Experts Speak

• 

  March 9, 2020
  Structure of Department of Military Affairs (DMA)
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Structure of the newly established Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) heading it as Secretary DMA, has come up with the news of its organisation released through the media in installments.

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  February 26, 2020
  Visit of President Donald Trump
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  US President Donald Trump's maiden visit to India witnessed Indo-US Strategic Partnership transit into 'Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership'.

• 

  February 26, 2020
  LUH to replace Cheetahs/Chetaks
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There is good news in the offing on the indigenous helicopter front. On February 7, 2020 the Light Utility Helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited obtained the initial clearance from the DRDO paving the way for its production.

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  February 26, 2020
  Indigenous Anti-Drone System
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  An indigenous Anti-Drone System developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully tested on February 21, 2020 in destroying a drone.

• 

  February 10, 2020
  Defence Budget 2020-2021
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Presenting the budget for FY 2020-2021 in Parliament on February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not mention defence at all, which isn't surprising given her attitude towards the Armed Forces.

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  January 20, 2020
  Defence Budget – Now and Next
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  India's defence budget for 2019-20 stands at 3.18 lakh crore. This included a capital outlay of just 1,03,394 crore that is not enough to upgrade capabilities and more money is required to avoid a funding crisis.

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  January 4, 2020
  India's First CDS – what should be the priorities
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Speaking to reporters India's first CDS General Bipin Rawat has said, "As per the task given to the CDS we have to enhance integration and do better resource management. We have to achieve more synergy and integration. This is the motive. All the three services will work as a team.

• 

  December 23, 2019
  Indo-US-2+2 Dialogue
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  December 18, 2019 saw the Indo-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue at Washington DC; External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from India and the US side represented by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark T. Esper.

• 

  December 23, 2019
  Maritime Surveillance
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  With the centre of gravity of conflict veering towards the Indian Ocean, the requirement of maritime surveillance of the Indian Navy (IN) is in more limelight.

• 

  December 23, 2019
  Coming – High-Speed Internet and Mobile Launchpad
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There is more good news in the offing from ISRO. By mid 2020 or rather June 2020, ISRO is planning to launch a mega satellite 'GSAT-20' which will provide the high speed internet of 100 Gbps (gigabits per second) or more to India's rural and remote areas.

• 

  December 23, 2019
  India-Australia 2+2 Dialogue
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The third edition of India-Australia Foreign and Defence Secretaries' Dialogue (2+2) was held on December 9, 2019, in New Delhi.

• 

  December 23, 2019
  Akash Missile System – Dismal Saga
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The 'Akash' missile indigenously produced by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is in the news again for the wrong reasons.

• 

  December 23, 2019
  New Assault Rifles after 15 years
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Media reports of December 14 indicate that soldiers deployed on the borders with Pakistan and China have finally started receiving new assault rifles after a wait of almost 15 years.

• 

  December 5, 2019
  Visit of Sri Lankan President
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The two-day state visit of Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to India commencing November 29, his first foreign visit after assuming presidency, has signaled a new beginning, contours of which will unfold in coming months.

• 

  December 5, 2019
  CARTOSAT-3 launched, NavIC approved
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C47 successfully launched Earth observation satellite Cartosat-3 and 13 commercial nano-satellites into Sun Synchronous orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on November 27.

• 

  December 5, 2019
  Chandrayaan 3 and Moon Landing
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On October 18, 2019, ISRO released the first illuminated images of the Moon’s lunar surface captures by the Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IRSS) on board Chandrayaan-2.

• 

  December 5, 2019
  Boost for Defence Startups
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Speaking at the ‘Defence Connect’ seminar on November 11, 2019, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Looking at the talent India possesses, I am pretty confident that we can become a $10 trillion economy in the next 10-15 years”.

• 

  November 15, 2019
  Defence Minister’s Russia Visit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow on November 5 for a three day visit to Russia. This was his first visit to Moscow as Defence Minister.

• 

  November 15, 2019
  Indigenous Stealth Fighter
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Media reports of October 29 state "with the IAF now backing the indigenous development of a fifth generation fighter aircraft" (FGFA), it is all systems go...

• 

  November 15, 2019
  Anti-Drone Urgency
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Despite the Kartarpur Corridor having become operational, Pakistan’s hate-India campaign shows no signs of abating. This is not surprising because this is the very basis for the Pakistan army to maintain complete control over the country...

• 

  November 15, 2019
  China to Mars, India to Venus
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  China’s state-run media recently created a buzz in space exploration by announcing plans for a manned mission to Mars (the Red Planet), with a manned mission to the moon as the first step.

• 

  November 4, 2019
  Indigenous Hypersonic Missile
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  News reports of October 2019 indicate that DRDO has commenced work on a next generation hypersonic weapon – a missile that can travel at five times the speed of sound, or a little over 1.6 km every second, and for testing and fine tuning...

• 

  November 4, 2019
  Ninth DTTI Meet
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The ninth Indo-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) held at New Delhi on October 24, 2019 has reportedly focused on collaboration in drone swarms, counter-drone measures and other hi-tech military technologies.

• 

  October 18, 2019
  Modi-Xi Chennai Connect
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping was held at Mamallapuram (UNESCO heritage) on October 11-12, which Modi termed "Chennai connect".

• 

  October 18, 2019
  IMRH to Replace Mi-17 Helicopters
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  News reports of August 2019 indicate that India is set to embark on a 10,000 crore Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) project; to develop an indigenous medium lift helicopter that will replace all imports in that class for the Armed Forces – namely Mi-17 helicopters.

• 

  October 18, 2019
  Seahawks are Coming
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Going by news reports, the Indian Navy is set to acquire 24 x MH60R Seahawk Anti-Submarine Helicopters at a probable cost of $109 million per helicopter – total cost about $2.616 billion.

• 

  October 16, 2019
  

  AN AIR MARSHAL'S TAKE

  HAL unions on an indefinite strike
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  An indefinite strike by employees of HAL will not only undermine the Indian aerospace industry, but will also be injurious to national aspirations as well.

• 

  October 7, 2019
  Modi-Trump Bilateral – little gain
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a bilateral meeting on September 24 on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly session.

• 

  October 7, 2019
  China's 70th Anniversary
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  China's 70th anniversary celebrations displayed its military and economic might with the biggest ever military parade on October 1, even as Hong Kong witnessed massive demonstration on the same day with hundreds of youth battling police and locals also out on the street.

• 

  September 17, 2019
  Next Modi-Xi Informal Summit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  As time approached for the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2019, China took the despicable step of orchestrating a closed door meeting of the United National...

• 

  September 17, 2019
  Beyond Chandrayaan 2
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Drone war attained a new landmark with Houthi some 19 armed drones hitting two oil processing facilities of Saudi Arabia - Aramco's Abqaiq refinery and the Khurais oil field.

• 

  September 17, 2019
  Miniature Drones
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Drone war attained a new landmark with Houthi some 19 armed drones hitting two oil processing facilities of Saudi Arabia - Aramco's Abqaiq refinery and the Khurais oil field.

