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Putting Asia’s aviation and military power into perspective, an initiative of Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd)
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The Air Chief is Mincing No Words – Time for the Nation to Get Fighter Aircraft Act Right
In the customary annual press interaction ahead of 93rd Air Force Day, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh dwelt at length on the very successful “Operation Sindoor”, and the capability-building plans of Indian Air Force (IAF). After retirement of the MiG-21 fleet, the IAF is down to 28 squadrons. The first LCA Mk1A has still to…
Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) to Power 6th Generation Fighters
The Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program is a U.S. Air Force (USAF) initiative to develop advanced, adaptable jet engines with features like enhanced fuel efficiency, increased thrust, improved thermal management, and better survivability for future combat aircraft, such as the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, now also known as the F-47. Pratt & Whitney…
IAF’s MiG-21 Flies into History – Leaves Great Legacy Behind
As the sun sets on one of the most iconic fleets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the MiG-21 flies into history, it is nostalgic times for a few generations of pilots, engineers, and other air warriors who were hands-on and rubbed shoulders with this great machine. The IAF finally winds down the last…
Whose Chicken Neck and Whose Vulnerabilities
Bangladeshi National Citizen Party’s leader Hasnat Abdullah has rhetorically threatened to cut off India’s north-eastern states by cutting off India’s Chicken’s Neck, i.e. the Siliguri Corridor, while downplaying India’s contribution in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The Siliguri Corridor is the narrow land strip linking India’s northeast to the mainland. For decades, the Siliguri Corridor…
Nuclear Revolution! India Plans Big For Small Modular Reactors; Here’s How SMRs Can Boost Submarines, Satellites, Lunar Missions
The Adani Group is reportedly in talks with the Uttar Pradesh government on a public-private partnership to build Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as India opens its nuclear energy sector to private investment. It plans to build eight Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with a capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) each at yet-to-be-identified sites in the state.…
World Needs Skilled Workforce – India Best to Make Good Shortages – Win-Win for Both
Since the war with Ukraine, Russia is grappling with a major labour shortage in its industrial hubs and plans to bring in up to one million foreign workers, including Indians. The shortfall could widen to 3.1 million workers by 2030, says the Russian Ministry of Labour. To address the gap, the ministry wants to increase…
As Putin Arrives in New Delhi – High Expectations on Military Aviation Programs
Russian President Vladimir Putin is all set to visit India on December 05, 2025 for a bilateral summit. The visit is very significant as it will reaffirm and strengthen the “special and privileged strategic partnership” amid a challenging global geopolitics and increasing Western pressure on India. This visit, the 23rd annual summit, will be Putin’s…
Turkey-Pakistan Strategic Closeness – Implications & Challenges India
Turkey’s support to Pakistan during Op Sindoor is well known and was flagged by India during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Tianjin, China, in early September. Turkey has provided Pakistan with defence hardware, including uninhabited aerial systems (UAS) and drones. Pakistani engineers and technicians have been working at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI),…
China Opens ‘Arctic Express’ Shipping Route – Need to Push Indian Maritime Corridors
Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang province of China launched the world’s first China–Europe Arctic Express in September, achieving the “Polar Silk Road” vision with a record 18-day transit. The container vessel “Istanbul Bridge” set off from Beiyi Container Terminal on its maiden voyage to Felixstowe, the largest container port in the United Kingdom. This new route…
USA NDAA 2026 Acknowledges Gaps and Emphasis on Regaining Technology Superiority – Ideas India?
