On 27 October 2020, the United States and India signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), enabling greater information-sharing and further defence cooperation, to counter China’s growing military power in the region. The U.S. has four “foundational” agreements that it signs with its defence partners. The Pentagon describes the agreements as “routine instruments that the U.S.Continue reading “Indo American Security Enabling Defence Agreements and Defence Cooperation”
Author Archives: Anil Chopra
China, The Rising Aerospace Power – Implications for India
Napoleon once said, “China is a sleeping giant, let her lie and sleep, for when she awakens, she will astonish the world.” By the turn of the 21 st century the sleeping giant was not only awake but heavily influencing and, in many ways dictating world affairs. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has had anContinue reading “China, The Rising Aerospace Power – Implications for India”
Ernst Udet – the Highest Scoring Surviving German Air Ace of WW I
Ernst Udet was a German pilot during World War I and a Luftwaffe Colonel-General (Generaloberst) during World War II. Udet joined the Imperial German Air Service at the age of 19, and eventually became a flying ace of World War I, scoring 62 confirmed victories by the end of his life. The highest scoring German fighter pilot to survive that war, and theContinue reading “Ernst Udet – the Highest Scoring Surviving German Air Ace of WW I”
Richard Ira Bong – the most decorated American fighter pilot and Top Air Ace
Richard Ira Bong was a United States Army Air Forces major and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country’s top flying ace in the war, credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft, all with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. He died in California while testing a Lockheed P-80 jet fighter shortly before the war ended. EarlyContinue reading “Richard Ira Bong – the most decorated American fighter pilot and Top Air Ace”
Smaller Quick Launch Satellites – Future of Space – Action Time India
A new era of small satellites has emerged augmenting larger systems and, in some cases, replacing them. Governments are taking a new look at small satellites, as commercial customers use them for their flexibility, speed of development, resiliency, low cost, and tolerance of risk in cutting edge technology. New constellations of 1000-plus satellites are beingContinue reading “Smaller Quick Launch Satellites – Future of Space – Action Time India”
MBDA – The Power House of Missile Systems
With the induction Rafale and the Meteor and SCALP missiles, more Indians have heard the name MBDA. India has had an old association with MBDA and its earlier Avatars and also the joint venture partners. MBDA is a European developer and manufacturer of missiles. The company name emerged from the initials of the names of theContinue reading “MBDA – The Power House of Missile Systems”
Billy Bishop, Victoria Cross – the top Canadian and British Empire Ace of all Time – 72 Air Victories
William Avery Bishop, VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED (8 February 1894 – 11 September 1956) was a Canadian flying ace of the First World War. He was officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian and British Empire ace of the war. He was a Victoria Cross recipient who rose to become an Air Marshal. During the Second World War, Bishop was instrumentalContinue reading “Billy Bishop, Victoria Cross – the top Canadian and British Empire Ace of all Time – 72 Air Victories”
Defence Budget – How Much India Must Afford
Military budgets often reflect how strongly a country perceives the likelihood of threats against it, or the amount of aggression it wishes to conjure because of its global ambitions. A military budget (or military expenditure), also known as a defence budget, is the amount of financial resources dedicated by a state to raising and maintaining an armed forces or other means essential for defence purposes. FinancingContinue reading “Defence Budget – How Much India Must Afford”
‘Tiger Squadron’ Birth of Military Aviation in India
October 1932 was a historic month for Indian Aviation. Indian Air Force was officially established on 08 October and on 15 October JRD Tata of Tata Airlines flew his aircraft beginning an airmail service between Karachi and Madras via Ahmedabad and Bombay. The month thus marked the birth of both military and civil aviation inContinue reading “‘Tiger Squadron’ Birth of Military Aviation in India”
French Colonel René Paul Fonck – The Highest Scoring All-time Allied Ace of Aces – 75 Victories
Colonel René Paul Fonck (27 March 1894 – 18 June 1953) was a French aviator who ended the First World War as the top fighter ace and, when all succeeding aerial conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries are also considered, Fonck still holds the title of “all-time Allied Ace of Aces”. He received confirmation for 75 victories (72 soloContinue reading “French Colonel René Paul Fonck – The Highest Scoring All-time Allied Ace of Aces – 75 Victories”
Air Power Asia 