• 

  September 17, 2019
  Indigenous Sniper Rifles
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In February 2018, MoD had approved procurement of 5,719 sniper rifles for the Army and Air Force at an estimated cost of 982 crore from the global market under the 'Buy Global' categorisation, the ammunition for which was to be initially procured and subsequently manufactured in India.

• 

  September 5, 2019
  20th India-Russia Annual Summit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 20th Annual India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in Vladivostok, Russia and the 5th Eastern Economic Forum as the Chief Guest on September 4-5.

• 

  September 5, 2019
  Exchanging Defence Land
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  During NDA-1, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharanman's unilateral order to open all 62 military cantonments to public made headlines, with political victory parades led by MPs/MLAs marching through cantonments.

• 

  September 5, 2019
  Kamikaze Drones
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In July 2019, news emerged that the US Department of Defense (DoD) wants to purchase the Hero-120 loitering drone (termed "kamikaze" or "killer" drones) from Israel for operations by US Special Operations Forces (SOF).

• 

  August 22, 2019
  CDS Finally Coming
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In his characteristic style, Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised the nation on August 15 by announcing India will have a CDS to head the Army, Navy and Air Force.

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  August 22, 2019
  Mounting Air Crashes are Disconcerting
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Mounting number of air crashes of military aircraft should be a matter of deep concern.

• 

  August 8, 2019
  Kashmir Integrated
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In a historic announcement in Parliament on August 4, Government announced the Presidential decree of abrogating Article 370 and reorganisation of J&K State into the Union Territories of J&K.

• 

  SP's Aviation - Issue: 7 / 2019
  India Successfully Develops its First Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile
  By Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha (Retd)

  Successful indigenous design and development of the Astra coupled with Akash Mark 2 SAM, signposts the maturity of the Indian weapons industry in mastering cutting-edge missile technologies

• 

  August 8, 2019
  PM Modi's Bhutan Visit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bhutan on August 17-18. After assuming the premiership second time, Modi's visit is in line with government's focus on 'Neighbours First' policy; which will further strengthen India's special relationship with Bhutan.

• 

  August 8, 2019
  The Chimera of Military Integration
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In 2004, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, addressing the Combined Commanders Conference had said, "Reforms within the Armed Forces involve recognition of the fact that our Navy, Air Forces and Army can no longer function in compartments with exclusive chains of command and single service operational plans."

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  August 8, 2019
  Defence Exports
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Media reports of May 2019 indicated India had relaxed procedures to speed up arms sales to foreign countries.

• 

  August 8, 2019
  Space War Exercise
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Post India's successful test of an anti-satellite (ASAT) interceptor missile to destroy the 740kg Microsat-R satellite, at an altitude of 283km in the low earth orbit (LEO) on March 27 this year termed 'Mission Shakti', India conducted the first ever simulated space war exercise 'IndSpaceEx' on July 25-26.

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  August 1, 2019
  Exercise Garuda-VI: Sukhoi 30 MKI & Rafale, A Formidable Combination
  By Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha (Retd)

  Exercise Garuda-VI was a unique, fascinating and timeless learning experience for the IAF contingent. The operational lessons learnt by IAF during this exercise will assist IAF in adding more teeth to its overall war fighting capabilities.

• 

  August 1, 2019
  Evolving 'UAV Swarm' Technology
  By Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha (Retd)

  Today the UAV technology is reasonably matured to enable UAVs of all sizes and types to successfully execute various types of military missions ranging from surveillance, electronic warfare, target designation to air-to-ground weapon delivery.

• 

  July 22, 2019
  India: A Space Super Power
  By Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha (Retd)

  India is running a vibrant space programme for its security, economic development and technological progress. So far, India has launched 115 satellites; three in 1970s, 11 in 1980s, 16 in 1990s, 24 in first decade of 21st century and 61 till date in current decade.

• 

  July 19, 2019
  Japan's US-2i – back on track?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slated to come to India in September-October this year for the annual bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussion has emerged in the media about India procuring...

• 

  July 19, 2019
  Sniper Rifles Delay – can we slash red tape?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On February 13, 2018, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Ministerhad approved procurement of 5,719 sniper rifles for the Army and Air Force at an estimated cost of 982 crore from the global market under...

• 

  July 16, 2019
  Temporary setback for mission to the Moon
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  ISRO plans to send three Indians into space on an Indian-built spacecraft achieving the first manned mission into space.

• 

  July 6, 2019
  First Budget of Modi 2.0 - defence ignored
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Budget 2019 of the new NDA government lead by Narendra Modiin parliament on June 5, 2019, with what she described as a 10-year vision.

• 

  July 6, 2019
  Puncturing Disability
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There is considerable debate over a Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) circular dated June 24, 2019 saying that tax exemption for disability pension will be "available only to armed forces personnel who have been invalidated from service on account of bodily disability attributable...

• 

  July 6, 2019
  Chandrayaan-2 and NSIL
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Chandrayaan-2 is slated to fly off to the moon on July 15. Chandrayaan-1 launched on October 22, 2008, not only made India become the fourth nation to join this elite lunar exploratory club after the US, Russia and China, India also discovered the presence of water on the moon for the first time, which was acknowledged by NASA.

• 

  July 6, 2019
  Second JAI Trilateral at Osaka
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  During the first ever meeting of JAI (acronym for the Japan-America-India Trilateral coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi using first alphabet of each...

• 

  SP's Aviation - Issue: 6 / 2019
  India Successfully Test Fires Improved Akash Missile
  By Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha (Retd)

  The Akash SAM system is capable of intercepting multiple manoeuvring aerial targets, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and air-tosurface weapons launched by enemy aircraft from stand-off ranges

• 

  June 15, 2019
  100 Day Agenda of the new NDA government
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Concurrent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government assuming charge, the Niti Ayog has announced on May 29, 2019, that government will consider a slew of proposals over the next 100 days to complete unfinished goals of fine-tuning reforms like the bankruptcy code...

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  June 15, 2019
  When HAL Went Pauper
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Media reports of May 29, 2019 revealed that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had plummeted to a meager 140 crore by March 31, 2019; lowest since 2004.

• 

  June 15, 2019
  Modi's Maldives, Sri Lanka Visit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Close on the heels of oath taking of Modi-led NDA government on May 30, 2019 attended by heads of BIMSTEC nations, re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first overseas visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka on June 8-9...

• 

  June 15, 2019
  Focus Space
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Post successful demonstration of anti-satellite test (ASAT) capability by India in March 2019, the government has cleared setting up of a new agency called the Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO).

• 

  June 15, 2019
  The Education-Radicalisation Connect
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The new NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced it will roll out a plan for modernising madrassa education next month.

• 

  May 31, 2019
  BIMSTEC Heads at Modi 2.0 Inaugural
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In a deft move of immense significance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited heads of the Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) nations to the swearing-in ceremony of his new...

• 

  May 31, 2019
  Of Drones and Bombs
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Rapid advancements in technology is empowering militarires as well as terrorists. This includes armed drones and remote controlled bombs. In May 2019, Indonesian police raided a terrorist cell with ability to use Wi-Fi to detonate explosive devices.

