Ukraine War. The War in the Air. An Analysis. Air Marshal Anil Chopra

Overview of Conflict The global attention at this moment continues to be on the very serious conflict that began on 24 February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. The Russo-Ukrainian war actually began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Ukraine is the second-largest European nation after Russia, with an area of 603,550 sq. km.Continue reading “Ukraine War. The War in the Air. An Analysis. Air Marshal Anil Chopra”

WAR IN UKRAINE: INDIA BALANCING PRINCIPLES AND NATIONAL INTERESTS

Breach of Ukrainian Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity The screaming headlines, ‘Putin Invades Ukraine’, announced to the world on 24 Feb 2022 that Putin had finally gone ahead and shown the ‘will’ to bring to fruition his pre-meditated plan; the capability had been assembled at the right places much earlier. All along, Putin kept insisting thatContinue reading “WAR IN UKRAINE: INDIA BALANCING PRINCIPLES AND NATIONAL INTERESTS”

Ukraine Crisis – A Backgrounder

German Naval Chief’s Delhi Visit The German naval chief Vice Admiral Schonbach’s visit to New Delhi in January 2022 coincided with the last docking of the German naval frigate Bayern at Mumbai, after having departed Germany in August 2021 and having sailed through the Indo-Pacific region. Schonbach alluded to the fact that the ship’s routeContinue reading “Ukraine Crisis – A Backgrounder”

India: National Security Snapshot

The Big Picture (HT, 09 Jan 2022) by Raghu Raman, the founding CEO of NATGRID, alludes to India’s burgeoning internal “half front”, which may prove to be our “Achille’s Heel”. The half front that he is referring to are the internal issues that are causing fissures and cracks in the hugely diverse Indian society, whichContinue reading “India: National Security Snapshot”

Aviation & Environment – The Way Ahead

The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (UNFCCC) was finally held from 1-12 November 2021, in Glasgow, UK. With climate change intensifying and scientists warning that humanity is running out of time to limit global warming to 1.5° Centigrade over pre-industrial levels. TheContinue reading “Aviation & Environment – The Way Ahead”

Military Aviation Indigenous Production – Strategy India

India’s defence aviation industry is at times accused of not having significantly met the indigenous production needs of the air arms of the Indian armed forces despite being in existence for nearly seven decades. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), for long, had mastered the art of license production. After a partial success with the HF-24 ‘Marut’,Continue reading “Military Aviation Indigenous Production – Strategy India”

NEW CHINESE BORDER VILLAGES: AN OSINT ANALYSIS

For a few years now, new villages built by the Chinese government at the border with neighboring countries, or just across the border, or in territory that China disputes have been sighted and reported with increasing frequency. Many of these villages can be seen in satellite images available from Google Earth or other similar open-sourceContinue reading “NEW CHINESE BORDER VILLAGES: AN OSINT ANALYSIS”

QUAD – Significant Air Power

In March this year, the leaders of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the United States, Japan, Australia and India, held a virtual meeting and released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to “a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion.” Finally, a check is evolving on belligerent China who isContinue reading “QUAD – Significant Air Power”

Theatre Commands. Interactive Session With Three Stalwarts

India has ambitious plans for setting up theatre commands for its armed forces. These are expected to facilitate better planning and unified military response to any future contingency. But, are these theatre commands really necessary? Need to hasten slowly? We need to have a National Security Doctrine from which should flow the Military Doctrine. IntegrationContinue reading “Theatre Commands. Interactive Session With Three Stalwarts”

IAF’s Fighter Fleet Requirements and Options Ahead

The Galwan showdown of June 2020 and the continuing stand-off between the world’s two powerful nations India and China has brought the focus back on Indian Armed Forces capability building. Indian Air Force‘s (IAF) fighter fleet modernisation has been in discussion. The convergence of strategic interests between China and Pakistan and their rapidly modernizing airContinue reading “IAF’s Fighter Fleet Requirements and Options Ahead”