Commercial negotiations for the GE F414 engine, selected to power India’s Tejas Mk-2 and the initial variants of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), have hit a serious roadblock. Despite an earlier agreement on technology transfer, GE Aerospace has sharply escalated its price demands — nearly tripling the per-unit cost. Initial estimates had put theContinue reading “F414 “Trap”: After 3X Price Hike, Why Swapping U.S. GE Engines for India’s Tejas Mk-2 & AMCA Won’t Be Easy”
Category Archives: Geopolitics & Strategy
India’s Defence Budget – Priority Atmanirbharta – A Comprehensive Look
The Finance Minister of India presented the Union Budget 2026-27 on 01 Feb 2026. The total annual national budget stood at Rs 53,47,314 crore, marking a steady increase from the Rs 50,65,345 crore projected in the previous year. She allocated a historic Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), up 15.19 percentContinue reading “India’s Defence Budget – Priority Atmanirbharta – A Comprehensive Look”
IAF Chief in France – Likely Contours of the Rafale Deal
Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh was on an important four-day visit to France to advance the mega ₹3.25 lakh crore ($39 billion) deal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets. This visit came immediately after the Indian Defence Ministry issued a formal Letter of Request (LoR) to the French government.Continue reading “IAF Chief in France – Likely Contours of the Rafale Deal”
PM Modi Visits Japan – Strategic Congruence of Two Major Asian Countries
PM Modi will travel to Japan on August 30, where he will participate in the 17th annual India-Japan Summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It will be PM Modi’s 8th visit to this strategically important friend of India. The only countries he has made a large number of visits to are the USA (10),Continue reading “PM Modi Visits Japan – Strategic Congruence of Two Major Asian Countries”
PM Modi Visits Israel – As the two Nations Continue to Strengthen the Unshakable Aerospace Bond
Prime Minister Modi concluded a two-day visit to Israel that started February 25, 2026, his second trip in eight years. He addressed the Knesset (parliament) amid an unprecedented deepening of ties despite attempts to isolate the Jewish state globally, especially by Europe, and growing tensions in its relations with China. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuContinue reading “PM Modi Visits Israel – As the two Nations Continue to Strengthen the Unshakable Aerospace Bond “
With MQ-9 Deal Indo-US Military Aviation Ties Move Further Ahead
India has just approved the lease of two additional General Atomics MQ-9 unmanned aircraft for the Indian Navy. The approval was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and is being seen as a significant boost to India’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities along its borders and across theContinue reading “With MQ-9 Deal Indo-US Military Aviation Ties Move Further Ahead”
Modernization Priorities of Military Aviation & Make in India Options and Realities
For many decades after independence, Indian Armed Forces imported military hardware from long-term friend and strategic ally Soviet Union and Russia. Also France became a significant source for military aviation supplies to India. From the 1990s, Israel, and since 2008, the United States (US) have also been important sources. India continues to be one ofContinue reading “Modernization Priorities of Military Aviation & Make in India Options and Realities”
Pakistan Suspending Shimla Agreement –Advantage India?
Pakistan-backed terrorists killed nearly 28 innocent holidaymakers at Pahalgam on 22 April in a Hamas-style terror attack. Links to Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Pakistan Army were established early. Indian masses were angered and sought appropriate revenge. A slew of measures were announced by the Indian Government. India put the 1960 Indus Water TreatyContinue reading “Pakistan Suspending Shimla Agreement –Advantage India?”
Russia Pushed into Chinese Arms – Implications for India
Russia and China are two giant neighbours that occupy the largest landmass of Asia. Traditionally they have been two antagonist societies but often chose marriage of convenience. Their relations in the post-World War II era have been vacillating between extremes. By literally nudging Russia to invade Ukraine, and then confronting it strongly, the West pushedContinue reading “Russia Pushed into Chinese Arms – Implications for India”
Rajnath Singh in Moscow – Time-Tested Indo-Russia Defence Partnership
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow on Sunday night on a 3-day visit. The Minister was received by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. Rajnath Singh’s trip comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia in October. During that visit, PM Modi attended the 22nd India-Russia SummitContinue reading “Rajnath Singh in Moscow – Time-Tested Indo-Russia Defence Partnership”