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  May 31, 2019
  New Eye in the Sky
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On May 22 May 22, 2019, ISRO achieved another feather in its cap by successfully launching RISAT – 2B; microwave radar imaging earth observation satellite.

• 

  May 20, 2019
  Agenda for Next Defence Minister
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  India is to have a new government shortly. It is, therefore, prudent to list out what should be the agenda for the next Defence Minister.

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  May 20, 2019
  IAF Receives First Apache
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The first AH-64E (I) - Apache Guardian helicopter was formally handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on May 10, 2019 at Mesa in a formal ceremony at the Boeing production facility in Arizona, USA.

• 

  May 20, 2019
  Boosting Short-Service Commission?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  According to news reports of May 9, 2019, the Armed Forces are close to finalising the package to make short-service commission (SSC) more attractive for eligible youth.

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  April 19, 2019
  Lateral Entry in Govt Service - and MoD Dumped
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There was extensive media coverage when in June 2018 government announced it would seek lateral entry from the civil into the government services at joint secretary level.

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  April 8, 2019
  Mission Shakti - advantage India and more
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  March 27, 2019, was a historic day for India when it successfully shot down a satellite, enabling the country to join an elite club of countries with anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities; the U.S., Russia and China.

• 

  April 8, 2019
  Special Operations Division
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On August 8, 2012, the Naresh Chandra Committee on national security submitted its report to the government, its recommendations including establishment of a Special Operations Command (SOC).

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  April 8, 2019
  EMISAT launched - more Military Satellites in offing
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On April 1, 2019, ISRO successfully launched India's electronic intelligence satellite EMISAT in another hallmark achievement, the PSLV-C45 also carrying 28 international customer satellites from four countries -- Lithuania, Spain...

• 

  April 8, 2019
  Women Defence Attachés
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In what is being described as a brilliant move championed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Army, Navy and Air Force were asked to single out women officers who were appropriate for posting to Indian missions abroad as defence attachés.

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  April 8, 2019
  MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters for Navy
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The US has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets to India at estimated cost of $2.6 billion, the Trump administration has notified the Congress.

• 

  SP's Aviation - Issue: 3 / 2019
  India Finally uses Military Option Against Terrorists in Pakistan
  By Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha (Retd)

  To deter Pakistan from retaliating/escalating after such air strikes, IAF's numerical superiority needs to be restored expeditiously by arresting depleting numbers of fighter aircraft and fast-tracking procurement of six additional FRA

• 

  March 28, 2019
  India's A-SAT test an exercise in deterrence
  By Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha (Retd)

  'Mission Shakti' demonstrates India's capability to safeguard its growing space-based assets and deter adversaries from creating trouble in a new battlefield

• 

  March 22, 2019
  Takeaways from Balakot
  By General Deepak Kapoor (Retd)

  The Indian Air Force (IAF) needs to be complimented for a well planned, coordinated and meticulously executed strike on a crucial Jaish terror hub at Balakot, located in Khyber Pakhtoonwa province of Pakistan.

• 

  March 6, 2019
  Imran's Nobel Peace Prize - joke of the decade?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The resolution submitted in Pakistan's Parliament on March 2, 2019 to grant the Nobel Peace Prize to Prime Minister Imran Khan for having taken the decision of releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of Indian Air Force (IAF) in a bid to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan...

• 

  March 6, 2019
  MiG-21 Bison versus F-16
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The downing of a Pakistani F-16 by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman flying a MiG-21 on February 27 has been talk of the world.

• 

  March 6, 2019
  BECA - and Indo-US Relations
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  News is in the air that India is likely to sign the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA) with the US.

• 

  February 27, 2019
  Indian Strikes Pakistani Terror Camps
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The significance of the strikes is the strong signal sent to Pakistan that Pakistan continuing to raise the level of terrorism will not be tolerated by India.

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  February 21, 2019
  Bogey - that Pakistan will collapse economically
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There is jubilation in a cross-section in India over Pakistan being in an economic mess. Even Prime Minister Modi said in a recent public rally that Pakistan is roaming around with its begging bowl but not getting help from the world, which drew applause from the crowd.

• 

  February 21, 2019
  Assault Rifles
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Finally, there is some more news about assault rifles for the Indian Army, or shall we say part of the Army because when it comes to equipping soldiers at the cutting edge, where battle is being fought every day and night, we start counting pennies...

• 

  February 21, 2019
  Russian MiG-29 Offer
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  According to media reports, Russia has offered the Indian Air Force (IAF) 21 MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft airframes that have been 'stored' for decades but not used.

• 

  February 21, 2019
  Visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS in short) arrived New Delhi on a two-day state visit on February 19, 2019. He earlier visited Pakistan and was scheduled to come to India directly from Pakistan.

• 

  February 21, 2019
  Litigation against Disabled Soldiers
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has decided to withdraw its appeals made before the Supreme Court against grant of disability benefits to soldiers by various courts...

• 

  February 1, 2019
  Defence Budget 2019-2020
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The Interim Budget speech by the Interim Finance Minister (IFM) on February 1, 2019, covered defence budget allocation for the next fiscal year in precisely 34 words by saying, "Our Defence Budget will be crossing 3,00,000 crore for the first time in 2019-20.

• 

  BREAKING

  February 1, 2019
  Aero India 2019: Customs duty on import of aircraft
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  It is learnt from some reliable sources that the Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman, did raise an objection to this step by the Department of Customs and has sought reversal of the notification.

• 

  February 1, 2019
  Game of Disability Pensions
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), Ministry of Defence, vide its Notification No. 16(3),2017/D (Pen/Policy) dated January 29, 2019, signed by Manoj Sinha, Deputy Secretary to Government of India...

• 

  February 1, 2019
  Microsat-R, Kalamsat launch – and more
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  ISRO's PSLV-C44, carrying India's Military Satellite Microsat-R and Students' Payload Kalamsat, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharkota Range at 11.37 pm on January 24, 2019 after a 28-hour countdown.

• 

  February 1, 2019
  Fortifying Andaman & Nicobar
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Media reports of January 27 state government has "virtually finalised" a 5,650 crore military infrastructure development plan for Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) over a 10-year period.

• 

  January 28, 2019
  Killing the Golden Goose
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  The proverbial "last straw on the camel's back" came on January 17 this year when the Department of Customs issued a notification imposing customs duty on aircraft as well as any other equipment brought into the country for static or flying display at Aero India 2019.

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  January 16, 2019
  Chinooks and Apaches are Coming
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The first batch of US-built heavy-lift Chinook helicopters and Apache attack helicopters will commence arriving India in March 2019, just ahead of the general elections.

• 

  January 16, 2019
  Space Diplomacy with Neighbours
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  While the launch of Chandrayan-2 scheduled on January 3 was postponed a second time for unexplained reasons, media headlines of January 4 announced India setting up five ground stations and over 500 terminals in neighbouring countries...

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  January 16, 2019
  Fortifying Andaman & Nicobar
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  News reports of January 6, 2019 reveal that Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI) will get a new airbase in the Indian Naval Air Station, INS 'Kohasa' near Diglipur (largest town of North Andaman Island with population of 744202 (2001 census) located...

