Even though the Chinese soldiers were forced to make a retreat in Chumar after the high level diplomatic and political pressure and the activation of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, it will not improve the sentiments in bilateral relations in near future. If the Chinese soldiers would not have come face to face with the Indian soldiers in Chumar and Demchok region of Eastern Laddakh on the Line of Actual Control in early September for… Read More »Border intrusion
The ongoing protest in Hong Kong has shown that China has not learned its lessons from the past, particularly from the Tiananmen Square incident of 1989. The rigidness and hard line approach could be the biggest stumbling block for China in finding a peaceful resolution of the current situation in Hong Kong. All the problems from the history have been only brought under control but none of them could find a complete resolution. For example,… Read More »Protest in Hong Kong
With significant changes in mission requirements spawned by advances in technology and the threat, the role of submarine remains an important multi-mission component capable of conducting covert operations in forward regions. Submarines are a critical element of maritime strategy for modern naval warfare planners. Submarines are significant operational assets. They can contribute significantly in all three areas of maritime operational warfare; sea control, sea denial and maritime power projection. They are a vital element in… Read More »Role of submarines
The regional arms race has brought potent warfare capabilities to many countries that are now eager to either indigenously manufacture or import hi tech and advance military weapons for securing their national interest. As it is predicted that the future war will be mainly in space or water, navies around the world are now trying to strengthen their offensive and defensive warfare capabilities to counter any uninvited or surprise attack. The US has already shown… Read More »Anti ship missile
Given the increasing frequency of Chinese intrusions along the Line of Actual Control and Pakistan’s attempts at infiltration of terrorists along the Line of Control, India will have to review both its mobile and static defences across both frontiers. The fortnight long incursion into Chumar in Ladakh before and after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping which seemed to have been ordered by someone else in the hierarchy may well be another ploy of… Read More »Managing borders
Amphibious warfare is normally synonymous with a cooperative naval and army operation with the former providing the transportation and the latter using its firepower to capture beachheads, neutralizing sea-facing defences and generally achieving a shock effect that could result in a breakthrough. Not all amphibious operations are successful. Gallipoli during the Second World War was a disaster while the Normandy invasion eventually led to the successful conclusion of the war in Europe with the suicide… Read More »Amphibious warfare
The Indian artillery modernization program has now become a subject of laughing stock in strategic circles. Observers often joke that the program seems to have been jinxed ever since the Prime Minister of Sweden Olaf Palme was killed , though may not be directly related to the Bofors bribery scandal, allegedly masterminded by the then Indian Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi in the mid eighties. Three decades have passed after that most politically sensitive Bofors commission… Read More »Artillery modernization
The modernization of Indian Air Force requires billions of dollars of budgetary support, the lack of which restrains the government from taking swift decisions, which is resulting in diminished combat capabilities of force. But lack of fund is not the sole reason. The policy paralysis in the MoD was also responsible till now, but Modi government has generated new hopes. The IAF has already chalked out grandiose plans for capacity enhancement and the need of… Read More »IAF modernization
The Asia Pacific regional security interests require the navies of this region to have the ability to respond comprehensively to political or military contingencies, which can arise with little or no warning. An amphibious capability provides the militaries with a range of political response options to apply military force, and project national power. Many countries in the region have recognized the need to augment their amphibious capability in the developing geopolitical environment in the Indian… Read More »Amphibious operations
With so much having been written about the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) for the armed forces; a strong recommendation for it by late K Subrahmanyam in his Kargil War review; and the return to power at the centre of the Bharatiya Janta Party presage the possibility that the CDS will become a reality sooner or later. The confluence of events both internal and external thus appears to be conducive… Read More »Appointment of CDS