CATEGORIES

The New Brahmos: Faster, Stealthier, Deadlier

Envisioned as a more versatile and lighter variant of the deadly BrahMos missile, the BrahMos – Next Generation will enhance India’s offensive capabilities on a variety of battlefield platforms.

Indian Carriers: Are They Good Enough?

The emphasis on aircraft carriers can only be one part of the Indian Navy’s modernisation efforts. It requires a large and modern submarine fleet that can engage in successful sea denial to China and Pakistan, launch attacks on Pakistani land-based assets using cruise missiles, and be the essential part of a secondstrike capability for India’s nuclear force, argues AMIT GUPTA

Air Defence: Countering A Deadly Threat to Warships

Indian Navy is pursuing a project for Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SR-SAM) to fill the gaps in its capability and has found a boost in the recent months.

India Overhauls Policy Towards Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu politics no longer determines New Delhi’s ties with Colombo and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the common Buddhist linkage to woo the majority Sinhalese,

Enhancing Defence Manufacturing Capability In India

What ails the process of enhancing Defence Manufacturing capability in India? That is a serious question that needs to be answered since the government is keen to ensure that the ‘Make in India’ programme is a success.

Global Arms Industry From Hi-Tech To Lo-Tech

The international arms industry is now globalised. Gone are the days when a country could engage in techno-nationalism and build a weapons system purely at home—with the exception of a few nations like the US, Russia, China, and France. Instead, countries either collaborate to build systems or include a range of components from other nations. Considering this phenomenon, Indian defence production has to be broken into three categories: that which cannot be imported, that which can be assembled and co-produced in India, and that which can realistically be made in India.

I Am Now Like A Bania; No More Mufth Things To The OFB

Having obtained his BE (Hons) in Electronics & Communication Engineering from University of Madras and M.Tech in Microwaves and Radar Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur and Ph.D in Antennae and Measurement Techniques from IIT, Madras, DR. S CHRISTOPHER has been one of the most distinguished scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the field of missiles and Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). He was heading the Bengalurubased Centre for Airborne Systems before being appointed in May 2015 as the Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO. He spoke to PRAKASH NANDA about the changes in the work culture of the DRDO and its many success stories to dispel the common impression that the organisation was marked by lethargy and ineptitude. Excerpts from the interview:

Defence Acquisitions Wanted: A Paradigm Shift

While a recent internal report of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) points to the structural and procedural inadequacies in the acquisition process of defence items, it will be unrealistic to expect any structural improvements in the near future, especially if the ministry continues to follow the past practice of merely tinkering with the existing disjointed system built around the capital acquisition wing. This approach is unlikely to achieve much as this wing is not even in complete charge of the entire procurement process. This needs to change.

A Fresh Start

The Saras light aircraft programme has received a fresh impetus.

Remote Surveillance

India’s requirements for unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely piloted aircraft is growing at a rapid pace.

Boeing's Sees Growth In The Defence Services Business For India

Providing services and support capabilities is a significant growth area for Boeing in India and the company’s new Global Services business is working with the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy to provide training and support of Boeing platforms.

Indian Navy's LPD - Procurement Picks Pace

Bracing itself for a possible "out of area" operations, the need for the Landing Platform Docks (LPD) has been projected and the process has restarted to build indigenously. It might take a while for the capability to be part of the Indian Navy's repertoire, but when it does, this is one capability that most of India's enemies would fear. A Geopolitics report

India's New Submarine To Join Fleet

India is yet to induct the six Scorpene submarines and expects to commission the first in August 2017, five years behind schedule. The programme for building the next six modern submarines has just begun, again behind schedule by over five years now. A Geopolitics compilation

India's Single - Engine Fighters Race Hots Up

It is yet another combat plane competition that the world is keenly watching, after the 2007 126-plane contest that India had announced. But this time, there are only two contenders for bagging this $25-billion contract for a 'Make in India' combat plane of global standards. A Geopolitics report

S-400 Triumph

Surface-To-Air Missile System.

That Sinking Feeling

Despite being India’s dominant arms supplier for decades, Russia finds its influence in military procurements is waning. But that does not mean that the time-tested military relationship between the two countries is under serious threats, points out.

Is Modi's Life In Danger?

The death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri remains a mystery. Another former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated despite intelligence inputs about attempts on his life. Obviously these warnings were overlooked. Given this history, it is not surprising that some powerful sections within the country are ridiculing reports about the threat to the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, argues.

Red Star Over Nepal

Nepal is now the sixth country in the world to have a Communist government in power, possible with the merger of various Leftist factions who fought a competitive democratic election to come to power. While it is premature to predict how long this Left unity will survive, the new government is a big foreign policy challenge for India.

Defence Space Agency To Exploit India'S Space Assets

The Integrated Space Cell may want to put a long line of defence application oriented satellites into orbit, even before the formation of the tri-services Space Command. Already an "eye-in-the-sky” system for the Air Force is being considered.

India's Space Sector Achievements Are Worth Emulating

The ISRO saga is a story of achievements. From its humble origins – when rocket parts were carried on bicycles and bullock carts – the organization has come a long way. Today, India can hold her head high among space research nations because of the spectacular feats by ISRO. ISRO is not just a space research institution, but it is much more than that.

'Before Long, A Skeldar Will Be Produced In India'

JAKOB BAUMANN, CEO, UMS Skeldar, believes that it will be able to convince the Navy first to go for a Skeldar and later even think of tying up with partners in India to start Skeldar production.

'V-22 Could Provide The Capability Indian Navy Needs To Become A Blue-Water Navy'

VICTOR CHIN, Regional Director Military Business Development, Bell Helicopter, points out to Geopolitics how important it is for India to have the V-22, like the US military, because then there will be great interoperability between the two nations.

Defence Budget 2017-18 More Of The Same

An incisive analysis of the defence budget for 2017-18, in which AMIT COWSHISH infers that after providing for the committed liabilities, there may not be enough money left to sign contracts for everything that is on the shopping list of the services.

India's Strategic Reach Hinges On Midair Refuelers

Geopolitics analyses the new contest in the midair refueler programme which has been pending for more than 10 years amidst flip-flops.

Building Indigenous Defence Industry Are Policy Statements Enough?

“The DPM has not received the same level of attention as the DPP, either from policy makers or the media” highlights CMDE LALIT KAPUR while comparing DPP and DPM.

Technological Challenges in Futuristic Combat Vehicle

The conceptualisation of FRCV reflects change in approach to production of new systems with the end user driving the project rather than the DRDO. It is also a deliberate step in consonance with the ‘Make in India’ philosophy

Challenges And Expectations from The New Chief of The Army Staff

The new Chief of Army Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, has his work cut out. While he will need strategic acumen and calibrated aggression to deal with the adversaries, he will also have to use passive aggression to deal with the civilian hierarchy that apparently appears to be offering no resistance but in reality dominates and wants to retain control, writes BRIG NARENDER KUMAR.

Indian Army's Communication Modernisation Needs to Speed Up

The Indian Army has to maintain a high level of readiness for war in varied terrain conditions and for this a robust communication network that can take care of command and control through information, data, image and video sharing is imperative.

State-of-the-Art Naval Equipment From Rubin

With focus on the development of modern non-nuclear submarines, the company eyes for mutually propitious cooperation.

our modernisation plan is in sync with our endeavour to retain a 'combat and capability edge'

air chief marshal arup raha, in an exclusive interview with geopolitics, highlights a road-map for induction of fighter aircraft in the iaf with an aim to build up to the sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons at the earliest.