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  January 3, 2019
  Revering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the Tricolour in Andaman's Netaji Memorial in Port Blair on December 30, 2018 to commemorate the first flag hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on December 30, 1943.

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  January 3, 2019
  Beyond the Bogibeel Bridge
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On 25 December 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 4.98 km-long Bogibeel Bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge on Brahmaputra River. Foundation stone for this bridge was laid 21 years earlier by the then Prime Minister in 1997 though work started only five years later in 2002.

• 

  January 3, 2019
  GSAT-11 – boosts Bharat Net Project
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  India's heaviest communication satellite GSAT-11 was launched successfully on December 5, 2018 from the Spaceport in French Guiana along with South Korea's GEO-KOMPSAT-2A satellite, onboard Ariane VA 246 launch vehicle.

• 

  January 3, 2019
  GSAT-7A makes IAF happy – but holistic approach needed
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On December 19, 2018, India successfully launched GSAT-7A satellite meant for augmenting the existing communications capabilities of satellites utilised by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

• 

  December 19, 2018
  Visit of President Ibrahim Solih
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Maldives President Ibrahim Solih’s three-day state visit to India commencing December 17 was his first foreign visit after becoming President. He was accompanied by the first lady and a high-level delegation including Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, National Planning and Infrastructure...

• 

  December 19, 2018
  Drone Swarms Threat - much catching up required
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which is a statutory body of Government of India, disclosed through a communication on November 9, 2018 that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had announced a 100 crore Swarm Drone Competition.

• 

  December 19, 2018
  ISRO Space Museums and Space Applications
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Speaking to the media on November 26, ISRO Chairman K. Sivan stated ISRO recently discussed a proposal with the Kerala government to set up a space museum in Thiruvananthapuram, to which the state government responded positively and even allotted land for the purpose.

• 

  December 19, 2018
  Defence Minister’s US Visit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a maiden 5 day visit to the US that concluded on December 8, 2018. Her visit was concurrent to the ongoing 12 day Indo-US military exercise between the IAF and the USAF in Kalaikunda...

• 

  December 19, 2018
  Prahar, Pralay and Sant
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On September 20, India successfully test-fired ‘Prahar’ short-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) from Chandipur, Odisha. Prahar is a solid fuel road-mobile short-range missile fitted with inertial navigation system.

• 

  November 29, 2018
  GSAT-29, Gaganyaan and more
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  ISRO launched GSAT-29 into orbit on November 14, India's latest satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The GSLV MkIII lifted the rocket into space, the heaviest rocket developed by ISRO.

• 

  November 29, 2018
  The Quad and the IONS
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The third round of the quadrilateral security dialogue termed 'Quad', between India, US, Japan and Australia, was held on 15 November 2018 at Singapore on sidelines of the 13th East Asia Summit.

• 

  November 29, 2018
  Stonewalling Defence-Industry Privatization
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  As per media reports, four lakh defence employees working in 41 ordnance factories, naval docks, army and air force workshops and other productions units are readying themselves for a three-day protest between 23 and 25 January 2019.

• 

  November 19, 2018
  PM Narendra Modi visits Maldives
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his brief maiden visit to Maldives on November 17 to attend the swearing in Ceremony of new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on invitation of the latter.

• 

  November 19, 2018
  Military Drones - private industry is Way Forward
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  As per news reports, a private Gurgaon-based company, 'Vortex UAS', has been working on providing military drones, including weaponised versions, for the Indian Army, the Navy and the National Security Guard (NSG).

• 

  October 30, 2018
  13th India-Japan Annual Summit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan on 28-29 October 2018 for the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit for wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional...

• 

  October 30, 2018
  Coming – Apache Attack Helicopters
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In 1985 when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited the US, he was accompanied by Army Chief General K. Sundarji.

• 

  October 30, 2018
  India-China Joint Project on Afghanistan
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The MEA brief issued on April 28, 2018, with respect to the Informal Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 27-28 at Wuhan, China described among other issues, agreement...

• 

  October 17, 2018
  Visit of Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who had visited India in July 2016 before he was elected Secretary General, made his maiden visit to India from October 1 to October 4.

• 

  October 6, 2018
  S-400 Triumf for India
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  A major acquisition of defence equipment from Russia has delivered a clear message to the Trump administration on India’s perspective of strategic autonomy in matters of national security.

• 

  October 6, 2018
  Visit of President Vladimir Putin - big boost to strategic ties
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India on 4-5 October to attend the 19th Indo-Russian Summit has provided a big boost to the bilateral strategic partnership. His visit came at a time of angst in Moscow in what it sees as India’s tilt towards the US while New Delhi views growing China-Russia-Pakistan alignment with concern.

• 

  October 6, 2018
  Beyond National Register for Citizens
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There has been much talk of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam relating to illegal immigrants, though many would like to paint it a communal issue.

• 

  October 6, 2018
  Can Pak Arm Terrorists with Chemicals?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  After security forces gunned down two terrorists in Bandipora are of J&K last month, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) issued a statement on September 23 that chemical weapons were used to kill these terrorists.

• 

  October 6, 2018
  The Offsets Tangle - and question of favourites
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  That the Rafale is state-of-the-art fighter the IAF must get is unquestionable. But the brouhaha is about the joint venture (JV) between Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence owned by Anil Ambani under the offset clause.

• 

  October 6, 2018
  New Tri-Service Divisions
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In November 1988, Maldives President Abdul Gayoom sent an SOS to India having taken refuge in Maldives National Security Headquarters when a group of 80-200 Sri Lankan militants of People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE)...

• 

  September 19, 2018
  Coming Up – 19th Indo-Russian Summit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Russian President Vladimir Putin is to arrive in New Delhi for the 19th Indo-Russian summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 5. Modi had invited Putin for the 19th Annual Summit in India at the first informal Summit between the two leaders on May 21, 2018 at Sochi in the Russian Federation.

• 

  September 19, 2018
  Nepal in Dragon’s Jaws
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  China has agreed to allow Nepal to use four seaports and three land ports for the third country trade. The seaports are Shenzen, Lianyungang, Zhanjiang and Tianjin, and the land ports are Lanzhou, Lhasa and Xigatse.

• 

  September 7, 2018
  Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The first ever Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue finally took place on September 6, 2018 after two postponements over past one year.

• 

  September 7, 2018
  Visit of Chinese Defence Minister
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Commenting on multiple transgression by the across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including a major one in Sikkim post the informal summit in Wuhan between Prime Minister Narendar Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Claude Arpi...

• 

  September 7, 2018
  ISRO's Manned Mission – and more
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  During his address from Red Fort on 15 August 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would launch a manned mission in space in the year 2022 - the 75th Independence year.

• 

  September 7, 2018
  Is Imran Khan another Musharraf
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Imran Khan is the second Pathan to be elevated to the top job in Pakistan after Yahya Khan. His radical background is well established known. His links with Taliban and his funding of the Haqqani seminary known as the 'Oxford of Global Jihad' is well documented, which earned him the title of "Taliban Khan".

