The Russia-Ukraine conflict is already in its fifth year, and the end is still not in sight. The United States, though not completely abandoning NATO, is executing a strategic shift under the Trump administration—termed “NATO 3.0”—that significantly reduces American force commitments and pressures Europe to take the lead in its own conventional defence. The 2026Continue reading “Fine Balancing By India – BRICS in the Times of Uncertain World”
Category Archives: Strategic Affairs
Project Brahma- India’s Pathway to Global Power
Since independence, India has fought six major wars. The First Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 set the tone, followed by the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Second Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. We then saw the Sino-Indian Conflict of 1967, the decisive Third Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and the high-altitude Kargil War of 1999. Fast forwardContinue reading “Project Brahma- India’s Pathway to Global Power”
Opinion | China’s J-16 Missile Trucks and J-20 Jets, and What They Mean For The World
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”
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?”
Defence of Air Defence Systems
The US lost nearly $2B worth of military equipment in the first 4 days of operations in Iran. Losses include SATCOM terminals, F-15E Strike Eagles, and radar equipment. The chief driver of the cost is a US AN/FPS-132 early warning radar system at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, valued at $1.1 billion, which wasContinue reading “Defence of Air Defence Systems”
Russia Remains a Good Bet for Military Aviation Technologies
Russia just showcased the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)’s Superjet SJ-100, and the turboprop Il-114-300 aircraft at Wings India 2026, in Hyderabad. India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) had earlier signed a MoU with UAC to make the near 100-seat SJ-100 regional jet in India. Russian aviation giant UAC has signed a deal to supply six IlyushinContinue reading “Russia Remains a Good Bet for Military Aviation Technologies”
Indian Navy Signs for 26 Rafale-M – Significant Commonality with IAF Rafale
India has signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with France for the purchase of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy (IN) that includes 22 single-seat and 4 twin-seat versions. The IGA was signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Armed Forces of France Sebastien Lecornu remotely. The signed copies of the agreement,Continue reading “Indian Navy Signs for 26 Rafale-M – Significant Commonality with IAF Rafale”
The “Nuclear Umbrella” and Changing Nuclear Weapons Security Dynamics
An unreliable American nuclear umbrella means more countries want the nuclear bomb. For long, Europe and some other Asian countries were banking on US security guarantees. Ukraine had denounced nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union imploded, but after the Russian invasion of February 2022, and Russian threats to use a tactical nuclear weapon, Ukraine isContinue reading “The “Nuclear Umbrella” and Changing Nuclear Weapons Security Dynamics”
IAF’s Significant Global Air Reach
Indian Air Force (IAF) is now routinely exercising and demonstrating the long operational range of its fighter aircraft through missions deep into the neighbouring seas and the Indian Ocean. The global reach of its transport aircraft has been seen and appreciated during the Covid-19 pandemic and the support provided in various calamities and evacuations. ThisContinue reading “IAF’s Significant Global Air Reach “
Make in India Rafale
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.Continue reading “Make in India Rafale”