitics report

Imran, “Naya” Pakistan And India

How stable will Imran Khan’s new government in Pakistan be? Will India-Pakistan relations improve under his regime?

Untying The Kabul Knot

Seventeen long years have gone by since the war against the Taliban ended. But peace has not returned. The Taliban regrouped, thanks to the unceasing support of Pakistan, and returned with vengeance in less than a year and have since managed to wreak havoc all over the country. Since 2014, the Islamic State has joined in to find a niche for itself as it faces stiff resistance and rout in West Asia. Since 2001, the total number of Afghans killed in war is a staggering 111,000. APRATIM MUKARJI explains what is wrong with Afghanistan

Our Solutions Could Be Very Appealing To The Indian Market

Photonis Night Vision the World leaders in night vision technology, Photonis has close links with BELOP in Pune. MARTIN SNIJDERS, Photonis’ Marketing Communication Manager, talks about the new developments in image intensifier technology and the company’s plans for India.

The Punch That Matters

September 28 is a significant day for the Regiment of Artillery: it was on this day in 1827 that the first Indian artillery unit, 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery, equipped with 2.5-inch RML gun – was raised. Today, India has made commendable progress in every aspect of indigenous development, manufacture and testing of various ingredients needed for total self-reliance in the field of Artillery – not just guns and howitzers but rockets and rocket launchers, surface-to-surface missiles, weapon locating radars for fire correction as well as detecting locations of enemy’s firing positions, command and control systems enabling network-centric capabilities, secure communication and so on.

India's Submarine Surge In Indian Ocean

Given the increase in sub-surface activity by the PLA Navy and its nexus with its Pakistani counterpart, India is fast tracking the expansion of its undersea fleet.

Ready To Fire

The Indian Army finally has induction of new artillery pieces in its sight.

our modernisation plan is in sync with our endeavour to retain a 'combat and capability edge'

air chief marshal arup raha, in an exclusive interview with geopolitics, highlights a road-map for induction of fighter aircraft in the iaf with an aim to build up to the sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons at the earliest.

india gearing up to become chopper manufacturing hub

in the past, india has been spending several billions of dollars to purchase military helicopters for its armed forces. it is in the best interest of the indian industry that it now plans to build helicopters in india and invest in indigenous development work for helicopters. a geopolitics report

India To Buy Satellite-Guided ‘M982 Excalibur' Shells

At A Time When The Indian Army Is Struggling To Replace Its Soviet-era Vintage Inventory With New Age Weapons, The Induction Of Ground-launched Precision-guided Artillery Bombs Will Be A Huge Force-multiplier In The Tactical Level Battlefield, Reports Amartya Sinha

The Challenge Of Making Small Arms And Munitions In India

In Order To Meet The Growing Demands Of The Military And Paramilitary Forces And To Plug Chronic Shortages That Have Impacted War Fighting Capabilities, India Is Now Pushing The Indigenous Manufacture Of Small Arms And Ammunition In A Big Way, Writes Rakesh Krishnan Simha

Finding A Niche

India’s procurement of an estimated five squadrons of s-400 Triumf Sam Systems from Russia has evoked the ire of the united states which has threatened sanctions over the deal. Whether or not this comes to pass, the threat has soured the heretofore positive defence relationship between India and the United States. But then, S-400 is crucial for filling in India’s existing Sam inventory. This is not a mere weapons acquisition, but part of a much broader upgrade of the entire iIndian ground-based Air Defence Network, argues Sanjay Badri Maharaj

Hypersonics And India's Journey

When India manages to successfully develop the hypersonics technology that could be applied atop the solid propelled Agni category missile systems, it would provide a greater deterrence vis-à-vis China as well as Pakistan, writes Debalina Ghosal

'F-16 Partnership With India Stands Firm'

Making F-16 wings in India is a natural next step that builds on the successful partnership between Tata and Lockheed Martin for the C-130J airlifter and S-92 helicopter, says PHIL SHAW, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin India in conversation with Geopolitics.

