CATEGORIES

Future Firepower

The Indian Army is looking for a next generation main battle tank.

Off The Mark

HAL moves forward on the LCA Mk-1A production following the IAF’s Request for Proposal for 83 fighters.

Untying The Kabul Knot

Seventeen long years have gone by since the war against the Taliban ended. But peace has not returned. The Taliban regrouped, thanks to the unceasing support of Pakistan, and returned with vengeance in less than a year and have since managed to wreak havoc all over the country. Since 2014, the Islamic State has joined in to find a niche for itself as it faces stiff resistance and rout in West Asia. Since 2001, the total number of Afghans killed in war is a staggering 111,000. APRATIM MUKARJI explains what is wrong with Afghanistan

Our Solutions Could Be Very Appealing To The Indian Market

Photonis Night Vision the World leaders in night vision technology, Photonis has close links with BELOP in Pune. MARTIN SNIJDERS, Photonis’ Marketing Communication Manager, talks about the new developments in image intensifier technology and the company’s plans for India.

The Punch That Matters

September 28 is a significant day for the Regiment of Artillery: it was on this day in 1827 that the first Indian artillery unit, 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery, equipped with 2.5-inch RML gun – was raised. Today, India has made commendable progress in every aspect of indigenous development, manufacture and testing of various ingredients needed for total self-reliance in the field of Artillery – not just guns and howitzers but rockets and rocket launchers, surface-to-surface missiles, weapon locating radars for fire correction as well as detecting locations of enemy’s firing positions, command and control systems enabling network-centric capabilities, secure communication and so on.

India's Submarine Surge In Indian Ocean

Given the increase in sub-surface activity by the PLA Navy and its nexus with its Pakistani counterpart, India is fast tracking the expansion of its undersea fleet.

Ready To Fire

The Indian Army finally has induction of new artillery pieces in its sight.

'F-16 Partnership With India Stands Firm'

Making F-16 wings in India is a natural next step that builds on the successful partnership between Tata and Lockheed Martin for the C-130J airlifter and S-92 helicopter, says PHIL SHAW, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin India in conversation with Geopolitics.

Modernising To Meet Doctrinal Objectives

The Indian Air Force celebrating its 86th Anniversary in October 2018. It has grown in capability by leaps and bounds in the past decades and while it is somewhat smaller than its peak strength in the late 1980s, it is a much more capable force with the capacity to project Indian power beyond the nations borders. However, like the other armed services, it is in the throes of trying to match its modernisation efforts with resource constraints while simultaneously trying to achieve its doctrinal objectives, writes SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

'Hal Is Involved In Major Development Programmes'

HAL is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, repair, overhaul, and upgrade and servicing of a wide range of aircraft, helicopters, aero-engines, avionics, accessories and aerospace structures, says R MADHAVAN, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL in this conversation with Geopolitics.

'Be Rest Assured That IAF Is Prepared To Respond To Future Challenges And Safeguard Indian Skies'

Commissioned in the IAF in June 1978 as a fighter pilot, Air Chief Marshal BIRENDER SINGH DHANOA took over as the Chief of the Air Staff on January 1, 2017. As Commanding Officer of a frontline ground attack fighter squadron, he had led the IAF punch during the Limited War against Pakistan to evict the enemy from their dug in defences in the icy heights of Kargil region. During the conflict, under his leadership and supervision, the squadron devised unique and innovative methods of bombing in the night at altitudes never before attempted in the history of air warfare. While acknowledging that the IAF faces many challenges and that its procurement schemes were being prioritised within the budgetary resources to ensure that urgent and critical capabilities were acquired first, he assured PRAKASH NANDA that it was potent enough to deliver a befitting response to any contingency. Excerpts from the interview:

The Importance Of A Space Force

Looking at the role played by the US Air Force in space-related activities in the past decades, HARINI MADHUSUDAN finds out its relevance for the Indian Air Force in the Indian Space domain

'Qinetiq Could Test And Evaluate Integrated Test Ranges In India'

SOPHIE LANE, Head of Strategic Engagement (International), Business Development at QinetiQ, tells Geopolitics that there could be an opportunity to work with India in the Science & Technology arena

India To Buy Satellite-Guided ‘M982 Excalibur' Shells

At A Time When The Indian Army Is Struggling To Replace Its Soviet-era Vintage Inventory With New Age Weapons, The Induction Of Ground-launched Precision-guided Artillery Bombs Will Be A Huge Force-multiplier In The Tactical Level Battlefield, Reports Amartya Sinha

The Challenge Of Making Small Arms And Munitions In India

In Order To Meet The Growing Demands Of The Military And Paramilitary Forces And To Plug Chronic Shortages That Have Impacted War Fighting Capabilities, India Is Now Pushing The Indigenous Manufacture Of Small Arms And Ammunition In A Big Way, Writes Rakesh Krishnan Simha

India's Firepower Depends on Mobility From Trucks

The primary question that comes to mind when we think of India's ballistic strategic and other tactical missiles, or artillery rockets is that how mobile are these? That depends on how our missiles and rockets are transported using a Transporter, Erector and Launcher or TEL for short, reports GEOPOLITICS Bureau.

