Category: Analysis

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.

‘The Ghost of Bofors resides in South Block’

An insider explains the legacy of the corruption scandal over the Bofors gun deal and how, while the Indian Army has always considered the weapon in question to be eminently satisfactory, the political and bureaucratic fallout continues to be such as to reduce any defense procurement to a crawl.

26/11-26/04

Five months past the attacks on Mumbai, the promise of tangible Indo-Pak cooperation has become more urgent but remains just as distant. India has been unable to persuade Pakistan on several counts. It would like its neighbor to take an unequivocal and committed stand and refrain from dragging its feet going after the perpetrators of 26/11.

IAF ready to target non-state actors

While the IAF has the abilities to deal with non-state actors, it has a long way to go in developing optimal capabilities. Reducing the sensor-shooter gap to zero where the sensor will have to be the shooter is critical. This will provide the fastest possible decision cycle.

Squeaky-clean Antony disappoints MMRCA contenders

The Defense Minister AK Antony disappointed the contenders for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft contract during Aero India 2009, by declining to fly in any of the planes brought by four of the contenders. The representatives of the companies had hoped to have an interaction with the minister and try and get some hint as to where things where headed with the tender.

Gripen’s case to be the MMRCA

Gripen’s Eddy de la Motte points out the unique defensive and offensive capabilities of the fighter plane in being able to land on public roads, be serviced and take off again to continue operations, while explaining why he thinks the Gripen is the best aircraft for India’s anticipated 126 MMRCA purchase.

From the Mig 21 to the Gripen

StratPost spoke exclusively to a man who has extensively flown the mainstay of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Mig 21, as well as Saab’s Gripen fighter, one of the contenders for the MMRCA deal. Colonel Petr Mikulenka of the Czech Air Force, spoke to StratPost about his experiences with both aircraft.

IAF thinks about strikes on non state actors

Air Commodore Arjun Subramanium took the example of the Sri Lankan Air Force destroying the LTTE air wing after it became so bold as to strike at government targets, saying that while air strikes against non state actors may lead to short-term escalation, in the long term they would also lead to de-escalation.