Broadsword

The transformation of war

One has to give the US Army credit for trying to be better prepared for war in the future. The Indian Army would do well to follow that example

Ajai Shukla: Watching the big boys play

As US, China joust for supremacy, India might remain on the sidelines with its limited resources

Ajai Shukla: Half-term report card on defence

The army and the air force both have new chiefs, an opportunity for fresh ideas and approaches

Picking a chief on merit is fine, but what defines merit?

With no objective criteria set, this could lead to politicisation of the army

Ajai Shukla: Trumping up an India policy

The choice of mid-level officials by Donald Trump will be a key factor determining Washington's engagement with New Delhi

Ajai Shukla: The non-debate over nuclear 'no first use'

Bypassing Pakistan's tactical nuclear weapons threat is what India should think about, not populist, macho threats

Ajai Shukla: Five vital navy concerns that worry Indian admirals

It should not take an operational emergency to remind planners that the navy needs urgent attention

Ajai Shukla: Land of lost chances

New Delhi has repeatedly missed opportunities for political engagement in Kashmir in the past. It must seize the next one

Ajai Shukla: Not another MMRCA fiasco, please

The government must forswear political caution in the national interest and identify the best choice of aircraft for India

Ajai Shukla: Spending a big defence budget

For the military, the central problem is that the government has multiple finance divisions that impede, rather than assist, each other

Ajai Shukla: Treating the Scorpene's sting

The challenge before Indian admirals is to move beyond instinctive denial and develop a nuanced plan of action

Ajai Shukla: Taking Tejas forward

The defence ministry must ensure that HAL builds the aircraft at a rate of 12-16 fighters per year to translate it into a real combat asset

Ajai Shukla: Mr Modi's Washington agenda

US-India convergence in southeast Asia & divergence in south and west Asia will be the backdrop of negotiations

Ajai Shukla: American patience is stretched

As New Delhi continues to debate whether or not to trust Uncle Sam, the mood in Washington might change

Ajai Shukla: Mr Modi's defence report card

The Modi government has not lived up to the muscularity the prime minister promised while campaigning

Ajai Shukla: Drama in Dharamsala

Cancelling Uyghur leader Dolkun Isa's visa could have been a mutual face-saving exercise for New Delhi & Beijing

Ajai Shukla: The way forward in military command

India would benefit from tri-service theatre commanders who report directly to the political leadership, as in the US