Defence Mobility Tata Motors Storms Ahead

Tata Motors in April 2017 bagged an order for 3192 Tata Safari Storme (TSS) 4x4 utility vehicles for use by Indian Armed Forces. To be procured under the newly introduced vehicle category - GSS-800 (General Service 800) - the TSS is set to replace Maruti Gypsy, whose current inservice inventory of 40,000 suggests large TSS follow up orders would be inevitable. VERNON NORONHA, Vice President, Defence Business, Tata Motors gives Geopolitics an insight into future plans that include vigorous export push and sustained inroad into High Mobility Vehicle market.

Despite Tumult, Tatra Trucks Fleet Growing in India

All the buzz about Tatra trucks getting back into business in India after a two-year lull happened due to the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who in December 2014, soon after taking over, said he was open to reviewing all the cases of blacklisting by the previous UPA government, reports GEOPOLITICS Bureau.

DRDO Arms Indian Navy With Three New Products

With many such naval platforms, all significant for successful and effective operations of the Indian Navy, being supplied, DRDO has played a significant role and performed its duties towards India's maritime security, reports GEOPOLITICS Bureau.

Indian Leadership Must for Indian Ocean Region

With the Chinese eying the Indian Ocean Region for strategic imperatives and investing significantly to ensure their presence, India should take the initiative to guard itself against these Chinese advancements, writes DR. (CDR) ARNAB DAS.

India, Russia Move Forward to Iron Out Defence Supplies

The two deals were inked by Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with Russian companies United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation, for general terms and conditions governing long term supply of spares and rendering technical assistance over five years for the 272-jet Su-30 MKI fleet. The deals were worth $315 million, finds out GEOPOLIICS Bureau.

Jammu & Kashmir Is It Time To Show The Iron Fist?

From the point of view of most Indians, the situation in Kashmir has steadily deteriorated over the past few months.

Analysing The Kashmir Situation: Is Hard Power The Better Option?

A surge in violence - stone pelting, attack on security personnel - and an expansion in the scope of violence - bank robberies, attack on native Kashmiris - suggests that public discontent over Indian rule in Kashmir is rising. LT. GEN. SYED ATA HASNAIN (RETD.) analyses the situation for Geopolitics

Russia's Foreign Policy Challenges 2017

The US led sanctions and subdued energy prices have forced Russia into China's embrace, allowing China to treat Russia, a global power of no mean stature, as a mere pawn in its strategic gameplay with the US. The Chinese embrace has also isolated Russia from India and stymied its efforts to normalise relations with Japan, writes DR SUBHASH KAPILA

Giant On The Move

The emergence of Tata Aerospace and Defence could change the face of India’s defence industry.

Being Realistic On Strategic Partnerships And Technology Transfer

The real problem with India’s OFB and DPSUs should not be seen in terms of their “indigenisation” efforts, which, under the terms of their contracts, seem to be quite good, but rather in the excessive delays and cost overruns associated with manufacturing inefficiency as well as poor quality control which makes the foreign partners uneasy, writes SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

Alternative Narrative To The BRI For India

Multiple connectivity projects, through land, water, and air, with South East Asia, Central Asia and Africa could be a fitting response for India to China’s aggressive Belt and Road Initiative, argues BALADAS GHOSHAL

India And Japan In Africa

ABHISHEK MISHRA explains how due to complementarities in Japan and India’s development cooperation approaches and their blossoming strategic convergences, both are exploring the possibilities of trilateral cooperation with the continent of Africa

Big Challenge Of Non-Traditional Threats

The Indian state has slowly evolved and is yet imperfect but nonetheless has viable capability to deal with low level casualties that might be caused by either a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack or by a non-state actor or an incident caused either by accident or by deliberate action at a nuclear or chemical facility. There are, however, significant deficiencies in its response mechanisms that need urgent attention, writes SANJAY BADRI-MAHARAJ

Selecting The Police Chief

The latest Supreme Court directive on the appointment of Police Chiefs in the States by bringing the “neutral” Union Public Service Commission in the picture is an attempt at minimising the political interference in the selection, argues AJAY K MEHRA