• 

  September 7, 2018
  Indo-Russian Defence Cooperation
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Speaking to Russian media in June 2018, the Indian Ambassador to Russia had said that India is continuing to negotiate with Russia for jointly developing a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).

• 

  August 16, 2018
  Prime Minister's Independence Day Message
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort for his fifthtime Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke mostly about the achievements of his government over the past four years including the various schemes launched by his administration, and future dreams.

• 

  August 16, 2018
  Delhi's Missile Shield
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Delhi is to get a missile shield "soon", which the media says will be akin to that of Washington and Moscow. Going by past experience, the "soon" could be any number of months, even years.

• 

  August 16, 2018
  Quading China
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There is a viewpoint that the fast developing US-Japan-Vietnam-Australia-India consort, coupled with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), would increase China's Malacca dilemma for its energy imports notwithstanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and alternate through Myanmar.

• 

  August 16, 2018
  Indo-US Defence Technology Conundrum
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There is jubilation in India over the US granting the Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) that will ease export controls for high technology product sales to the country.

• 

  August 3, 2018
  Modi's Rwanda, Uganda visit and BRICS summit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  As part of his recent three-nation tour to Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rwanda, Uganda and then South Africa where he attended the BRICS summit.

• 

  August 3, 2018
  India, Pakistan in SCO drill – Option in lighter vein
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Going by media reports India and Pakistan are to be part of anti-terror mega drill in Russia under aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next month; scheduled from August 22 to August 29.

• 

  August 3, 2018
  Chief Guest Republic Day 2019 – Donald Trump?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Going by media reports, US President Donald Trump has been invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade 2019.

• 

  August 3, 2018
  Weapon upgrades for Special Forces
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Weapons and equipment are in the pipeline for the Special Forces. According to a MoD official, "More attention is being paid to Special Forces after Para (Special Forces) conducted cross-border surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan Occupied-Kashmir (POK) in September 2016."

• 

  August 3, 2018
  DTTI and futuristic weapons
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The 7th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) meeting was held in New Delhi on 18 July 2018, co-chaired by, Ajay Kumar, Secretary Defence Production and US Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen M Lord.

• 

  August 3, 2018
  Nuclear missile tracking ship
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  According to news in the media, India's secretive missile tracking / 'specialized' ocean surveillance ship 'VC11184' (yet to be commissioned) is undergoing harbour trials and is likely to be delivered to the Navy by December.

• 

  July 16, 2018
  Visit of South Korean President Moon Jae-in
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived on his first state visit to India on July 8. His four-day visit (8-11 July) marked the 45th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

• 

  July 16, 2018
  Arrived - hand-held Laser Weapons
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  China claims its newly developed ZKZM-500 laser assault rifle, a non-lethal weapon, can hit a target nearly a kilometer away.

• 

  July 16, 2018
  Visit of Chinese military delegation
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In what was described as a "significant ice-breaker" by our media, a 10-member Chinese delegation led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu, Deputy Commander of Western Theatre Command (that controls China's borders with Myanmar, India, Nepal...

• 

  July 16, 2018
  Tejas delay — Boosting imports?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  35 years after approval of Tejas, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in 1983, it has missed another deadline of getting its final operational clearance (FOC) by June 2018. This is after several revisions and repeated declarations by the government that FOC will be given by June 2018.

• 

  July 4, 2018
  Visit of Seychelles President – and Assumption Island
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Seychelles President Danny Faure arrived at Ahmedabad on evening of June 22 for a six-day visit to India. His visit included visiting Gujarat, New Delhi, Goa and Uttrakhand.

• 

  July 4, 2018
  New Chinese drones - formidable challenge
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  China is going full steam in developing drones. Its latest undersea drone 'Qianlong III' is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), which has dived deep into the South China Sea covering a distance of some 160 km in 42 hours.

• 

  July 4, 2018
  Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue – and the trade war
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue scheduled for July 6, 2018 at Washington DC, for which EAM Sushma Swaraj and RM Nirmala Sitharamn were to travel to Washington DC to hold discussions with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretay James Mattis, has been postponed for a second time.

• 

  July 4, 2018
  Pakistan on FATF grey list – and the hogwash counter?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Pakistan was officially placed in the 'grey list' on June 28, 2018, after it failed to convince the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that it has taken significant steps to curb terror financing on its territory.

• 

  July 4, 2018
  The Civil-Military Gulf
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In her recent article 'The belief system, and some truths' published in The Hindu, IAS officer Dipali Rastogi has blown the lid off the IAS cadre, whom she describes as: meant to serve, but do not; not trained to handle vast sums of money...

• 

  June 22, 2018
  Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The first Indo-US Dialogue is finally happening almost one year after US President Donald Trump called PM Narendra Modi on August 15, 2017, congratulating him on India's 71st Independence Day, after which the White House announced India and US will start a new 2-by-2 ministerial dialogue to enhance...

• 

  June 22, 2018
  NavIC – Rollout on the anvil
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There is good news in the air. NavIC ('Navigation with Indian Constellation' whose English meaning is 'sailor' or 'navigator') or the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), our indigenous and fully autonomous regional satellite navigation system, is in the final stages of launch.

• 

  June 22, 2018
  Defence sector and cyber threats
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Addressing a workshop for formulating Cyber Security Framework on Jun 19, 2018, Defence Minister Sutharaman said that the defence sector is more prone...

• 

  June 13, 2018
  Singapore Summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12 was historic, with eyes of the world riveted on the live broadcast.

• 

  June 4, 2018
  Modi's three ASEAN nations visit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-ASEAN nation visit to Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia from May 29 to June 2 aimed at giving a substantive boost to India's ties with these countries in consonance with India's Act Eat Policy (AEP).

• 

  June 4, 2018
  India-North Korea relations
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The visit by General VK Singh, MoS (EAM) to North Korea on May 15-16, 2018 was a surprise because in March 2018, India had imposed fresh restrictions on trade with North Korea, in line with the restrictions imposed by the UN.

• 

  June 4, 2018
  Kick-starting AI in Armed Forces
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  News reports of May 20, 2018 have reported the government has embarked upon an ambitious defence project for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational preparedness of the armed forces in a significant way.

• 

  June 4, 2018
  Modi-Putin informal summit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  With growing global challenges informal summits are becoming the norm in bilateral relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Sochi for an informal summit with President Putin.

• 

  May 14, 2018
  PM Modi's Nepal visit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent two-day visit to Nepal on May 11-12 was described in media by some cross-sections for countering Chinese influence in Nepal, while some opposition parties in India alleged it was to influence the polls in Karnataka.

• 

  May 14, 2018
  Neemrana Dialogue – resumed
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Media reports suddenly appeared that government had agreed to revive the Track II diplomacy process with Pakistan despite its apparent aversion to 'conventional' talks with that country.

• 

  May 14, 2018
  S-400 – and the CAATSA waiver
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Russia's S-400 (nicknamed Triumf) is an upgraded version of the S-300 system, manufactured by Almaz-Antey and is in Russian military service since 2007.

• 

  May 2, 2018
  Modi-Xi informal meet – how Xi acts is the key
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The informal meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 27-28 is hot news that must have been watched with much interest globally.