The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 18, 2025, after it was passed with wide margins by the US House of Representatives and US Senate. The passage marked the 65th consecutive time the NDAA received approval, making it one of the most enduring pieces of…
Su-57 and GCAP Goading India – What are Best Fifth Generation Options India
Russia’s Su-57 “Felon” fifth-generation stealth fighter once again enthralled spectators at the recent Dubai Airshow. As India prepares to host President Putin, defence cooperation has moved to the centre. Expectations around Putin’s visit are high. Su-57 collaboration and five additional S-400 systems are expected to be the starred points of discussion. It could mean the…
IAF Becoming a Future Ready Force Imbibing Next-Gen technologies
Wars in Ukraine, West Asia, and closer home, “Op Sindoor” have been dominated by use of air power. Aerospace has become the most preferred means of prosecution of war and has seen the fastest evolution since WW II. Recent wars have highlighted the importance of cheaper drones, air defence systems, and innovative exploitation of platforms…
Rafale F4/F5 Getting Closer to the Make in India Deal
A suspected leak from France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces a few days back suggests that India intends to procure 90 Rafale F4 multirole fighter aircraft, with an additional option for 24 next-generation Rafale F5 variants for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF had also reportedly moved a case for possible purchase of 114…
Global Aggressor Fighter Aircraft Squadrons – IAF’s CoBRA a Unique Blend
After the Balakot air strikes and the more recent Op Sindoor, aerial engagements remained a subject of intense debate and continue to do so. Aerial engagements have hogged maximum news headlines since aviation began. Baron von Richthofen, or the Red Baron, was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He…
Putin Visit – Significant Outcomes – Global Signalling of Reinforced Strategic Autonomy
As the world remains mired in wars, sanctions, and Trump tariffs, India and Russia played cool and moved substantially forward on constructive engagement in multiple disciplines. Bonhomie and mutual respect was displayed when Prime Minister Modi received President Putin at the base of the aircraft ladder and then drove him in his “made-in-India” Toyota Fortuner while Putin’s high security, specially flown-in, “Aurus Senat limousine” remained standing by. Putin’s…
Putin’s Visit to New Delhi – Hopes and Realities of Military Aviation Deals
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India on December 4-5. The visit is part of the annual bilateral summit which started in 2000, and there have been 22 such summits alternatively in India and Russia. The visit is set to reinforce “special and privileged strategic partnership”, and exchange views on regional and global issues amid increasing Western pressure on India. This…
2026 outlook: India set to rise amid a turbulent world
As we come to the end of the year 2025, we have seen the ongoing trend of chaos, conflict, and, at times, confusion in the geopolitical arena. The war in Ukraine continues, with a possible closure in 2026. Much to European angst, Vladimir Putin, the “Wizard of the Kremlin”, continues to stand steadfast and call the shots in his own…
As India Pakistan Tensions Heighten – Let us look at the Air Power
The dust has still to settle, and the blood continues to boil as India unfolds a slew of harsh responses after the gruesome massacre of innocent holiday makers at Pahalgam. Practically all world leaders have condemned the attack and stand in solidarity with India. UN Security Council has passed a resolution, albeit made milder by Pakistan’s iron-brother China. This will not be allowed…
Su-35s for Iran How Does it Change Dynamics with Israel
Iran has purchased Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, amid Western concerns about Iran and Russia’s growing military cooperation. Ali Shadmani, the deputy coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters, who was quoted by media, did not clarify how many jets were purchased or whether they had already been delivered to Iran. “Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval…
World Class Russian Missiles – Continued Interest of India
New Delhi. “Op Sindoor”, the four day India-Pakistan conflict, saw great play between the missile systems of the two countries. The Indian side was armed mainly with Russian, French, Israeli and Indian missiles. Pakistan with American and Chinese missiles. Missiles have become more accurate; the effective operational ranges have become larger; no escape zones have increased; they have become more autonomous; and can operate in heavy electronic countermeasures environment. In…
Pakistan Pushing for J-35 Fifth Generation Aircraft – Way Ahead India
Midst of Op Sindoor, Pakistan once again announced that it will start acquiring around 40 Chinese fifth-generation fighter J-35A, as early as August 2025. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reportedly finalized the logistics and financing details of the J-35 fighter jet deal during his visit to China immediately after Op Sindoor. Can China fast-track the production and deliveries of an aircraft which has just begun production remains a…
USA vs Chinese Air Power – Is China Catching Up?