Modernising To Meet Doctrinal Objectives

The Indian Air Force celebrating its 86th Anniversary in October 2018. It has grown in capability by leaps and bounds in the past decades and while it is somewhat smaller than its peak strength in the late 1980s, it is a much more capable force with the capacity to project Indian power beyond the nations borders. However, like the other armed services, it is in the throes of trying to match its modernisation efforts with resource constraints while simultaneously trying to achieve its doctrinal objectives, writes SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

'Hal Is Involved In Major Development Programmes'

HAL is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, repair, overhaul, and upgrade and servicing of a wide range of aircraft, helicopters, aero-engines, avionics, accessories and aerospace structures, says R MADHAVAN, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL in this conversation with Geopolitics.

'Be Rest Assured That IAF Is Prepared To Respond To Future Challenges And Safeguard Indian Skies'

Commissioned in the IAF in June 1978 as a fighter pilot, Air Chief Marshal BIRENDER SINGH DHANOA took over as the Chief of the Air Staff on January 1, 2017. As Commanding Officer of a frontline ground attack fighter squadron, he had led the IAF punch during the Limited War against Pakistan to evict the enemy from their dug in defences in the icy heights of Kargil region. During the conflict, under his leadership and supervision, the squadron devised unique and innovative methods of bombing in the night at altitudes never before attempted in the history of air warfare. While acknowledging that the IAF faces many challenges and that its procurement schemes were being prioritised within the budgetary resources to ensure that urgent and critical capabilities were acquired first, he assured PRAKASH NANDA that it was potent enough to deliver a befitting response to any contingency. Excerpts from the interview:

The Importance Of A Space Force

Looking at the role played by the US Air Force in space-related activities in the past decades, HARINI MADHUSUDAN finds out its relevance for the Indian Air Force in the Indian Space domain

'Qinetiq Could Test And Evaluate Integrated Test Ranges In India'

SOPHIE LANE, Head of Strategic Engagement (International), Business Development at QinetiQ, tells Geopolitics that there could be an opportunity to work with India in the Science & Technology arena

we will attain complete self-reliance in the near future

admiral sunil lanba took over as the 23rd chief of the naval staff on may 31, 2016. being a navigation and direction specialist, he has served as the navigation and operations officer onboard numerous ships in both the eastern and western fleet. he was also responsible for transformation in training methodology for the future indian navy as the chief of staff, southern naval command. the indian navy under him is rapidly transforming and positioning itself as a well-balanced force. he talks to mayank singh about how indian navy today ushers on various fronts of indigenisation and selfreliance. excerpts:

Kalyani Group: Taking India Towards Self-reliance And Self-sufficiency In Artillery

Manufacturing of artillery guns is a highly complex science which involves cross-disciplinary architecture, robust design and engineering capability, and intensive knowledge of complex materials, with a solid foundation in metallurgy that forms the backbone of this capability.

ARMY 2018 - Russia Showcases State-Of-The-Art Armament

The International Military Technical Forum, ARMY 2018, was held between August 21- 26, 2018 in Kubinka near Moscow. Held since 2015 it encompasses air, naval, land and police weapons and equipment. Organised and fully supported by the Ministry of Defence of Russia, it combines an exhibition with live demonstration of military equipment as well as an extensive congress programme.

Cyber Security - Government, Private Sector Synergy Is The Key

While India has policies and specialised teams to deal with cyber-security, it is undoubtedly the case that severe deficiencies continue to exist in the country’s cyber-security preparedness.

Meeting The American Arm Twisting To Protect The Affair With Russia

The United States wants to scuttle India’s burgeoning defence ties with Russia via the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. However, India has a number of options to avoid its punitive sections and use the opportunity to fast-track indigenisation and become immune to such blackmail, argues.

Key India-Russia Defence Deals

This checklist of big-ticket defence programmes shows how critical Russian weapons systems are to maintain India’s military primacy in the region.

Asymmetric Warfare Two Can Play The Game

India is in the unique and unfortunate position of being targeted by a large number of terrorist movements with ample foreign backing. The country’s political and military leadership must employ innovative ways to meet and combat the newly evolving patterns involving non-state actors and asymmetric warfare.