• 

  May 2, 2018
  Coming – military satellites by ISRO
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On April 24, 2018, ISRO announced postponement of launch of satellite GSAT-11, a month after it lost contact with communication satellite GSAT-6A.

• 

  May 2, 2018
  National approach must beyond MoCA, CISF counter-drone moves
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  As per media reports, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has tied up with the Indian army to train personnel in identifying drones of Pakistani and Chinese origin, following a six-day training session conducted in Gopalpur, Odisha).

• 

  May 2, 2018
  Pak Defence Budget 2018-2019
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Pakistan announced a hike in the country's defence budget by 10 per cent (1.1 trillion), as the over 5.6 trillion federal budget for 2018-2019 was presented on April 28.

• 

  April 20, 2018
  Visit of Nepalese Prime Minister
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharama Oli’s three-day state visit to India from April 6 to 8 is being hailed as landmark albeit it was more about resetting relations after Nepal’s China drift, acrimony over the border blockade during the Madhesi agitation over amendment to the Nepalese Constitution...

• 

  April 20, 2018
  UAV losses — Time to wake up
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The loss of a Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) of the Indian Navy near Porbandar in March 2018 has taken the count of UAVs losses by the Indian Armed Forces to 14 since the Kargi Conflict.

• 

  April 20, 2018
  Defence Minister’s Russia visit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s recent three-day visit to Moscow was primarily to attend the Seventh Moscow Conference on International Security. However, she also met the Russian Defence Minister, General Sergey Shoygu in a bilateral meeting, focusing on reinforcing defence cooperation with specific focus on military-technical cooperation.

• 

  April 20, 2018
  Defexpo 2018 — Not much headway
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In his speech to the 10th edition of the four-day DefExpo 2018 held in April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the steps taken by his government to open up defence manufacturing to private sector companies...

• 

  April 20, 2018
  New Think Tank for military strategy planning?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  This is to make defence preparedness much more than an acquisition-centric exercise. The Committee will reportedly have a cross-ministry mandate, headed by the National Security Advisor (NSA), and members being the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, three Service Chiefs, Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) as its members.

• 

  April 4, 2018
  A Powerful Impetus for Make in India
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  Production of a fighter aircraft in India through a joint venture, will provide a major impetus to the Make in India programme in the Indian aerospace industry.

• 

  April 4, 2018
  Military's manpower shortages
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Responding to questions by two MPs, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently informed Parliament that the Armed Forces had a total shortage of approximately 60,000 personnel excluding those belonging to the medical and dental streams.

• 

  April 4, 2018
  The Chinese challenge
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Post being anointed President for life, Xi Jinping told 3,000 legislators of the Chinese Parliament on March 20, 2018, "The Chinese people have been indomitable and persistent.

• 

  April 4, 2018
  Hoax call of integrated theatre commands
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Headlines like 'Govt moves on integrated theatre commands; amends rules to bring three forces under single leadership' appearing in the media on March 19, 2018, caused considerable excitement in the public domain.

• 

  April 4, 2018
  The fiasco of GSAT-6A
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On March 29, 2018, ISRO launched the communication satellite GSLV Mk-II (GSLV-F08); carrying the 2,140kg GSAT-6A, it took off from Sriharikota and some 17 minutes later the three-stage rocket injected the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

• 

  March 15, 2018
  20 Years of Indo-French partnership and Macron’s India visit
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  France was the first country in the world with which India signed a strategic partnership in 1998; between French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Indian space scientists received initial training in France after Pokhran-II, France recognizing India as responsible nation while balance West blocked out India.

• 

  March 15, 2018
  Visit of Vietnam President boosts India-Vietnam strategic partnership
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The three day visit (March 2-4) this year by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s was testament to the growing closeness in the bilateral security ties between India and Vietnam. His visit came just few weeks after Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to India as chief guest at India’s Republic Day Parade 2016 along with heads of states of all other ASEAN countries.

• 

  March 15, 2018
  Indo-US 2-by-2 dialogue
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Post US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2017, congratulating him on India’s 71st Independence Day, the White House announced that India and US will start a new 2-by-2 ministerial dialogue to enhance “peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region...

• 

  March 15, 2018
  Coming — Drone swarm attacks
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There have been many instances of the Islamic State or ISIS using commercial drones for ‘attacking’ regular forces in Iraq and Syria. But in January 2018, the Russia’s Khmeimim air base and Tartus naval facility in Syria came under coordinated attack by “swarms” of home-made drones carrying bomblets / improvised explosive devices (IEDs,) as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defence.

• 

  March 15, 2018
  MoD shown the mirror
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In end February 2018, public become aware that MoD for once was shown the mirror to recognize its ugly face. According to media reports, MoD had deduced internally that the much publicized ‘Make in India’ initiative is floundering...

• 

  March 5, 2018
  Rouhani’s visit boosts Indo-Iranian construct
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived at Hyderabad on February 15, 2018, visited Hyderabad for two days and arrived New Delhi on February 17.

• 

  March 5, 2018
  Chandrayan II — Seeks Moon’s South Pole
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In October-November 2018, ISRO is scheduled to attempt what no country has done before. Chandrayan-II will carry an orbiter, a lander and a rover to the moon, with the rover spending 14 days on the surface of the Moon’s ‘South Pole’.

• 

  March 5, 2018
  Aura to fly in 2018
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Our military’s requirement of UAVs has suffered past several years because of lack of industrial expertise, combined with delays and cost overruns.

• 

  March 5, 2018
  IAF’s Next Fighter Aircraft — One step forward, two steps back?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The Standing Committee for Defence while presenting its report to the Parliament in December 2017 slammed the government for neglecting military modernization. The report pointed out that persisting critical military operational gaps have adversely affected the country's defence preparedness.

• 

  February 19, 2018
  PM Modi’s West Asian outreach
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Palestine, the UAE and Oman, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, while briefing media had outlined that the visit would be of strategic importance in terms of energy and security...

• 

  February 19, 2018
  Mujahids to fuel Indo-Pak border more?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  As per recent reports, Pakistan is deploying several battalions of its Mujahid Regiment, along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) to infiltrate terrorists and target Indian security forces. According to intelligence sources, these Mujahid battalions are 641, 647, 654 and 655. Mujahids are equivalent to our Territorial Army and these four battalions now are permanently embodied.

• 

  February 19, 2018
  JeM attacks rouse MoD
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Continuing terrorist attacks, especially the recent ISI-backed JeM terrorist attack of Sunjwan Army Camp in Jammu appears to have roused the MoD into action. The Ministry okayed 1,487 cr to boost the security of Army camps on Saturday, February 12 - same day as the terrorist attack on Sunjwan Army Camp...

• 

  February 19, 2018
  Terrorist attack on Sunjwan military camp
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On February 10, 2018, the army camp at Sunjwan in Jammu was attacked by JeM terrorists in early hours of the morning. Sneaking in, the terrorists entered family quarters of Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and firing began at 5 AM. The encounter continued over three days resulting in the death of five army personnel including two JCOs, and seven injured including civilians. Three terrorists were killed.