China has just become the first country to fly what it calls a sixth-generation fighter aircraft. China’s PLA Air Force (PLAAF) is already good and improving quickly, but it is yet not a match to the air combat capabilities of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), according to the Pentagon’s 2024 annual report on Chinese military power. The report mentions that China…
HAL to Make 12 More Su-30 MKI – What it means For Atmanirbharta
A ₹13,500 crore ($1.5 billion) contract for procurement of 12 Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft along with associated equipment was signed between Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 12 December 2024. The aircraft would have an indigenous content of 62.6 percent. The percentage has got enhanced due to indigenisation of many components to be manufactured by Indian defence industry. In a…
USA Chooses Boeing F-47 as Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter – What it means for the World
Unveiling the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) air superiority fighter at the White House on March 21, an aircraft that has been shrouded in secrecy for years, President Trump said, “It’s something the likes of which nobody has ever seen before.” Present in the Oval Office were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Lt. Gen. Dale White, the Air Force’s military deputy for acquisition,…
Rise of The Samurai – Japan is seriously boosting its Aerospace to counter China
Pacific military balance is tilting in China’s favour, says the new “Defence of Japan 2025” White Paper, a Defence Ministry annual document. Tokyo released the paper in early July with findings that the international community is facing its greatest risk of conflict since World War II. The paper pointed to Russia, China and North Korea as primary regional security threats. The report also found…
AEW&C an Important Combat Asset to Rule the Sky – Time to Push Forward India
An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system is an airborne platform designed to detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles and other incoming projectiles at long ranges, as well as performing command and control of the battle-space in aerial engagements by informing and directing friendly fighter and attack aircraft. AEW&C units are also used to carry out aerial surveillance over…
China Dominating Lithium the Strategic Mineral that’s Critical for Modern Technologies – Way Ahead India
Lithium is a strategic mineral that’s critical for modern technologies, and it’s in high demand globally. Lithium is used in batteries for electric cars, laptops, smartphones, and power tools. Lithium batteries are used in military equipment for power in weapons systems, electronics, and propulsion. They are more relevant because they are lightweight, have a long storage life,…
Are AEW&C Conceding Space to Satellites in View of Long-Range Missiles?
War in Ukraine and the Indo-Pakistan “Op Sindoor” have demonstrated an environment of “Aerial Denial”. This has happened because of ground-based mobile air defence systems with considerably long-range engagement capabilities and very long air-to-air missiles (AAM) with high no-escape zones. This has meant preventing the adversary aircraft from not only crossing into own territory, but keeping a farther distance…
India can learn from Israeli Air Force’s Continued Dare-Devil Raids
Israel Air Force has just de-classified the mission, codenamed “Operation Many Ways,” how in 3 hours 120 elite Israeli forces raided and destroyed alleged underground Iran-funded missile manufacturing facility in Syria. The mission was carried out on September 8 in 2024. Iran’s construction of the “Deep Layer” facility reportedly began in late 2017. Earlier Israel has carried out many other, now famous…
26 Rafale for Navy – Add IAF’s 114 and “Make-in-India-for-the-World”
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, approved a nearly ₹63,000-crore deal for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy, official sources confirmed. The contract is expected to be concluded later this month. It includes 22 single-seater jets that can operate from aircraft carriers and four…
What Delhi can learn from Beijing in fighting air pollution
The peak Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi for November 2025 was 764, reaching this level around November 13, 2025. The peak AQI in Beijing in 2025 so far was 236 on November 5. The average AQI for Beijing in 2025 has been around 77; the same for Delhi has been 129. Both Beijing and…
Can Armed, Stealthy UAVs Replace Fighter Jets or Best Augment Them
Elon Musk has suggested that fighter jets be replaced by drones. However, some say that drones would need to have the same electronics as fighter jets, which would make them expensive. Clearly, more and more tasks are being gradually shifted to drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are not likely to replace fighter jets anytime soon. However, drones will…
Rafale Orders Explode! India Eyes Becoming Production Hub For French Jets After ‘Biggest Ever’ IAF Deal
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on November 17, 2025, and announced that Ukraine will acquire up to 100 Dassault Rafale warplanes over the next 10 years. Kyiv seeks to bolster its defences against Russia’s invasion. Air defence systems, munitions, and drones were also included in the…
Lessons from Operation Sindoor: Key Areas of Military Modernisation
India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, without qualification, acknowledged some tactical errors on Day 1 of the Indian Air Force (IAF) campaign of Op Sindoor. He was giving an interview to two international media houses. In what is seen clearly as a deliberate and calculated interview, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La…
If America Thins Down, How Will Europe Alone secure itself Against Russia
The world is gradually becoming multipolar. US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has yet to be made public, but it is already quite clear that he expects Europe to play a far bigger role in the continent’s future security and contain Russia. In fact, he doesn’t even consider Russia as an adversary and…
China the Fastest Growing Maritime Power – Time to keep a Track and Act
In 1980s Deng Xiaoping, and later by subsequent leaders of the People’s Republic of China, the country has been opening up to the world, developing on the basis of a market economy with “Chinese characteristics”. The economic growth and consequent trade required the country to once again look to the sea. Without ceasing to be…
Protecting Under Sea Cables – New Strategic Challenge and Imperative
A cut in the Red Sea cable on September 08, disrupted internet services across India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. The outage also affected the UAE, where networks like Etisalat and Du slowed down. It shows how much of the global internet relies on undersea cables. The problem came from two major cables: the SMW4…
Morale in the Boots – Xi’s Continuous Purge of PLA Generals – Corruption or Insecurity?
