Experts Speak - SP's Aviation

News Releases

June 8, 2017
Another giant leap with GSLV Mk III
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
When India fired the high thrust cryogenic engine CE-20 launching GSLV Mk-III in its first experimental flight from Sriharikota on june 5, it was a monumental leap drawing the curtain on what the US sanctions prevented ISRO from doing in 2003, even as the US seeks strong ties with India in wake of all round Chinese aggression.
May 30, 2017
Strategic Partnership Model – Game changer?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
On May 20, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley finalized the broad contours of the Strategic Partnership (SP) policy.
May 30, 2017
New Defence Procurement Organization
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
According to recent media reports, government is mulling setting up a new autonomous organization, 'Defence Procurement Organization' (DPO), to be created within the MoD to deal exclusively with procurement for the Armed Forces as recommended by a committee headed by Dr Pritam Singh, former Director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow.
May 30, 2017
Ransomware – Beware!
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
WannaCry or WannaCry 2.0 the ransomware that struck globally some 150 countries last month affected some 200,000 PCs worldwide. India was the third hardest hit county with close to 50,000 PCs affected.
May 30, 2017
Empowering DIPP – or weakening defence?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Considerable confusion prevails about whether the proposed Defence Procurement Organization (DPO), as a follow up to the Dr Pritam Singh Committee recommendations, is to be 'all encompassing' in matters of defence procurement, which it actually should be. But this confusion appears to have been compounded through a recent notification (Notification S.O. 1636 (E) dated 19.05.2017 of Ministry of Home Affairs) vide which the power to issue licenses for the manufacture...
May 30, 2017
3D Rocket in Space
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The first working 3D printer was developed in 1984 by Chuck Hall of 3D Systems Corporation; 3D printing being the process of making three dimensional solid object of any shape from a 'digital model', achieved by laying successive layers of material in different shapes — termed 'additive process'.
May 30, 2017
Next level Cyber War
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The news about IAF's Sukhoi SU-30 gone missing near India-China border has been making headlines. The Sukhoi had taken off on a routine training mission on 23 May 2017 when radar, radio contact was lost roughly 60 km north of Tezpur air force base in Assam.
May 25, 2017
Defence modernisation in three years of NDA rule
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)
The three services had suffered prolonged neglect in respect of modernisation in the period 2004 to 2014 owing to a number of factors.
May 24, 2017
NDA's achievements in defence sector in three years
By Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)
The Modi government which completes three years on 26 May 2017 is planning to celebrate their achievements by putting out a report card giving out statistics of their achievements in the last three years of NDAs governance.
May 24, 2017
Defence in 3 years under NDA II
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
On May 26, 2017 the NDA II government completed three years in office. Last three years have seen India rising in economic strength and making way for greater say on the world stage.
May 20, 2017
US nudges Pakistan - Wee bit only
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The US National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has blamed Pakistan for deteriorating India-Pak relations and warned that the ties might worsen further if another "high- profile" terrorist attack emanates from across the border this year.
May 20, 2017
Beyond ICJ ruling on Kulbhushan Jadhav
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The unanimous verdict by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) staying the execution of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Yadav was on expected lines because...
May 20, 2017
North Korea – Rogue supported by rogue
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
As North Korea carried out another ballistic missile test, shortly after President Moon Jae-in took office in South Korea, US President Donald Trump called for "stronger sanctions" against North Korea, while China is urged restraint. A series of North Korean missile tests this year, which are banned by the UN, sparked international alarm and raised tensions with the US.
May 18, 2017
Expediting Defence Procurements
By Ranjit Kumar
India's defence acquisition framework is considered to be one of the most cumbersome, time consuming, complex and fraught with uncertainties. In spite of the Indian armed forces evolving into the select group of top ranking arms importers of the world and future prospects of acquiring arms worth over US$ 150 billion in the next decade, the country is managing its defence acquisitions without a proper centralized defence procurement body and through a loose ad hoc structure.
May 15, 2017
Strategic partnership policy - Needs speedy conclusion
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
When Defence Procurement Policy (DPP) 2016 was released by the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Defexpo 2016, it was without few appendices, which were added later.
May 12, 2017
GSAT-09 - Modi's gift to South Asia
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
GSAT-09 or SAS (South Asia Satellite) is the latest technological move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for integrating South Asia, a resolve he had shown at the swearing in of his government by inviting all SAARC leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
May 12, 2017
'Negative' defence budget - Goes more negative
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The relationship between economy and defence is that both are dependent on each other. Defence cannot be strong without good economy...
