LR-SAM operationalised: Indian Navy successfully tests long-delayed air defence missile

By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 30th Dec 15



In a giant capability boost for the Indian
Navy, a naval warship today test-fired a new missile that can shoot down
incoming aerial threats --- such as aircraft and missiles --- whilst they are
still 70 kilometres away.



A defence ministry press release today
stated: �Adding a quantum jump in its air defence capability, INS Kolkata,

Trade, energy and defence take centrestage in Modi�s talks with Putin

From the joint statement:



Beyond six nuclear power reactors at Kudankulam, Russia welcomed progress in identifying second site in India for additional six nuclear reactors.



Inter-governmental agreement (IGA) for building Kamov-226 helicopters under �Make in India� scheme.



Joint Study Group for studying possibility of hydrocarbon pipeline system connecting Russia and India.

S-400 missiles, Kamov-226 helicopters, Gen-5 fighters on Modi�s agenda in Russia

The Russian S-400 air defence missile that could feature in Modi's agreements with Putin in Russia today



By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 24th Nov 15



Why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi
visiting Russia on what much of the world considers Christmas Eve? Because it
will not be Christmas in Russia until January 7, according to the Gregorian
calendar, when Orthodox Christians --- Russia�s

Engine of indigenisation

By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 22nd Dec 15



The defence ministry estimates that India
will buy foreign military aero engines worth Rs 350,000 crore over the next two
decades. While indigenising our military fleet, successive governments have neglected
the development and manufacture of aero engines, which account for one-third
the cost of a new military aircraft. Unless we build a

Offsets fetch growing interest from aerospace manufacturers

By Ajai
Shukla

Belgaum

Business Standard, 19th Dec 15



On Thursday
in Hyderabad, a small Indian firm called Aequs Aerospace signed an agreement
with global giant, Boeing, for manufacturing components for the Chinook CH-47 helicopter
that the Indian Air Force (IAF) bought this year.



Aequs,
which operates from a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Belgaum (officially Belagavi),
will be a

US to help India develop engine for Gen-5 fighter, AMCA likely to be powered by GE's Enhanced F-414 engine

US cites �strengthening
relationship� with India to clear engine technology release



By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 12th Dec 15



On Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar�s
first official visit to the United States from December 7-10, Washington has
signalled its willingness to co-develop with India an aircraft engine for
India�s indigenous fifth-generation fighter that is called the

Defence equipment parameters should be realistic

By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 11th Dec 15



It has been reported that the secretary to
the Department of Defence Production complained, in a lecture earlier this week
at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, that the military frames such
ambitious specifications for equipment being procured that Indian companies get
left out of the procurement -- because they simply cannot

Ministry of defence targets 70% indigenisation by 2027

By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 11th Dec 15



Speaking in New Delhi on Monday, the
defence ministry�s secretary in charge of defence production, AK Gupta, announced
an ambitious target to �achieve a level of 70 per cent [defence] indigenisation
by 2027.



Analysts regard this as unrealistic,
considering that Gupta himself estimates that �the indigenous content in total
defence

New missile adds teeth to the navy: a look at the LR-SAM

The air force version of this missile, the MR-SAM, will undergo its first test flight next year



By Ajai
Shukla

Business
Standard, 2nd Dec 2015



A
successful missile test on Thursday, in the Mediterranean Sea off the Israeli
port of Haifa, is potentially a giant capability leap for Indian and Israeli warships.



Developed
jointly by both countries, Israelis refer to the new missile

Pragati Maidan available for Defexpo, says ITPO

Discontent grows at MoD plan
to shift Defexpo and Aero India to Goa



By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 29th Nov 15



As opposition mounts in Goa to Defence
Minister Manohar Parrikar�s plan to shift India�s two biggest defence
exhibitions --- Defexpo and Aero India --- to that state, it now emerges the controversial
decision to move to Goa is based on a flawed premise.



The defence

Parrikar faces Goa storm over land acquisition for Defexpo and Aero India

By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 23rd Nov 15



Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar�s home
state, Goa, is seething with resentment at their former chief minister�s
initiative to obtain for the defence ministry 150 acres of priceless land in Betul,
Goa.



Parrikar wants the land for shifting India�s
two major defence exhibitions to Goa --- Defexpo (land and naval systems), and
Aero India

Book Review: Crouching dragon, kneeling tiger

Title : Why
India is Not a Great Power (Yet)

Author : Bharat Karnad

Publisher : Oxford
University Press, New Delhi

Pages : 552

Price : Rs
875/-



Followers
of this country�s strategic and security policy know well that to read Bharat
Karnad is to imbibe the most hawkish Indian worldview and perspectives outside
the Sangh Parivar. Over the years,