THE QUAD AND BEYOND

Given the potentials as well as the contradictions within the QUAD, India has to maximise its options in order to participate successfully in the great game that is emerging in the Indo-Pacific, writes NINAD D SHETH

UAVS: INDIA HAS TO MOVE FORWARD

India has made some significant use of UAVs in its internal security operations and considerable use for military surveillance. However, its own development projects are still limited and have not yielded major products for military use. This is rapidly changing, explains SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

A US-INDIA MILITARY PARTNERSHIP SANS QUAD

Arguing that India cannot depend on the QUAD framework to deal with a Chinese threat, AMIT GUPTA suggests that a realistic workable alliance with the United States based on a fruitful weapons partnership between the two countries and the provision of military basing is a much better option for New Delhi

MEETING NEW AIR AND MISSILE THREATS

The Indian Air Force has begun substantial modernisation of its strategic air defences. But while progress has undoubtedly been made, strategic SAM defences remain weak, writes SANJAY BADRI MAHARAJ

EXPENSIVE BUT INDISPENSABLE AIRPOWER

AMIT GUPTA argues why given the harsh economic challenges facing the country, which is not unique to India, the best way to afford an effective air force is to plan differently but smartly by going for techno-globalisation rather than futile techno-nationalism

NANO DRONES: A BIG IMPACT ON THE BATTLEFIELD

Nano drones, the advanced systems that pack a lot of functionality into a tiny form factor, are becoming a major military tool. With China having a huge lead, India needs to get its act together, argues RAKESH KRISHNAN SIMHA

BEING SELF-RELIANT IN DEFENCE

The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign is speeding up the growth of indigenous defence manufacturing capability in India, writes C SANTHOSH

AUGMENTING THE AIRLIFT CAPABILITY

India is slowly and steadily raising its means to deploy and sustain military forces across possible distant battlefields by air, writes NINAD D SHETH

AUGMENTING THE FIREPOWER

NINAD D SHETH explains how India is pushing artillery modernisation amid budget constraints

ARMY AIR DEFENCE- NEED FOR ENHANCEMENTS

The AAD is at present a very formidable force. But, there are capability gaps and equipment shortfalls that need to be addressed immediately, explains SANJAY BADRI MAHARAJ

THE INDIAN NAVY: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN INDIGENOUS SHIPBUILDING

India has not yet reached the stage where its warships can be fitted with entirely indigenous weapon systems and sensors. Significant strides have been made in this respect. But the development of a self-sufficient warship industry remains somewhat distant, writes SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

“THE INDIAN NAVY IS FULLY COMMITTED TOWARDS ‘JOINTMANSHIP' WITH OTHER FORCES AS THAT IS THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE”

ADMIRAL KARAMBIR SINGH assumed command of the Indian Navy on May 31, 2019 as the 24th Chief of the Naval Staff. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980. He earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1981 and has flown extensively on the Chetak (Alouette) and Kamov helicopters. In his career spanning over 39 years, he has commanded Indian Coast Guard Ship Chandbibi, Missile Corvette INS Vijaydurg, as well as two Guided Missile Destroyers, INS Rana and INS Delhi. He has also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet. He was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam, prior taking over helm as the Chief of the Naval Staff. Confident that the Indian Navy can face any challenge, Admiral Singh, in conversation with PRAKASH NANDA, points out how India is playing a stabilising role in the Indo-Pacific with its presence across the region, enabling rapid responses to emerging security challenges; why the Indian Navy has established a persistent footprint in India’s areas of interest, including at various choke points in the Indian Ocean; and how naval deployments also serve as a deterrent to inimical interests, clearly signalling the Navy’s reach, capability and intent.:

FLYING INTO ACTION WITH THE BLOCK III SUPER HORNET

Pilots swear by it, ground crews love working on it and naval commanders consider it one of the most capable assets at their disposal. Did you know that the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet is the world's most lethal, advanced, combat-proven, multirole frontline fighter jet?

Indian Missile Tests Show Urgency

By test-firing as many as 12 missiles in last two months, India is now matching China missile by missile and is closing the technology gap, argues NINAD D SHETH

12 MISSILE SYSTEMS IN 2 MONTHS, DRDO IS ON ROCKET FUEL

With a flurry of back-to-back weapon tests successfully validating new and indigenous technologies, DRDO is all set to play a pivotal role in fulfilling the ultimate dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the new decade, explains R CHANDRAKANTH

“WE ENDEAVOUR TO MAINTAIN OUR EDGE THROUGH MODERNIZATION AND ACQUISITION OF NEW SYSTEMS”