The purge saga in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues. The latest names of senior military officials, as tweeted by Jennifer Zeng, a writer, reporter & China expert, who reportedly have been removed from their posts are, Wang Haijiang, Commander of the Western Theatre Command; Wang Peng, Minister of the Training and Administration Department of…
Military and Security Developments in China – India Needs to Build Conventional Capability
As China seeks to achieve “national rejuvenation” by its centenary in 2049, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders view a modern, capable, and “world-class” military as essential to achieving its revisionist aims (changing the current status quo) and overcoming what Beijing sees as an increasingly turbulent international environment. This is the guiding principle charting China’s national, economic, and military strategy. It is thus important…
India’s DRDO Tests A laser Weapon – Understand the Dynamics of Directed Energy Weapons
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday, April 13, 2025, announced the successful trial of the in-house developed Mk-II(A) Laser Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system. It thus demonstrated having mastered the technology for disabling missiles, drones, and smaller projectiles. The success has put India in the exclusive and limited club of nations, which…
PM Modi’s Visit to Sri Lanka – Rejuvenating an Important Relationship
Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a significant two-day official visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, his first overseas trip after securing a historic third term. The visit reinforced India’s Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP) and strategic focus on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). During the visit, Modi and newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara…
China Nuclear Arsenal 2025 – Working to Catch Up with USA – India Needs to Keep Watch and Act
China’s nuclear arsenal has undergone significant modernization and expansion in recent years. The country is estimated to possess approximately 600 nuclear warheads, with more in production, to arm futuristic land-based ballistic missiles, sea-based ballistic missiles, and bombers. The country is constructing 320 new silos for its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), including the liquid-fuelled DF-5B equipped…
Pahalgam Attack Need for All out Response – Never Forget Never Forgive
The gruesome massacre of innocent holiday makers at Pahalgam killing at least 28 people, and injuring several others has been condemned by all major world leaders including US President Trump and Russian President Putin. Most world leaders have condemned the attack. Israel has shown solidarity. That it happened at a time when US Vice President JD Vance was in India, indicates the audacity of the…
Russia India China (RIC) Grouping Challenges and Opportunities
The fresh Trump tariffs which have specifically targeted BRICS countries, and India in particular, have once again made India suspect of the USA and its so-called pro-India geostrategic stance. There has been a flurry of visits exchanged between the Indian Foreign Minister and the NSA to Moscow and China, and there have been reciprocal visits. Pakistan Army Chief Munir has been invited to the USA twice in a…
India’s Deepening Military Aviation’s French Connection
The primacy of air power in future military operations has once again been re-established in the Ukraine conflict, West Asian showdowns, and most recently during Op Sindoor. Indian Air Force (IAF) is down to 29 fighter aircraft squadrons vis-à-vis the authorized 42.5. The last MiG-21 “Bison” squadron is being decommissioned this September. The LCA Mk1A is still mired by delays and will enter IAF service…
India China Thaw – Are Dragon-Elephant Set to Tango Again
As Prime Minister Modi gets set to go to China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is here in India between August 18 and 19. Are the two “Asian Giants” actively working to mend their strained bilateral relations, signalling a push towards normalising ties and fostering greater stability between the two? A series of high-level bilateral engagements have been unfolding. Rebuilding bilateral relations, which…
BRICS in the Time of Trump Tariff Madness
BRICS is today one of the world’s leading blocs that has overtaken the G7 on most indicators. As US President Donald Trump runs amok like a bull in the China shop, BRICS countries are brewing a heavy blowback against Trump. Trump has chosen the BRICS countries for a special dose of steep tariffs alongside his…
The Wittty Vriti Show: Independence Day Special Pod cast Air Marshal Anil Chopra
In this Independence Day special episode of “The Wittty Vriti Show”, she brings an exclusive conversation with Air Marshal Anil Chopra, a distinguished veteran of the Indian Air Force. From sharing his remarkable journey as a fighter pilot to insights on India’s strategic defense, the evolution of iconic aircraft, and the sacrifices of military families,…
Russian BrahMos and S 400 – Big Winners of OP Sindoor says Air Chief