April 25, 2017
PM Modi's Israel visit — Expectations?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel on July 5-6 this year, first by any Indian Prime Minster will be a historic event of extraordinary proportions since it also will mark 25 years of establishment of India-Israel full diplomatic relations in 1992, which allowed increased economic, cultural, and security cooperation between the two nations.
April 25, 2017
Another joint doctrine — But who will implement?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Media is agog with headlines of "New defence doctrine to ensure Army, Navy, IAF can tackle entire spectrum of conflicts". This new doctrine is likely to be released shortly.
April 25, 2017
Kamov helicopters — Finally through?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
In March 2017, media reported that the Indo-Russian Kamov helicopter deal had hit a hurdle, pricing and technology transfer being main issues. The news said that India and Russia were having a disagreement over the joint production of Kamov-226T...
April 13, 2017
Indo-Bangla relations at all time high – Teesta should be next step
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The four day visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (April 7-10) has taken Indo-Bangladesh relations to an all time high.
April 13, 2017
Cyber war – Where are we?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Cyber attacks in India have been on the rise over the years, particularly against government sites and Indian missions abroad despite several layers of security measures in place to protect against intrusions. In one instance, according to the Toronto based Munk Centre of International Studies, GhostNet – a Chinese network, had infiltrated networks of the Indian Government as well as of the Dalai Lama., Not that this is not happening world over, absolute cyber security being misnomer.
March 14, 2017
Visit of Bangladesh PM - expectations
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Coming up next month in April is the all important visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh to India. Not only is she a close friend of India, the manner in which she has gone after the terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in her country...
March 14, 2017
Pakistan — Defiant Frankenstein
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
By admitting that the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack was carried out by Pakistan based terror group but that the Pakistani government had no role in it, former Pakistan National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani has managed to hit headlines while keeping himself safe.
March 14, 2017
Special Forces — efforts to bridge equipment voids
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Media is agog with news "Army on shopping spree, commandos to get deadlier", reporting that after the successful 'surgical strikes', MoD is fast-tracking some...
March 14, 2017
Military Modernization Kaput — and the curse of committees
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has slammed the Government on March 9 through its report tabled in Parliament on Demands for Grants for 2017-18, for its lack adhocism, casual and lackadaisical approach saying it would adversely...
March 14, 2017
QCG and the six plus one
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) comprising the US, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan aimed to bring the Taliban on board to join the reconciliation process in Afghanistan was perhaps to keep Afghanistan in humour.
March 14, 2017
Of Grenade Lobbing Robots — and more
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
As the battle for Mosul continues, the ISIS fights on with new technology. Tiny surveillance drones are employed to observe and report movement and positions of the attacking forces.
February 20, 2017
Indigenous LCH — good strides
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
India’s indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), was a star attraction at the Aero India 2017 held at Bengaluru last month.
February 20, 2017
FGFA redesigned?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Happenings at the Aero India 2017 signified the next chapter in the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) saga. Whether it will now move faster than the snail’s pace is yet to be seen. Speaking to the media on the sidelines...
February 20, 2017
India-China Strategic Dialogue — hollowness persists
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
On February 22, India and China held their ‘upgraded’ strategic dialogue at Beijing. Just before the dialogue, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was to co-chair the dialogue.
February 20, 2017
Indo-US Defence Ties - retain the high
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
There was some speculation as to how the Indo-US defence relationship would pan out under the new US President, as relationships do undergo change with new administrations. Not that there was any reason for any apprehensions considering the indications from the US post election of President Trump.
February 20, 2017
Policy on Unmanned Vehicles - setting course is good
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
DRDO Director General Dr S Christopher's statement on February 11, 2017...
February 20, 2017
Tri-Service Commands - must get them right
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
After a lapse of over a year, news is media is again talking of Tri-Service Commands and other measures like appointing a single-point military adviser...
February 20, 2017
Big Stride in Ballistic Missile Defence
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
February, 11, 2017 was a great day for the DRDO and the nation. At precisely 0745 hours, DRDO successfully test-fired a interceptor missile off Odisha coast and achieved a significant milestone for developing a two-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system; an incoming missile was successfully intercepted at a height of 100 kms with a direct hit by an interceptor missile.
February 2, 2017
Defence Budget 2017-2018
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Defence has been allocated 2,74,114 crore ($40.31 billion) for fiscal year 2017-2018. This does not include the pensions bill which itself is close to 85,000 crore per annum.
