Pictures of a heavily missile-laden Chinese Shenyang J-16 multirole fighter jet, in what is being called the ‘Beast Mode‘, have been seen and have sent analysts scurrying to interpret the PLA‘s long-range air superiority and combat patrol capabilities. The photograph, which was released by a Chinese aviation oversight body, has circulated widely. It shows theContinue reading “Opinion | China’s J-16 Missile Trucks and J-20 Jets, and What They Mean For The World”
Author Archives: Anil Chopra
From Fibreglass to the Frontline: The MKU Story: How a Kanpur Enterprise Became India’s Quiet Force Behind the Frontline
MKU has long been India’s largest private defence manufacturer. Increasingly, it is becoming something more — one of the country’s most trusted names across the full spectrum of military readiness, spanning the helmets and body armour a soldier wears into a battle, the night vision systems that let them see in the dark, and, now,Continue reading “From Fibreglass to the Frontline: The MKU Story: How a Kanpur Enterprise Became India’s Quiet Force Behind the Frontline “
Nigeria – the Most Populous African Country – Great Scope for Cooperation
At the invitation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Nigeria from 16-17 November 2024. It was part of PM Modi’s three-nation tour to Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 17 years. HeContinue reading “Nigeria – the Most Populous African Country – Great Scope for Cooperation”
Why China Pulled Ahead of India in Fighter Jet Engine Race Despite Both Nations Starting in the Mid-1980s? OPED
China has quietly achieved what few others have managed — fitting its J-20 stealth fighters with fully indigenous engines, while India remains far behind despite both nations starting their jet engine programmes around the mid-1980s. After years of development, Beijing’s WS-15 is now in serial production and powers the stealth J-20 aircraft. This is aContinue reading “Why China Pulled Ahead of India in Fighter Jet Engine Race Despite Both Nations Starting in the Mid-1980s? OPED”
USA Wooing Islamic Friends: Pakistan and Turkey – F-35 For Turkey & Mediation for Pakistan- Implications
US President Donald Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Turkey and signalled openness to restoring Ankara‘s access to the top-end fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, which had been denied after Turkey acquired the Russian S-400 air defence system. Also, the US may clear engines for Turkey‘s homegrown KAAN fighter aircraft. Turkey is reportedly seeking anContinue reading “USA Wooing Islamic Friends: Pakistan and Turkey – F-35 For Turkey & Mediation for Pakistan- Implications”
India’s Nuclear Triad – Now 24/7 Deterrent Posture. India is putting its nuclear arsenal on a shorter fuse
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2026 published in June, India has operationally deployed 12 nuclear warheads for the first time. This marks a significant departure from decades of cautious policy where India strictly stockpiled warheads and delivery systems in separate locations. The newly deployed warheads are believed to be nestedContinue reading “India’s Nuclear Triad – Now 24/7 Deterrent Posture. India is putting its nuclear arsenal on a shorter fuse”
Move Over Pentagon, Egypt Unveils World’s Biggest Defense HQs, “The Octagon”! With Top Militaries Sitting Together in Single Building Complex, Should India Have Put All Military and MoD Together?
Egypt just inaugurated “The Octagon”, a massive new State Strategic Command Headquarters spanning 22,000 acres in the New Administrative Capital. Surpassing the U.S. Pentagon in both land size and floor area, it serves as the central command hub for the Egyptian Armed Forces. The complex includes eight interconnected octagonal buildings that house central commands, logistics,Continue reading “Move Over Pentagon, Egypt Unveils World’s Biggest Defense HQs, “The Octagon”! With Top Militaries Sitting Together in Single Building Complex, Should India Have Put All Military and MoD Together?”
Russian Doomsday Plane Flies to Tehran – Time to Understand These Airborne Command Posts
Russia dispatched a Tupolev Tu-214PU airborne command post, often referred to as a “Doomsday plane“, to Tehran‘s Imam Khomeini International Airport. Tu-214PU aircraft, registration number RA-64531, operating under call-sign RSD420, took off from Moscow and landed in Tehran at around 10:10 am (IST) on July 13. The deployment coincided with escalating U.S. and Israeli airstrikesContinue reading “Russian Doomsday Plane Flies to Tehran – Time to Understand These Airborne Command Posts”
How the Sukhoi Design Bureau Overtook the Great Mikoyan Design Bureau
During the Cold War, the Mikoyan-Gurevich (MiG) design bureau held a monopoly on frontline fighters (like the MiG-21 and MiG-29), while the Sukhoi Design Bureau (Sukhoi) specialized in strike aircraft. Sukhoi seems to have surpassed the legendary MiG pack due to the massive success of the Su-27 “Flanker” family. Mikoyan’s financial struggles following the SovietContinue reading “How the Sukhoi Design Bureau Overtook the Great Mikoyan Design Bureau”
PM Modi in France
New Delhi/Paris. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently concluded a multi-city State visit to France focused on technology, innovation, and strategic bilateral relations. The Rafale and other military systems were part of the Summit and delegation-level talks. France openly backs the Make in India initiative in defence, based on an equal partnership. They signalled a newContinue reading “PM Modi in France”