National Security and Strategic Studies
Defence
Imperatives for Reconsideration of the Armed Forces Doctrines

Modern warfare dictates different Services and indeed different components of national power to be brought together intelligently to achieve unity of command and unity of effort. Modern warfare is also extremely complex, and no two wars can be...

India’s March towards Achieving Hypersonic Capability

The Premise

On 27 Jan 2023, the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha Coast was abuzz with hectic activity. At the countdown 5,4,3,2,1, now….. the Agni I Missile lifted off carrying the Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) for...

A Perspective on Defence Budget 2023-24

At Rs 5,93,538, the overall defence budget for the financial year (FY) 2023-24 is one of the largest constituents of the union budget, trailing behind interest payments (Rs 10,79,971 crore) and capital expenditure (Rs 10,09,961 crore). This...

India’s Defence Budget 2023-24

Presenting the Union Budget 2023-24 before the Parliament on February 01, the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, allocated Rs 5.94 lakh crore—about US$72 billion—to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). While allocating the new budget for the MoD,...

IAF’s Revised Doctrine 2022: An Overview

The Indian Air Force has very recently published the third iteration of its Doctrine, a document which forges the close connect between India’s national security and its air power. Few are probably aware that the IAF has also been elevated to the...

Yudh Abhyas 22: Another Step Further in Deepening Indo-US Strategic Ties

Yudh Abhyas, a joint military exercise, held between the Indian Army and the US Army is one of the critical aspects of the defence cooperation between the two countries. This exercise takes place at the Battalion level with its joint planning...

Contemplating Deterrence by ‘Integrated Missile and Rocket Force’

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m here! Dongfeng Express at your service!” is what Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) wrote in February 2019, in its first post on Sina Weibo, the Chinese Twitter. PLARF took the name “Dongfeng...

Defence Procurement & Production: A Feel of Fresh Air as the New Year Dawns

Premise

A few days into the New Year and thinking of the year gone by, one gets a feel of ‘fresh air’ in the entire stance of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and their attitude towards the entire gamut of defence procurement. A resurgent...

Inapt ‘Perceptions’ and Elusive ‘Peace and Tranquillity’

Dai Bingguo, then State Councillor, Director of the General Offices of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Group of the CCP’s Central Committee and Special Representative (SR) for boundary negotiations with India from 2003 to 2013 had...

Longewala December 1971: If it Was Fought as a Unified Theatre Command Battle

Longewala- an Opportunity Lost

On 4 December 1971 when Indian forces were advancing into erstwhile East Pakistan, the Pakistanis decided to advance into Rajasthan along Axis Ramgarh – Jaisalmerand beyond. It was past midnight when sixty...

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