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Managing borders

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

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

Artillery modernization

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

IAF 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

Amphibious operations

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

Appointment of CDS

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

Combat vehicle

The modern battlefield is all about taking risk at a crucial time as the war zone is saturated with mines and high intensity explosives that can spring surprises for armored columns in the midst of a high value operation to secure foot on the ground. The armored vehicles equipped with modern technology can avoid any mistake or casualty by denying the enemy any advantage of its trap that can harm movement of personnel and vehicles… Read More »Combat vehicle

DSRV for Indian Navy

The August 2013 Sindhurakshak and the February 2014 Sindhuratna submarine tragedies are stark reminder of the absence of a deep submergence rescue vessel in Indian Navy. Since the first accident occurred on the harbor, the navy was saved from the responsibility to perform mid sea rescue. Though the Indian Navy possesses one vintage submarine rescue system which is capable of rescuing the crew at depths less than 150 metres, the requirement for the present era… Read More »DSRV for Indian Navy

Howitzer Acquisition

If it were not for the tragic nature of the situation in which the Ordnance Factories Board and by extension the Artillery Regiment of the Indian Army find themselves it would be comic. After the Bofors scam brought artillery to a near standstill in the country the immaturity of the political classes in India held the nation to ransom for the better part of a quarter century till the fine performance of the weapon during… Read More »Howitzer Acquisition

Mine detection

India has paid a heavy price in human lives both on its borders as well as in the internal security situation to mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) deployed by the Pakistan army on the borders and the Line of Control and by its agents in various crowded localities all over the country. There could be some respite and a great psychological turnaround in counter-insurgency operations in the device created by a laboratory of the… Read More »Mine detection