• 

  February 19, 2018
  The Faux Pas in Maldives
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The strategic importance of Maldives to India needs no emphasis; located in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives archipelago comprising 1,200 coral islands lies next to key shipping lanes which ensure uninterrupted energy supplies to countries like China, Japan and India. But happenings in the recent past indicate, Maldives has been sucked into the gravitational pull of China, away from India, just like Nepal.

• 

  February 19, 2018
  Perimeter security of military establishments
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Post the terrorist attack on IAF’s Patahnkot airbase on January 2, 2016, the MoD had appointed a committee headed by Lt Gen Phillip Campose, then Vice Chief of Army Staff, to review the security set-up for the military bases and suggest ways to improve it. The Committee found gaping holes in the security set up of many installations and submitted its report to the then Defence Minister in May 2016.

• 

  February 5, 2018
  Indo-ASEAN relations – Get strategic boost
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Republic Day 2018 was unique and very special with 10 leaders of ASEAN nations gracing the occasion with ASEAN completing 50 years of its formation and India completing 25 years of India-ASEAN partnership that commenced in 1992.

• 

  February 5, 2018
  Artificial Intelligence in Defence
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The next level of strategic cooperation between India and Japan has become apparent with the news that India and Japan are to work together to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in the defence sector.

• 

  February 5, 2018
  India in Australia Group – Looking at NSG
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  January 19, 2018 saw India becoming a member of the Australia Group. The Australia Group restricts trade in materials used to make chemical and biological weapons.

• 

  February 5, 2018
  Coming – Long range BrahMos
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  When India successfully test-fired its nuclear capable Agni-V ICBM on January 18 this year, China had made no official statement, but after the December 2016 Agni-V test China had stated it hoped India's testing of the nuclear-capable Agni-V ICBM...

• 

  February 3, 2018
  Defence Budget 2018-2019
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Defence Budget for 2018-2019 stands at 2,96,511.41 cr (1.58 per cent of GDP).

• 

  January 19, 2018
  Visit of Israeli Prime Minister
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's six-day visit to India has very smoothly taken India-Israel relations to the next level.

• 

  January 19, 2018
  ISRO's centurion leap
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  ISRO launched its 100th satellite in space on January 12, 2018 as its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40) successfully placed 31 satellites in two different orbits in one of the longest missions.

• 

  January 9, 2018
  Trump Twitter-bombs Pakistan
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The dawn of New Year in Pakistan was twitter-bombed by US President Donald Trump accusing Pakistan of double-dealing by saying, "The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools.

• 

  January 9, 2018
  Neglecting welfare — Affecting soldier's morale
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  A recent editorial in a national daily titled 'An Unhappy Army' states that unflattering information on the internal "atmosphere" in the armed services is seldom made public: the bad-for-morale argument serves to keep things under wraps.

• 

  January 9, 2018
  Defence Budget 2018-2019 — Another negative in actual terms?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Defence Budget 2018-2019 is to be unveiled shortly. What will be allocated to the Armed Forces is awaited with trepidation considering successive defence budgets...

• 

  January 8, 2018
  Visit of Israeli Prime Minister - Expectations
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit India commencing January 14.

• 

  January 8, 2018
  The drone crash - And beyond
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  China went wild with accusations when an Indian drone recently crashed in China occupied Tibet in first week December 2017, days before the visit to India by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Heron drone, made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), had taken off from a base in the Siliguri Corridor on a training mission over India when it developed technical problems and crashed in Chumbi Valley near the Doklam Plateau where there is a concentration of Chinese troops.

• 

  January 8, 2018
  CPEC glitches temporary - But violence to continue
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  First signs of hiccups in the nearly $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, inked during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan in April 2015...

• 

  January 8, 2018
  The 3D Revolution
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  From 1984, when Chuck Hall of 3D Systems Corporation developed the first working 3D printer, the 3D industry has progressed at an unbelievable pace.

• 

  December 13, 2017
  Finally: A new dawn for General Aviation
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  With the patronage by the central government for the launch of seaplane services, the General Aviation segment of the Indian civil aviation industry will finally witness a new dawn!

• 

  December 4, 2017
  Privatizing government defence industry
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The governmental has announced some disinvestment in the governmental defence industry like 10% in HAL, which does not amount to much change.

• 

  December 4, 2017
  Republic Day Parade 2018 will be special
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  That Republic Day Parade 2018 will be special is probably an understatement. Never have 10 heads of states been invited to this event, which India has done this time...

• 

  December 4, 2017
  Cartosat 2 and ISRO's multiple outreach
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Come later half of December and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is getting ready to launch the next remote sensing satellite of Cartosat-2 series along with 30 nano satellites of foreign countries.

• 

  December 4, 2017
  Ivanka Trump boosts Indo-US relations
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), jointly hosted by the US and India and attended by 1,500 entrepreneurs, investors and eco-system supporters from 159 countries was held in Hyderabad from 28 to 30 November, 2017.

• 

  November 15, 2017
  India, US, Japan, Australia quadrilateral kicks off
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  November 12, 2017 witnessed the first meeting of officials of India, US, Japan and Australia meeting at Manila, giving shape to security cooperation...

• 

  November 15, 2017
  Continued US military assistance to Pakistan is unfortunate
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  When President Donald Trump unveiled his new Af-Pak policy on 21 August 2017 through a televised speech, he was most direct in telling Pakistan how it has been playing the double game with the US.

• 

  November 15, 2017
  No to Tejas and Arjun by military is misinformation
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The media is agog with the news that the Armed Forces have said no to the indigenous Tejas fighter and the Arjun Tank.

• 

  November 15, 2017
  Joint Training Doctrine
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  As a follow up to the ‘Joint Doctrine, Indian Armed Forces - 2017’ in April this year, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) has now issued...

• 

  November 15, 2017
  Nirbhay-BrahMos Combo — Nemesis of adversaries
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  December 21, 2016 was bad for India when the trial test of the nuclear-capable ‘Nirbhay’ long-range cruise missile failed for the third time. According to DRDO officials, “The booster engine in Nirbhay’s first stage started working. The missile lifted off from its launcher.

• 

  November 15, 2017
  The Doodle of Indo-Pak talks
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Much speculation is in the air that Indo-Pak talks are round the corner and that foreign pressure will make Pakistan slowly come around. Nothing could be farther from the truth despite Pakistan’s sweet pill of granting wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet him.

• 

  November 8, 2017
  HAL shedding 10 per cent stakes - Token move?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The government has recently approved the sale of 10% stake in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU). Suvarna Raju, CMD of HAL has termed it a "major milestone".

• 

  November 8, 2017
  Afghanistan via Chabahar — Strategic move
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Iran in May 2016, The trilateral engagement between India, Iran and Afghanistan was historic, expanding avenues of trade for India with Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and Russia through the International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC).

• 

  October 30, 2017
  Air operations from expressways & highways: Combat potential & other spin-offs
  By Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major (Retd)

  The recent Air Operations on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway by IAF Fighter & Transport aircraft was indeed a very well planned & executed operation...

• 

  SP's Aviation - Issue: 10 / 2017
  Expressway Landings
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  An important operational achievement, the exercise of activating portions of highways for landing and takeoff by military aircraft will become a regular feature in the peacetime training programme of the IAF.

