Lessons In The Defence Indigenisation Maze

The recent statement by a minister of the Central Government that ‘Make in India’ of defence projects was literally a non-starter, comes as no surprise to people engaged in such business. ‘Self-Reliance’ and ‘Indigenisation’ are now better associated with seminars and conferences across the country than with actual military hardware. For some of us associated with this sector for the last six decades, this has remained a well known harsh reality, highlights G RAJ NARAYAN, MD, Radel Group

Realistic Choices For Modernising India's Military Capabilities

As India faces a two-front threat, business cannot go on as usual and the Modi government needs to take serious steps to increase India’s military capabilities so as to maintain deterrence.

Carriers In Combat How Critical Is The Floating Airfield?

Chinese expansion plans and India’s great power requirements mean that the Indian Navy will have to splurge on aircraft carriers. But at the same time, India must not neglect the smaller ships, sub-surface vessels and other critical components that make a balanced fleet.

Sharpshooter Effect

The Indian Army is proceeding with the acquisition of new assault rifles and carbines to meet a long overdue requirement. However, the problem is that the Army is changing its requirement-parameters too often and too soon, causing delays in procurement and embarrassment to the manufacturers. A report by Geopolitics Bureau.

The Rafale Saga

The Indian government’s decision to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets continues to be shrouded in controversy. There are now allegations that the deal is marked by overpricing and crony capitalism. But is the controversy more political than economic? Is it a storm in a teacup?

The Rafale Deal And After

Whichever way one may look at it, the Rafale case between India and France could be a win-win situation for both the countries.

Space-Based Surveillance

It is time for India to realise that satellites are vital for a fully network-centric force. A report.

Reforms in DRDO Should Continue for Better Results

DRDO needs to be attentive to the criticism and take up the good suggestions that come its way in the interest of the nation. But that criticism can not be a sweeping statement. DRDO has delivered to the armed forces. The government need to think truly innovatively in enabling DRDO to achieve its stated mission

India Set to Revive Kaveri Engine Project

With the new-found enthusiasm and confidence among the Indian defence scientists and engineers, it seems the country is poised to make a success out of a project that was almost declared as a failure. The future of Kaveri now seems bright.

Indian Industry Must Take Advantage of Various Schemes and Flood the Market With ‘make in India' Products

COL. H.S. SHANKAR, CMD, Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd, talks about new initiatives promoting MSMEs, taking risks and capacity building.

india's dream for an aeroengine may come true soon

the opportunities in the manufacture of helicopter engines are likely to increase multifold providing lucrative openings to domestic companies to venture into this segment.

Countering Stealth

When introduced in 1988 with the unveiling of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk fighter, stealth proved to be a game changing technology that turned the clock back for the erstwhile Soviet Union, which had nearly caught up with the West in military aviation technology. Stealth succeeded decisively because it proved expensive to emulate and difficult to counter for US adversaries. What does the future portend for stealth?

India's Military Cyber Command To Get Nod Soon

With the Indian Armed Forces rapidly embracing network centric warfare, there is a need to brace for cyber attacks during peace and war. Our adversaries will relentlessly probe defence networks during peacetime for security lapses, with the twin aims of developing cyber attack strategies to use during war and gaining access to operational data such as weapon system capabilities and location of tactical and strategic assets during peace

Indian Navy Building Its Amphibious Warfare Capabilities

The commissioning into the Indian Navy of the first of the eight LCU Mk.4 ships on order from GRSE, Kolkata on March 28, 2017 at Port Blair, marked the start of the augmentation of the Navy’s amphibious assault capability. Future acquisitions include four LPDs to be built indigenously, two each in the private and the public sector

Brahmos Missile Enhances Indian Army's Artillery Strike Capability

The latest test-firing of the BrahMos Block III missile should be sending chills down the Indian enemy's spine, as it enhances the artillery range of the Indian Army

Safran Offers Tot For Combat Aircraft Engine Development

Safran has offered full scope ToT for development of combat aircraft engines in India. The ToT will not come cheap and its projection as Kaveri improvement would be pure marketing hype. Safran is offering M88 technology. How much would India gain from the offer?

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

In another case of a procurement roadblock, the Army’s Anti-Tank Guided Missile procurement has misfired.

Prepared Response

CBRN response teams require modern equipment and training.

India-US Ties Soar To New Heights Through Lemoa

With the signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum Of Agreement (LEMOA) in Washington on August 29, 2016 between India and the US, the relationship between these two countries will soar to new heights.

Old Europe And 'Make In India'

Analyses India's evolving defence relations with the European nations and how determined Narendra Modi government is to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer through Make in India initiative.

India-Russia Defence Cooperation: The Way Forward

As one of the main objectives of the Modi Government is to promote joint defence production with other countries in line with the ‘Make in India’, New Delhi sees Moscow playing a vital role in realising the government’s ambitious programme.

Maritime Defence Diplomacy In The Indian Ocean Region

The Indian Navy has emerged as an indispensable tool of diplomacy in recent years, making it an imperative for Indian policymakers and naval thinkers to consider anew the role of naval forces.

Abysmal Response To India's FDI Initiatives

Analysing reasons for the lukewarm response of the foreign companies looking at the dynamics of FDI, MAJOR GENERAL MRINAL SUMAN suggests the ways to formulate a system of motivational incentives to channelize foreign investments.

The Missile Age: Is India Ready?

With the rapid technological advancements, missiles are now going to prove decisive in determining the outcomes of wars. And here, India’s position is weak. The missile future, therefore, has to be in the realm of collaborative efforts that lead to useable missile systems which will give India the ability to match China’s achievements in a timely manner. This means talking to the Russians, Europeans, and Israelis about joint programmes with clearly defined timeframes for development, production, and induction into the Indian armed forces, argues AMIT GUPTA

Surveillance From The Sky

The Netra AEW&C is now in its 2nd year of service but additional orders for more aircraft have not been forthcoming, writes C SANTHOSH

Defence Production Unleashing The Potential For ‘Make In India'

Four years have passed since the ‘Make in India’ idea was initiated. However, in the defence sector, it has made hardly any impact, thanks to the absence of a policy framework, unsystematic efforts to promote domestic production and budgetary constraints. But then all is not lost. At least four developments hold a lot of promise for the defence industry, argues AMIT COWSHISH

Procurement Paralysis

Despite the claims of greater indigenisation in defence procurement, India’s arms imports have increased by almost 25 per cent over the last 10 years, reports C SANTHOSH.

“Steps To Give The Right Impetus To Private Industry Must Continue”

RAJINDER SINGH BHATIA, President and CEO (Defence & Aerospace) of Bharat Forge Ltd speaks to Geopolitics on its plans and programmes

Beyond Numbers & Rhetoric - Why 2017 Is Not 1962

The Indian Air Force was forced to sit out the 1962 war by the nation’s political leadership for reasons that can most charitably be described as non-military. Had the IAF participated in the war, as it was well-trained and equipped to do, the outcome would have been different. But that is history. If war is imposed on the country today, the IAF is sure to make its presence felt. AIR MARSHAL PK BARBORA (RETD), former Vice Chief of Air Staff, in discussion with VIJAINDER K THAKUR on how 2017 is different from 1962

F/A-18 Super Hornet For India Multi-role, Combat Tested And Built For The Future

THOMAS (THOM) BRECKENRIDGE, Vice President, Global Sales India, Boeing Defense, Space & Security says, Boeing is committed to expanding its partnership by producing Super Hornets in India, further developing the country’s aerospace ecosystem. Boeing will work closely with Indian industry to ensure they have the very latest technologies, applying lessons learned from the current Super Hornet production line.