Speaking at the “Katre Memorial Lecture,” a function organised by the Air Force Association at Bengaluru, the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, AP Singh made a specific mention of the deterrent capability of the S-400 Air Defence system, and the accuracy of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles that had a game changer role in Op Sindoor.…
Indian Strategic Missiles Pushing Ahead With Precision and Reach
Speaking at an event in Bengaluru last Sunday, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Marshal A.P. Singh disclosed new details about India’s strikes against Pakistan during their unprecedented standoff in May this year. For the first time since the conflict, Singh publicly confirmed that the IAF had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets, along with a…
KAAN, KF-21 and AMCA – Three Parallel Fifth Generation Programs
Fifth-generation fighter aircraft have been the flavour of all discussions on South Asia. A British Royal Navy F-35 fighter jet was stuck in Thiruvananthapuram, India for 37 days after a mid-air emergency forced it to land on June 14. It finally flew back to the UK on July 22. It put into question the logistic-maintenance…
F-35 Has Complications. Accelerate AMCA – Private Consortium Approach the Best Way Forward
The AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) program in India is considered urgent due to the country’s declining fighter squadron strength, the modernization of rival air forces, and the need to maintain a technological edge in air combat. The program aims to replace aging aircraft and introduce a fifth-generation fighter, addressing both operational and strategic requirements.…
Op Sindoor: Indigenous Systems Gave India the Edge – More Needs to Be Done
Operation SINDOOR emerged as a calibrated military response to an evolving pattern of Pakistan’s asymmetric warfare, one that increasingly targeted unarmed civilians along with military personnel. The terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in April 2025 served as a grim reminder of this shift. India’s response was deliberate, precise, and strategic. Without physically crossing the…
Deep Drone Strikes New Dimension of Conflict – Lessons for India
Ukraine achieved its longest-range attack into Russia on Sunday, 01 June, hitting targets on four strategic military bases nearly 4,000 kilometres away from Ukrainian territory, and hitting around 40 Russian warplanes. Thirteen of these were reportedly destroyed, and others damaged. Ukrainian President Zelensky claimed that 117 drones were used in the so-called “Spider’s Web” operation…
Make in India Rafale Fuselage – A Strategic Move Forward
In a big boost to Make-in-India, Dassault Aviation of France and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) will partner for Rafale aircraft fuselage manufacturing at a dedicated facility in Hyderabad. The key structural sections of the aircraft to be manufactured in India include the central fuselage, rear section, lateral rear shells, and the front section.…
Indo-US NISAR Satellite Launched – Huge Potential to Unlock
NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), the first joint satellite of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will be launched by ISRO’s GSLV-F16 on July 30, 2025, at 17:40 hrs IST from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota. It is a unique Earth observation satellite and the…
Future is Directed Energy Weapons – India Fast Coming of Age
India successfully tested the Mk-II (A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) on April 13, 2025, at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool. This 30 kW (kilowatt) laser weapon is designed to neutralize drones, UAVs, and other aerial threats, placing India in a select group of nations with this capability. The DRDO (Defence Research and…
As China Accelerates Airpower, India Eyes Su-57 while Pushing AMCA
A British F-35B fighterjet that made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala nearly four weeks ago is finally being repaired by a team of UK specialists. If that fails, the aircraft will be dismantled and transported—likely in a C-17 Globemaster. The incident was closely observed by global and Indian security establishments, highlighting…
B-2s Strike Iran with Bunker Buster MOAB – Understand Technology and Escalation Dynamics
US President Donald Trump described US military strikes on three nuclear sites as a “spectacular military success” and added that the facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.” He was addressing the world from the White House on Saturday evening. Trump warned Iran that the US could go after additional targets if Iran does not make…
14Th Dalai Lama Turns 90 – Succession Plan – Traditions or Tensions
The exiled spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, has announced that his office, the Gaden Phodrang Trust, has sole authority to recognise the next Dalai Lama. On Wednesday, four days ahead of his 90th birthday, he posted a statement to X discussing the future of the Tibetan spiritual leadership, particularly his succession plans. He said…
China-Iran Strategic Closeness – Challenges and Choices India