• 

  October 23, 2017
  Defence Minister's Diwali in Andaman & Nicobar Command
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's two day visit to the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), and spending Diwali with the troops and families was a nice gesture.

• 

  October 23, 2017
  Combating Drones
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On 13 October 2017, the Taliban claimed downing a US drone in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan.

• 

  October 23, 2017
  The AWACS Glut
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The news about the IAF facing grave shortage of airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) surveillance planes is not good, and should make authorities sit up.

• 

  October 17, 2017
  Visit of James Mattis — And Indo-US Defence Cooperation
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  US Secretary of Defence James Mattis arrived on a two-day visit at New Delhi on September 25 to hold talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He is the first cabinet rank official under the Trump administration to visit India.

• 

  October 17, 2017
  China’s Airborne Brigades
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  During the recent 15-day competition of the International Army Games 2017 held in China during July-August this year, Chinese airborne troops won first place in 11 of the 12 events, winning the overall championship in the platoon level airborne competition.

• 

  September 20, 2017
  Modi's Myanmar visit — And the Rohingya issue
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Myanmar on September 5 for a two–day visit on his way back from the 9th BRICS Summit at Xiamen in China.

• 

  September 20, 2017
  Parrying ToT — US Defence firms spoof Make in India
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  It is well known that US firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing are bidding to enter the 'Make in India' initiative for supplying combat jets and military equipment to India.

• 

  September 20, 2017
  Indo-Japanese Strategic Partnership boosted
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Indo-Japanese relations have always been special. Even during the recent Doklam standoff, it was Japan's envoy to India Kenji Hiramatsu who said there should be no attempt to change the status quo on the ground by force; categorizing the crisis as dispute between China and Bhutan...

• 

  September 20, 2017
  Indo-Russian defence ties – Waning is misnomer
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Even as the armies of India and US are engaged in joint military two-week exercise 'Yudh Abhyas 2017' to hone their skills in counter insurgency and counter terror...

• 

  September 13, 2017
  No Nonsense Approach of the New Defence Minister
  By Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)

  So while the enthusiasm of the Defence Minister to interact with the Service Chiefs is most welcome and is praiseworthy, we recommend that she should pay more attention to the Department of Defence Production, the Ordnance Factory Board...

• 

  September 12, 2017
  Various challenges facing the new Defence Minister
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Mrs Sitharaman holding independent charge of Ministry of Commerce & Industry did have an overview of the pathetic state of equipping of the military; the chapter on defence on official website of Ministry of Commerce & Industry in 2014...

• 

  September 4, 2017
  Lady at the Helm of Affairs
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  The challenges before the new Minister of Defence are formidable. Given her track record, the Indian armed forces are full of hope for better days ahead!

• 

  September 4, 2017
  Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman as Raksha Mantri
  By Rear Admiral Sushil Ramsay (Retd.)

  Appointment of Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, September 03, 2017 as the Defence Minister of India was welcomed as a refreshing news.

• 

  September 4, 2017
  New Defence Minister
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Mrs Nirmala Sitharaman has been appointed as the next Defence Minister. She is not the first lady holding this appointment since Indira Gandhi also held this portfolio, same as Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh Today. But she certainly is the first 'full-time' lady Defence Minister of India.

• 

  September 4, 2017
  Airport Security – plug the gaps
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  On 20 August, 2017, flight operations at Delhi airport were halted for around two hour with closure of the runways when an international airline pilot spotted a drone-like object in the area.

• 

  September 4, 2017
  President Trump's Af-Pak Policy
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Pakistan's has been playing the double game successfully all these years despite US and NATO military commanders in Afghanistan pointing out what the ground situation was; implying terrorist sanctuaries inside Pakistan must be destroyed.

• 

  September 4, 2017
  Selective Military Reforms – Why not holistic?
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Based on recommendations of the government-appointed Lt Gen D B Shekatkar Committee "Enhancing Combat Capability and Rebalancing Defence Expenditure of the Armed Forces", government has approved 65 of the 188 Committee recommendations mainly pertain to Army that included redeploying 57,000 personnel.

• 

  September 4, 2017
  Doklam Pullback – Advantage Modi
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  There is no doubt that the simultaneous pullback from the Doklam standoff by the Indian Military and the PLA is advantage Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• 

  August 24, 2017
  Additional Rafale jets for the IAF
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  Given the state the IAF is in today, there is urgent need to induct modern fourth-generation combat aircraft in the numbers required and as soon as possible.

• 

  August 21, 2017
  Apaches for Army Aviation – Long overdue
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  In September 2015, India had signed a deal for procuring 22 Apache helicopters from the US at the cost of 13,952 crore for the IAF. Following this, the Army had sought government approval for acquiring 11 Apache helicopters as as "a follow-on contract".

• 

  August 21, 2017
  Indo-US Defence Cooperation – Geostrategic elevation
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The US Departments of Defence (DoD) and State Department, in a recent joint report to their Congress, said, "We see a growing convergence with India on our strategic outlook for the region, and we view India as an increasingly important regional security partner within and beyond the Indo-Asia-Pacific region."

• 

  August 11, 2017
  Confronting the Dragon
  By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)

  The need of the hour is for the Indian armed forces to be prepared to meet with the challenges of a two-front war in the worst case scenario.

• 

  August 10, 2017
  Enhancement of Defence Budget 2017-18
  By Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd.)

  A few days ago there was a report in the media regarding non-availability of certain categories of ammunition which was causing great concern among the Services...

• 

  August 10, 2017
  Pakistan – in US terror spotlight
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  The US has listed Pakistan among the nations providing "safe havens" to terrorists, saying terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and JeM continued to operate, train, organize and fundraise inside the country.

• 

  August 10, 2017
  Switching military uniforms to Khadi would be retrograde
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  According to a media reports, the Khadi Villages Industries Commission (KVIC) had requested the Armed Forces to consider using Khadi uniforms for security personnel, and the Ministry of Defence has sent specifications of military uniforms to the KVIC.

• 

  August 10, 2017
  Additional defence allocation of 20,000 crore will only bridge partial criticalities
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  As per media reports, the MoD has sought an "urgent" additional allotment of 20,000 crore for combat readiness of Armed Forces.

• 

  August 10, 2017
  UAV swarming – Needs focus
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

  Coinciding with China's military parade to mark the 90th birthday of the Peoples Liberation Army, China's first batch of unmanned aerial vehicles conducted live fire drills.

• 

  July 31, 2017
  Beyond the 18th Vijay Diwas
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd.)

  The 18th Vjay Diwas will be celebrated with the usual aplomb on July 26; wreath laying, homage and tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in evicting the treacherous enemy.

• 

  July 31, 2017
  Souring Iran-Pakistan relations
  By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd.)

  The decline in Iran-Pakistan relations is continuing, the major reason being the same as in India-Pakistan and Afghanistan-Pakistan relations; Pakistan sponsored terrorism. In May this year, Iran warned Pakistan that it would hit terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan if the Pakistani Government does not confront militants who carry out cross-border attacks.