Protecting India’s vast coastline of around 7500 kms is not an easy task. The challenge assumes even more significance given the fact that anti-Indian forces have tried and are trying to use waterways to spread terror in the country. The 26/11 attack and incidents of many ships drifting undetected near Indian shores reinforces the common understanding that the Indian coastline is vulnerable to foreign intrusions. Further, since Indian Navy has in recent years given commitments… Read More »Role of Offshore Patrol Vessels

A paupered Artillery Regiment of the Indian Army is now suddenly inundated by a surfeit of weapons systems be they of the original Bofors howitzer vintage reconstructed from drawings that had been gathering dust for nearly three decades or the Indo-South African hybrid that had been languishing because of corruption charges or the Armament Research and Development Establishment product the advanced towed artillery gun system. The icing on the cake is that all of them… Read More »Howitzer gun development

As prime Indian military objective in the event of an outbreak of hostilities between a Pakistan-China collusive alliance against India, STRATEGIC AFFAIRS in its March-April issue, has already pinpointed the Karakoram Highway/railway/pipeline alignment through Pakistan and China-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Breaking this link at several geologically difficult portions can render it unuseable for years as the landslide and formation of a huge lake north of Gilgit at Attabad in 2010 did to communications between Pakistan… Read More »Chinese infrastructure

India is seeking to create a credible military industrial complex which can meet technological needs of its armed forces but the road to achieve such a monumental goal is not easy in a complex country like India where politicians and bureaucrats need to be re-educated. During recent interactions with wide section of policy makers, many of them do not understand the problems grappling Indian defence industry and why India having a robust civil industrial capacity… Read More »Boost defense production

Maritime surveillance capabilities of the Indian Navy would not be complete till the medium range maritime reconnaissance aircrafts are inducted following the process given a final push through the issuance of the RFP for nine MRMR aircraft way back in 2013. Eight aircraft makers had submitted the Request for Information which included Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus Military Casa, Dassault, Saab, Bombardier, Embrayer and the ATR. On this basis acceptance of necessity was cleared by the… Read More »Maritime surveillance platforms

Indian Air Force is not only bedevilled with its fighter strength, even the easily available cheap Basic Trainer Aircraft are facing supply issues. Whether to depend exclusively on the already inducted Swiss Pilatus and order the entire requirement of 181 for the rookie pilots of the IAF or to encourage the domestic manufacture of indigenous trainer by HAL, which has been designed and developed by the Indian aviation engineers, has been an issue between Vayu… Read More »HTT-40: The basic trainer

The infantry fighting vehicles are getting popular among the leading militaries in recent time due to their high mobility and high survivability in the war zone, although it can only come close to the fire power of a tank, if not establishing superiority of a tank. This is a pretty good deal for a battlefield commander who is planning to enter into enemy territory with flash mobility and put the feet on the ground as… Read More »IFV in modern war

Maritime security is a two-ply concept. One is that on the surface of the sea and its atmospheric dimension, the other is in the dark depths of the oceans where submarines lurk posing threats to trade and commerce along the lines of communications and to onshore vital points and vital areas. India’s maritime security periphery stretches from end to end of the Indian Ocean, its several chokepoints and the craving of some inimical nations to… Read More »Maritime surveillance security

With the introduction of 3D technology, military aircraft training for pilots and air force jet trainer schools are taking a new dimension due to cost effectiveness and easy handling of many of the hybrid equipment that can offer a wide range of situational awareness to a young pilot. Simulation technology continues to be used to proactively address military training in handling high powered fighter jets and all other types of aircraft as well as safety… Read More »Simulation technology

A nation that feels itself hemmed in by hostile neighbors needs to look for ways to preserve its own national interests through diplomatic means before it rushes into a conflict situation that will exacerbate the collusive arrangement that it sees as a threat. In the case of India, the China-Pak Economic Corridor being constructed through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is an emerging threat because it sanctifies the illegal occupation of large sections of the former princely State… Read More »Lhasa-Xinjiang road connectivity