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 willContinue reading “Can Armed, Stealthy UAVs Replace Fighter Jets or Best Augment Them”
Category Archives: Strategy and Policy
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 theContinue reading “Rafale Orders Explode! India Eyes Becoming Production Hub For French Jets After ‘Biggest Ever’ IAF Deal”
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-LaContinue reading “Lessons from Operation Sindoor: Key Areas of Military Modernisation”
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 andContinue reading “If America Thins Down, How Will Europe Alone secure itself Against Russia “
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 importantContinue reading “Military and Security Developments in China – India Needs to Build Conventional Capability”
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 serviceContinue reading “India’s Deepening Military Aviation’s French Connection”
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, whichContinue reading “India China Thaw – Are Dragon-Elephant Set to Tango Again “
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.Continue reading “Russian BrahMos and S 400 – Big Winners of OP Sindoor says Air Chief”
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 makeContinue reading “B-2s Strike Iran with Bunker Buster MOAB – Understand Technology and Escalation Dynamics”
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 rescuedContinue reading “The Houthis and the Red Sea Crisis – Unfolding Action and Options India”
Air Power Asia 