Future Infantry Combat Vehicles India appeared to be set to become “self-reliant” in a major land warfare weapons platform-the infantry combat vehicle-going by the concerted efforts of both the public sector Defence Public Sector Undertaking and several private sector engineering firms to win the contract for 2600 Future Infantry Combat Vehicle. The contenders were short listed to two from four Indian elements, three of the private sector ones with foreign collaborators in tow. But what… Read More »Lacking expertise

Delay in artillery modernization process A rapid deceleration in obsolescence in the Indian Army artillery arsenal appears to be possible by the simultaneous creation of two indigenous 155mm howitzers one in the Ordnance Factory, Jabalpur (MP), and the other in Tata’s stable of emerging defence-related equipment laboratories. Having wasted three-and-a-half decades by prevaricating over converting the drawings of the Bofors howitzer, the Ministry of Defence two years back asked the Ordnance Factories Board to dust… Read More »Long wait

Slow progress of artillery modernization program The artillery modernization program is moving at a snail’s pace even after 25 years. Though in the last one decade, other artillery equipment like the Pinaka Rocket System, Smerch Rocket System and the Brahmos Missile System have been inducted, the 155 mm Howitzers have been the most affected. The Army has prepared an Artillery Profile 2027 for procuring new generation artillery with a mix of 155mm/39 caliber, 155mm45 caliber… Read More »Ray of hope

The US wants India in its Rebalancing Asia policy The US Secretary of State John Kerry brought with him a very high powered delegation for strategic talks with India held on 24th June, 2013, which included the US Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel J Locklear who stayed back in New Delhi to discuss the future game plan for the Asia Pacific with the Indian tri-service Chief of Staff, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne. The political direction… Read More »Smart move

Despite the controversy surrounding the basic trainer deal which is getting murkier each passing day, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reportedly cleared the deal in favor of Swiss company ignoring the allegations of unfair practice by one of the contenders. Top MoD sources told STRATEGIC AFFAIRS that the deal has been cleared and IAF can hope to get the trainer some time early 2013. But they refused to discuss whether the allegations will have… Read More »Inching forward: MoD to clear basic trainer deal amid controversies

The rising military deployment in the Pacific With China significantly bolstering its navy and the US shifting its focus to the Asia Pacific region, both the powers seem to be on collision course. Since the region is rich in oil and gas and extremely crucial for global trade, Chinese policy to up the ante in the maritime area has compelled the US to give moral support on territorial disputes to its allies in the region… Read More »Tilting balance

Radar warning receivers and missile approach warners It can be extremely disconcerting for a fighter pilot to know that there is a missile on his tail. It is fortunate that aircraft manufacturers have learned from the improvements in capabilities of missiles of all kinds-air-to-air and surface-to-air (SAM) in particular-to be able to install early warning systems against the means by which the missiles are guided to their target. Survival is then dependant on how the… Read More »Scanning threats

Role of network centric warfare systems With practically the whole world going network centric, warfare in the modern world has become digitized to such an extent that one tends to become a slave to a system that, in the event of a nuclear exchange could take us back to the did-did-dah-did (the first letter of the alphabet as transmitted as dot, dot, dash, dot) of the age of the Morse code. That there is a… Read More »Digitized war

India in the era of net centric warfare The Main Battle Tanks, fighter planes and modern warships will prove to be a sitting duck in conflict situation if the adversary is armed with the invisible and superior information and communication network. This is called Net Centric Warfare and the modern age combat will be dominated by C4I3 based information and command network, which will help take a lead in the quick decision making. An army… Read More »Fast data

The Afghan National Army (ANA) is growing from scratch to glory. The ANA has reached its previous goal of 134,000 troops in July 2010. The current goal is to have 171,600 by October 2011. As of March 2011, there were 160,000 troops on its rolls, 4,000 ahead of the March goal. Earlier this year, there was discussion of increasing the size of the army beyond the current 171,600-troop goal, but this plan has not yet… Read More »Growing steady: Afghan National Army’s Order of Battle (ORBAT)