Iran is still recovering from the 12-day conflict with Israel and the June 22 attack on its nuclear facilities by the United States Air Force and Navy. The conflict has brought the Middle East to the brink of a new regional order, the one through which Israel tried to assert itself as an unrestrained military…
AI 171 – Automation Failure or Human Error Aircrew – Don’t Create Fall Guys
Allegations of human error is “deeply insensitive,” says the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) after the preliminary report on Air India flight 171 crash was released. In an official statement, the ICPA called the accusations and allegations against the pilots and flight crew a “gross violation” and “disservice to the profession.” “In the aftermath of…
The Houthis and the Red Sea Crisis – Unfolding Action and Options India
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Indian Navy (IN) has deployed ten ships in that (Gulf of Aden) region because we got a double problem. We have a piracy problem, and we’ve got a missile drone problem. In the last few days, actually, one of our ships extinguished a fire and rescued…
Multiple Origin Fleets – Complexities for IAF – Time to Rationalise
At the time of independence, Indian Air Force (IAF) inherited some of the aviation assets left by the British including Hawker Tempest and Spitfires. India also procured more British aircraft like the Hawker Hunter, the Gnat, Devon, and Vickers Viscount. The USA was reluctant but offered some helicopters. The French offered fighter aircraft in the…
Beyond Range and Payload: The Importance of Aircraft Endurance
It is usually observed that the comparison of the aircraft is made upon their technical specifications or their weapon package, but there’s another factor as critical as any other, the endurance of an aircraft. The ability of an aircraft to be successful in combat depends upon endurance to some extent it depends on other factors…
Next Gen Aero Engines
The most important thing that drives all future civil aerospace engine design is engine efficiency, which has a direct impact on specific fuel consumption, operating costs, and environmental issues. New propulsion means for autonomous systems is another area of interest to the civil aviation world. All top engine makers are unveiling new technologies to burn…
Arctic: The New Great Game Arena – India must keep its Foothold
The Arctic region covers over one-sixth of the earth’s landmass and is set to play an increasing role in shaping the course of world affairs. The still less explored region is rich in exploitable natural resources, especially gas and oil and marine living resources. It is estimated that the Arctic could be home to nearly…
British Roadblock in Tejas way to Argentina, and how New Delhi likely to fix it
Carrying an aspiration to score the maiden export success of its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has so far entered into multiple races, and multiple venues, opening doors for various potential customers to judge the capability and compatibility of the platform to fulfill their air defence requirements, either on long-term or interim…
TAPAS/Rustom-II: India’s High-End Miltary Drone
Aerial warfare has come a long way from bows and arrows to fighter jets to military drones. As per former U.S. Army General, Stanley McChryshtal, the military drones are an ‘all seeing eye’ permanently on call which can give reliable, real-time intelligence and apparently riskless, pinpoint accurate strike capability. The recent Azerbaijan-Armenia war and the…
Managing a Congested Airspace over the Future Battle Area
The number of platforms and projectiles in the Tactical Battle Area (TBA) has increased exponentially. The friendly and adversary aerial systems are not only increasing in numbers but are also of a variety of sizes from micro UAVs to large aircraft, and they are also travelling from very slow speeds to many times faster than…
US-China Strategic Competition in Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific has become the new arena for great power rivalry. The region generally comprises the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas interlinking the two near the Indonesia archipelago. The region had seen some great battles between the U.S. and Japanese military after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in December 1941,…
The Game Changer of the future- Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
There were several updates regarding the Advanced medium-weight combat aircraft (AMCA) in recent days, the most important of them being the commencement of manufacturing of 1st prototype of AMCA. The AMCA will be a futuristic 5th generation aircraft that would also incorporate some features of planned 6th generation aircraft all over the globe, the development…
Prioritising IAF’s Unmanned Offensive and Defensive Capability
“Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes occur.”– Giulio Douhet For long, defence establishments around the world have been working and preparing for the future that would be unmanned. Videos of the Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions, reportedly used by Azerbaijan…