January 9, 2017
The China factor in Kashmir
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
That China is the central actor behind the problems in J&K is still not fully acknowledged by our policy makers. Not that it is a new development but the understanding remained coloured with the advice of our intelligence agencies who refused to get out of the time wrap.
January 9, 2017
Why India should never join CPEC
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Khaled Ahmed, consulting editor, ‘Newsweek’ Pakistan, in his recent article titled ‘Corridor of Uncertainty’ writes that Pakistan’s General Riaz inviting India...
January 9, 2017
SAAW – targeting enemy airfields
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
On December 24, 2016 India successfully tested an indigenous Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from an Indian Air Force aircraft. The captive and release trials were tracked by radar and telemetry ground stations at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha during the entire duration of the flight.
India joins ICBM 5000+ league
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
India successfully undertook the fourth and final test firing of the Agni-V today (December 26) from Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha. This is a wholly indigenously developed ICBM, which by itself is a gigantic achievement.
Heart of Asia Pak proxies named
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
In his inaugural address at the Sixth Ministerial ‘Heart of Asia’ Conference at Amritsar, represented by some 30 countries and international and regional organizations and co-chaired by Finance Minister of India and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the following major points...
Visit of Israeli President cementing ties
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The eight-day visit to India in November by President Reuven Rivlin of Israel further cemented India-Israel bilateral relations. His visit was the first one by an Israeli President after 1996 when President Ezer Weizman had visited India.
Coming - Armed drones
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Pakistan tested its indigenous ‘Burraq’ UCAV last year and according to the Dawn quoting industry insiders, in 2015 China had offered to sell Pakistan its CH-3 UCAV, which can carry two laser-guided missiles or bombs.
PM Modi’s Japan visit - Historic nuclear deal signed
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan on November 11-12 may be termed the most historic as making an exception; Japan has signed a civil-nuclear cooperation deal with India.
ISRO: Of Satellites, Moon and Mars
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
It may be recalled that on June 22, 2016, India launched 20 satellites in one go, which was the maximum ever by ISRO. The world record for launching the maximum number of satellites in one shot is currently held by Russia, which launched 37 satellites on June 19, 2014.
Blacklisting Redefined
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
Since December 2014, media was reporting that a new government policy legalizing middlemen in arms purchases, a source of massive controversies in the past would be in place soon.
OROP: One-Man Judicial Commission
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
Politicization of the unfortunate suicide of Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal was indeed bad. The JCO's suicide note reportedly stated he was taking that drastic action not having been given the benefit of OROP.
Internet of Things (IoT) and Dangers in Cyberspace
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
Much has been said in recent years about Internet of Things (IoT); it is coming, it has arrived or it is growing rapidly. But the enormity of IoT can be gauged from the one forecast that by 2030 there will be over 26 billion connected devices that would average to about six connected devices per each person on this planet.
Xi Jinping - China’s “Core Leader”
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
The Communist Party of China (CPC) has anointed President Xi Jinping as the “Core Leader” of China, which places him on par with Mao Tse Tung and Deng Xiaoping. Xi Jinping is expected to take China to the next level of becoming a ‘Great Power’.
Visit of Aung San Suu Kyi
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
Myanmar Foreign Minister and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s four-day visit to India after attending the BRICS summit at Goa provided fresh impetus to India-Myanmar relations.
Deriding military - Continues unabated
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
The latest attack on the military’s ethos came from the MoD through the GoI letter number A/24577/CAO/CP Cell dated October 18, described by a national daily in talking about rank “equivalence” between defence officers and “armed forces headquarters civil service officers”.
India-Russia relations take next step
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
The recent meet between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin of Russia on the sidelines of the BRICs summit at Goa and the deals signed between India and Russia have silenced the critics that the Modi Government is putting all its eggs in the basket of America.
Big ticket acquisitions - Overshadowing cutting edge again?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
As per media reports, the MoD is working towards seeking an annual hike of eight percent in terms of capital expenditure...
When will our military get its due?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
India’s Presidents have said that the military is the last bastion of India. The typical example of today is that while the J&K State Administration in the Valley responsible for the current messy situation went ineffective and the police abandoned their posts, the Army has been tasked to re-establish the rule of law.
The Rafale Deal Finally Inked
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
16 years after the IAF projected the demanded for new multi-role fighters and four years after the Rafale deal was mooted in 2012, India has finally signed the agreement with France for 36 Rafale...
Terrorist State Will Pakistan get the tag?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch
September 20 was historical with US Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced ‘H.R.6069, the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act’ in the US Congress.