Politics
Geopolitics
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.
7 min |
July 2018
Geopolitics
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.
9 min |
July 2018
Geopolitics
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
10+ min |
June 2017
Geopolitics
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
3 min |
June 2017
Geopolitics
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
6 min |
June 2017
Geopolitics
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
6 min |
June 2017
Geopolitics
'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
6 min |
June 2017
Geopolitics
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,
10 min |
May 2018
Geopolitics
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.
5 min |
May 2018
Geopolitics
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.
10+ min |
April 2018
Geopolitics
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:
9 min |
April 2018
Geopolitics
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.
9 min |
April 2018
Geopolitics
A Fresh Start
The Saras light aircraft programme has received a fresh impetus.
3 min |
April 2018
Geopolitics
Remote Surveillance
India’s requirements for unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely piloted aircraft is growing at a rapid pace.
7 min |
April 2018
Geopolitics
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.
7 min |
April 2018
Geopolitics
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.
8 min |
December 2017
Geopolitics
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.
6 min |
December 2016
Geopolitics
Giant On The Move
The emergence of Tata Aerospace and Defence could change the face of India’s defence industry.
6 min |
August 2018
Geopolitics
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
10+ min |
August 2018
Geopolitics
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
10+ min |
August 2018
Geopolitics
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
10 min |
August 2018
Geopolitics
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
10+ min |
August 2018
Geopolitics
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
8 min |
August 2018
Geopolitics
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.
7 min |
August 2018
Geopolitics
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
9 min |
August 2018
Geopolitics
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).
10+ min |
September 2016
Geopolitics
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
6 min |
August 2017
Geopolitics
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
6 min |
August 2017
Geopolitics
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
6 min |
August 2017
Geopolitics
Imran, “Naya” Pakistan And India
How stable will Imran Khan’s new government in Pakistan be? Will India-Pakistan relations improve under his regime?
10+ min |