Airpower: Harnessing the Power of Drone Swarms in Combat
The State of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhri on assuming the office of Chief of Air Staff on September 30th last year had in his first media interaction stated that the IAF presently has 30 fighter squadrons. The Chief further stated that “Our count will remain around 35 till…
Akbar Nama- Story of Mi25/35 family with the Indian Air Force
Introduction “On 26th October 1987, Flight Lieutenant Atanu Guru flew in a mission ex-Jaffna to search and destroy militants’ vehicles operating on the Jaffna Karaitivu causeway. Five vans were located on the causeway while attempting to flee towards Karaitivu. With extraordinary accuracy and commendable professional calmness, he destroyed these vehicles and killed all the militant…
Ukraine War. The War in the Air. An Analysis. Air Marshal Anil Chopra
Overview of Conflict The global attention at this moment continues to be on the very serious conflict that began on 24 February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. The Russo-Ukrainian war actually began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Ukraine is the second-largest European nation after Russia, with an area of 603,550 sq. km.…
WAR IN UKRAINE: INDIA BALANCING PRINCIPLES AND NATIONAL INTERESTS
Breach of Ukrainian Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity The screaming headlines, ‘Putin Invades Ukraine’, announced to the world on 24 Feb 2022 that Putin had finally gone ahead and shown the ‘will’ to bring to fruition his pre-meditated plan; the capability had been assembled at the right places much earlier. All along, Putin kept insisting that…
Ukraine Crisis – A Backgrounder
German Naval Chief’s Delhi Visit The German naval chief Vice Admiral Schonbach’s visit to New Delhi in January 2022 coincided with the last docking of the German naval frigate Bayern at Mumbai, after having departed Germany in August 2021 and having sailed through the Indo-Pacific region. Schonbach alluded to the fact that the ship’s route…
India: National Security Snapshot
The Big Picture (HT, 09 Jan 2022) by Raghu Raman, the founding CEO of NATGRID, alludes to India’s burgeoning internal “half front”, which may prove to be our “Achille’s Heel”. The half front that he is referring to are the internal issues that are causing fissures and cracks in the hugely diverse Indian society, which…
The contested airspace of South Asia: How good are the newcomers?
The war clouds forming over India and Pakistan are always a hot topic of discussion on various forums at the global level. Since the very inception of the two nations in the year 1947, the phenomenon of an arms race in South Asia always remained centric to these two states. Back in the phase of…
TEDBF: The Future of Indian Naval Aviation
“Whoever rules the waves, rules the world”, these famous words by the renowned US Navy flag officer, geo-strategist, and naval historian Alfred T. Mahan, highlight the importance of naval power. In modern-day naval warfare, aircraft carrier-borne operations play a major role in establishing superiority over the opponent. The indigenous 4.5x generation Twin Engine Deck Based…
Aviation & Environment – The Way Ahead
The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (UNFCCC) was finally held from 1-12 November 2021, in Glasgow, UK. With climate change intensifying and scientists warning that humanity is running out of time to limit global warming to 1.5° Centigrade over pre-industrial levels. The…
Military Aviation Indigenous Production – Strategy India
India’s defence aviation industry is at times accused of not having significantly met the indigenous production needs of the air arms of the Indian armed forces despite being in existence for nearly seven decades. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), for long, had mastered the art of license production. After a partial success with the HF-24 ‘Marut’,…
NEW CHINESE BORDER VILLAGES: AN OSINT ANALYSIS
For a few years now, new villages built by the Chinese government at the border with neighboring countries, or just across the border, or in territory that China disputes have been sighted and reported with increasing frequency. Many of these villages can be seen in satellite images available from Google Earth or other similar open-source…
The BAAZigars: All you need to know about the MiG-29 UPG
“The most advanced is the MiG-29UPG, implemented in India in collaboration with local industry” These were the words of Sergei Korotkov, the director-general of MiG. It was his reference to the Indian upgrade of MiG-29 to UPGs standard where he directly said that the India MiG-29 UPG is the most advanced variant of Mikoyan Mig-29…
Tejas Mk2: The Pride & Future of Indian Air Force
Tejas Mk2 has been the talk of the town recently when the new IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari stated recently that 7 squadrons of Tejas Mk2 are projected for induction in the coming years while discussing the future roadmap of the Indian Air Force’s modernization plan. This is an important announcement not only…
QUAD – Significant Air Power