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 15, 1980, AIR CHIEF MARSHAL RAKESH KUMAR SINGH BHADAURIA PVSM AVSM VM ADC took over as the 26th air chief Chief of the Air Staff on 30 September 2019. An alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, he graduated with the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’. He has over 4270 hours of experience on 27 types of fighters as well as transport aircraft and holds the unique distinction of being an Experimental Test Pilot, a Cat 'A' Qualified Flying Instructor and a Pilot Attack Instructor. He completed his Masters in Defence Studies from Command and Staff College, Bangladesh. In a career, spanning almost four decades, the Air Chief Marshal has held a number of significant field and staff appointments which include Command of a front line Jaguar Squadron, Command of a premier Air Force Station in South-Western sector, Commanding Officer of Flight Test Squadron at Aircraft & System Testing Establishment and Chief Test Pilot as well as Project Director of National Flight Test Centre on Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project. He was extensively involved in the initial prototype flight testing on the LCA. He has flown the Rafale while preparations were on to induct it into the IAF. While acknowledging that the IAF faces many challenges and that its procurement schemes are being prioritised within the budgetary resources to ensure that urgent and critical capabilities are acquired first, he assured PRAKASH NANDA that the Indian Air-Warriors are best in the business. Excerpts of the interview:

‘AR-1500 OFFERS SATURN WAVEFORM AND L-BAND OPERATION'

Since no one else operates V/UHF radios in L-band, transmissions are less likely to be intercepted leading to more secure communications, explains DES BAXTER, Director (Business Development-Asia Pacific), Mission Systems, Collins Aerospace, in this interaction with GEOPOLITICS

SHAPING THE IAF'S PROCUREMENT EFFORTS

AMIT GUPTA discusses what the IAF needs to procure from other countries and what it can produce domestically to counter a two-front threat

A GIANT LEAP

AMARTYA SINHA explains why hypersonic cruise missiles are a massive force multiplier

Article 370 — One Year Later, Huge Infra Push In J&K

The abrogation of Article-370 and Article-35A of the Constitution of India has seen an outpour of developmental initiatives in the two newly formed union territories, reports Amartya Sinha

FORFEITING NATIONAL SECURITY FOR TURF

Inter-organisational cooperation and camaraderie is a fallacy which has been propagated for long, laments PANKAJ BHAGWATI

HIGH TIME FOR AGNI-VI INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE

Now is the time for the NDA-3 government to prove its political will by swiftly approving the Agni- VI thermonuclear ICBM programme which will push India into the elite league of military superpowers like USA, Russia and China. Such a capability will give India tremendous diplomatic leverage at global high tables and will deter big powers from attempting Balkanisation of India during future conflicts, explains AMARTYA SINHA

RAFAEL OFFERS FIREFLY LOITERING MUNITIONS AND DRONE DOME C-UAS SYSTEMS TO INDIA

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. designs, develops, manufactures and supplies a wide range of high-tech defence systems for air, land, sea space and cyber applications for the Israeli Defence Forces and the defence establishment, as well as for customers around the world. The company offers its customers a diversified array of innovative, multi-disciplinary solutions at the leading edge of global technology, from underwater systems through naval, ground, and air superiority systems to space systems. Rafael's technologies address a vast scope of operational needs with end-to-end, force-multiplying solutions.

74 PERCENT FDI ALLOWED IN DEFENCE THROUGH AUTOMATIC ROUTE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the seminar on Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence Manufacturing via Video Conferencing on August 27. Stressing on the need to become Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in defence manufacturing, the Prime Minister said that the nation’s aim is to boost defence production, develop new technology and give significant roles to private players in the defence sector.

TIME TO SHOW CHINA ITS PLACE

In the backdrop of the recent clashes between Indian and Chinese forces at Galwan Valley, experts think that in case a war takes place between the two countries, India has an advantage and the war would be fought on the Tibetan plateau.

BOOSTING INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG THE INDIA-CHINA BORDER

AMARTYA SINHA takes a look at the state of infrastructures near the Line of Actual Control with China, keeping in view that an armed confrontation with the communist neighbour can be prevented only when the Indian military achieves the technological and strategic edge over the adversary in terms of good quality metalled roads, railway tracks, bridges, tunnels, ALGs and airbases.

INDIA'S MH-60R CHOPPERS WILL BE ENABLED WITH LINK-16

The Indian Navy will be flying the same helicopters as the US Navy in the Indo-Pacific region. Moreover, the Australian Navy also flies the same kind of aircraft. So, there is a great opportunity towards boosting interoperability. These helicopters can literally scan 20 percent of the entire surface of the Indo-Pacific theatre and can sniff out hostile assets through their powerful sensors, says TOM KANE, Director of Naval Helicopter Programmes, Lockheed Martin; and WILLIAM BLAIR, Vice President and Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin in India, in this interaction with Geopolitics

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

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

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