Page 25 - Ajai Shukla

Galvanising aerospace

Infrastructure, skilling, access to funds - these fundamentals need to be fixed first for India to achieve its aerospace targets

MEA Jaishankar says 'real negotiations' still ahead in Afghanistan

Pooh-poohs Doha: "Was like finally seeing Pakeezah after 17 trailers"

Indian Navy makes a case for third aircraft carrier amid fund crunch

Opponents claim it will create another white elephant, but naval planners say funding is possible, writes Ajai Shukla

'Best, most feared military equipment': Trump announces $3-bn arms sales

"We make the greatest weapons ever made - aeroplanes, rockets, ships, missiles. We make the best and we are dealing now with India," said Trump

IAF to increase squadron strength; 3 more to be inducted in 2020

One new squadron, which will be raised in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, in the coming months, will be equipped with new Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, built by HAL in Nashik

Jairam Ramesh's book on VK Krishna Menon humanises the villain of 1962

The book offers a balanced and wide-ranging account of V K Krishna Menon, Nehru's controversial and irascible defence minister, taking in his role as freedom fighter, leftist politician, and visionary

The chimera of tri-service commands

An integrated military needs tri-service operational planning structures, rather than a joint command

MoD looks to induct foreign choppers in Navy, expert advises otherwise

On November 19, the MoD asked HAL for its comments. HAL has replied that it is "generally in agreement with the viewpoints provided by the consultant"

PM Modi inaugurates five high-tech DRDO labs where everyone is under 35

Three months after Modi won 2014 elections, he proposed that DRDO empower its younger scientists by establishing at least 5 labs where everyone, including the director, was under the age of 35

CAA protests: Army chief slams students, Opposition cries 'politicisation'

Opposition has accused Rawat of violating both regulations and tradition, as the army's basic rulebook disallows army personnel from commenting on a political question without govt sanction

Last MiG-27 fighters to retire on Friday; IAF down to 28 squadrons

This will reduce the IAF's combat strength to 28 fighter squadrons, just two-third of the 42 squadrons it is authorised to fight a two-front war against Pakistan and China together

Natural partners, unnatural times

India-US defence ties remain strong despite discord over trade and human rights. New Delhi would do well not to put this to the test

Tejas to AMCA, Gen-5 fighter on track, may spread its wings by 2025

The second of a two-part series focuses on the capabilities of India's most ambitious fighter programme, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and what design challenges it is facing

Far better than DRDO missile: Israel's Rafael makes strong pitch for Spike

In January 2018, India had cancelled a $500-million purchase of Spike LR missiles just two weeks before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to ink the deal on a visit to New Delhi

Defence PSUs have orders worth Rs 2.32 trn, HAL order book at Rs 59,832 cr

Close on HAL's heels is Bharat Electronics, with orders in hand worth Rs 56,300 crore

Congress slams terror-accused MP Pragya's appointment to defence panel

The opposition has criticised Thakur's nomination to the defence consultative committee on the grounds that she is facing charges of terrorist activities

India seventh-most affected by terror, but attacks becoming less bloody

Jammu & Kashmir is India's region most impacted by terrorism in 2018, with 321 attacks, resulting in 123 deaths

India's civil-military friction

Book review of The Absent Dialogue: Politicians, Bureaucrats and the Military in India

SC junks pleas seeking review of verdict absolving govt in Rafale deal case

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul authored the first part of the judgment

Bhadauria backs indigenisation, is first IAF chief to fly an HAL prototype

For a prototype trainer aircraft, the "six-spin" test is considered the most conclusive landmark that signals the aircraft is ready to go into operational service