In March this year, the leaders of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the United States, Japan, Australia and India, held a virtual meeting and released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to “a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion.” Finally, a check is evolving on belligerent China who is…
Greatest Air Aces of all Time. A chat with the Author Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd)
Very early in aviation, aerial platforms began being used for air-strikes and air combat. A flying Ace, fighter Ace, or Air Ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The concept of the “Ace” emerged in 1915 during World War I, at the same time as aerial dogfighting. It was a term often…
Aircraft Jet Engine Manufacturing Challenges
The gas turbine jet engines are the most widely used means of aircraft propulsion. The engine burns fuel in the combustion chamber to run a gas turbine to accelerate airflow and in turn create forward thrust. Both the fan and the jet contribute to the process. Normally large airliners and transport aircraft have large fans…
The Formidable General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper for Indian Armed Forces
Two General Atomics “Predator B” drones, also called the MQ-9 Reaper Sea Guardian, has been leased by the Indian Navy, in November 2020, from the USA for extended surveillance in the Indian Ocean. These drones are operating from INS Rajali near Arkonnam on the east coast. They are under the operational control of Indian Navy…
Theatre Commands. Interactive Session With Three Stalwarts
India has ambitious plans for setting up theatre commands for its armed forces. These are expected to facilitate better planning and unified military response to any future contingency. But, are these theatre commands really necessary? Need to hasten slowly? We need to have a National Security Doctrine from which should flow the Military Doctrine. Integration…
Air Space Control – Challenges and the Way Ahead
The action in air and space continues to increase. The friendly and adversary platforms and projectiles are not only increasing in numbers but are also travelling at speeds many times faster than sound. Civil traffic is also increasing manyfold. Air space is a finite resource. It thus becomes imperative that appropriate control is exercised for…
Lethal Autonomous Aerial Weapon Systems – Realities of the Future
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in late 2020, included the heavy use of missiles, drones, and rocket artillery. Clearly, Azerbaijani drones were the centre of attention in this war and helped Azerbaijan take control of the skies. Azerbaijani drones provided significant advantages in ISR as well as long-range strike…
IAF’s Fighter Fleet Requirements and Options Ahead
The Galwan showdown of June 2020 and the continuing stand-off between the world’s two powerful nations India and China has brought the focus back on Indian Armed Forces capability building. Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fighter fleet modernisation has been in discussion. The convergence of strategic interests between China and Pakistan and their rapidly modernizing air…
Is China Changing the World order? Where does India stand?
Jai Hind! In this video, Aadi Anchit discusses with Air Marshal Anil Chopra the changing world order and the hope of China that it would be in its favour. He talks about various geopolitical combinations that we see around us today. To start with the US-China relations itself. Moving on to the relations between the…
War for Sale: Private Military Companies and International Relations
Introduction Although mercenaries have existed as long as the history of warfare itself, the 20th Century saw the resurgence of mercenary groups when states in the aftermath of WW2 and in the background of the Cold War were skeptical to get their hands dirty in smaller conflicts. The emergence of a lot of newly independent…
MILITARY AVIATION INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION – STRATEGY INDIA
India’s defence aviation industry is at times accused of not having significantly met the indigenous production needs of the air arms of the Indian armed forces despite being in existence for nearly seven decades. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), for long had master the art of license production, wherein they assembled aircraft from Original Equipment Manufacturer…
Chinese Wing Loong UAVs – Proliferating Across the World
The Chengdu Pterodactyl I, also known as Wing Loong, is a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group of China. Designed for surveillance and aerial reconnaissance platform, the Pterodactyl I is capable of being fitted with air-to-surface weapons for use in an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) role.…
Leasing Defence Equipment – Faster, Cheaper, and Effective
Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 that became effective last year, was meant to hasten the procurement process. It introduced for the first time the option for the armed forces to procure military equipment on lease. Given the resource crunch facing the Indian armed forces, the option of leasing would be a handy option for the…
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