Month: May 2009

US, Russia worry about new government

The Ministry of Defense, closely watching the ongoing electoral exercise, has noticed the apprehensions of various countries regarding the eventual new government and their defense trade and strategic relationship with India.

MoD bureaucrats worry about next boss

“Imagine Mayawati as Defense Minister,” shuddered an officer, “Do we want to see cantonments converted into parks idealizing her with larger than life statues?”

“Or Mulayam Singh,” piped up another, “Do we stop using computers or writing in English?”

MoD meet on Rafale rubbished

“Antony has categorically said no movement on defense contracts will take place until the formation of the new government and the presence of a new defense minister,” a source told StratPost. He also denied such a meeting took place. The Statesman has however, reported otherwise.

Arjun vs T-90 in June

The DRDO is fighting to get increased orders from the army since the existing order for 124 tanks needs to be multiplied by a factor of five before the project can become economically viable.

Zardari after the Af-Pak summit

The reportedly sparse official outcome of the Af-Pak summit has lead many in Pakistan to suspect hidden agendas and secret agreements, leading one observer in Indian uniform to conclude, “They’re probably wondering what all he’s gone and signed away.”

The Future of US-India Relations: Blackwill

The full text of the speech given by Robert D. Blackwill, the former Ambassador to India, Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Planning and Presidential Envoy to Iraq and current Senior Fellow at the RAND Corporation to the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on May 5, 2009 in New Delhi.

IAF rubbishes Sukhoi grounding

“Aircraft are checked all the time. Naturally, after a crash, aircraft will undergo checks. But that does not mean the aircraft have been grounded. Our Sukhois are available to be tasked on missions as and when required. Grounding would mean the aircraft would no longer be available,” said a senior IAF officer.

Indian Army concerned about recruitment in Nepal

Nepalese Gorkhas constitute 40 per cent of the seven Gorkha Rifle regiments of the Indian Army. There are currently estimated to be over 30,000 Nepalese Gorkhas in the Gorkha Rifles. The schedule for the ongoing recruitment has not been decided yet and is likely to be affected by the political situation in Nepal.