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The Platform for Indian Defence Industry
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF'S NOTE
Dear Reader,
For Bharatshakti.in the biggest event since our last newsletter was the conduct of the 4th Edition of our annual marquee conclave Enhancing Defence Capabilities through Cooperation on the
18 October, 2019 at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The event generated a tide of interest with over 60 Defence Attaches attending. The Defence Minister was unable to deliver his address on account of unforeseen commitments. His address was read out to the audience. The Chiefs of Staff of the Indian Army and Navy and Babasaheb Kalyani, Chairman Kalyani Group addressed the gathering in the Opening Session.
We introduced a Panel Discussion on Overview of the Indian Defence Sector after the Opening Session. The discussion was moderated by Nitin Gokhale. Among the discussants were Sanjay Jaju, Joint Secretary,
DIP, MoD, Lt Gen S S Hasabnis DCOAS (P&S), J D Patil (L&T), William Blair (Lockheed Martin). The conclave focused on the export capabilities of the Indian Defence industry
Sri Lankans gave a decisive mandate in the Presidential elections and Gotabaya Rajapaksha assumed the Office of the President, was perhaps the most important event in South Asian region. Our Editor-in-Chief Nitin Gokhale
was the first foreign journalist to be given a video interview by the new President. Readers may view it in our videos section.
We ran a series of videos to commemorate the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. The series consists of five episodes covering the battles of Poonch, the Para Drop at Tangail, Bangladesh, the attack by the Indian Navy on Karachi Port and the use of air power in the eastern sector. We tracked down the participants in these operations and it would be a treat for you to watch
them provide a first-hand account of the battles on our site. The links are provided beneath.
Nitin Gokhale released yet another book: RN Kao: Gentleman Spymaster. The book was released by the Chief of the Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat in New Delhi. The book is already a best seller and had to be rushed for reprint.
Don’t forget to check out our Videos section… Our founder Nitin Gokhale’s video blog on military history and issues of relevance.
I would also request you to visit our Issue Briefs pages. We have gathered material that would give you a balanced view on contemporary issues of concern.
That’s all from my table today. Do make BharatShakti.in a habit. |
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SOME OF OUR ANALYTICAL PIECES
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ANALYSIS
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Leveraging Emerging Technologies in Military Landscape
December 18, 2019; By: Brig Yogesh Kapoor (Retd)
Technological changes are always fascinating. Changes in the Military Technological landscape are both a matter of awe and inadequacy. As the level of decision-making spirals hierarchically, the technological deficiency in the current inventory escalates the ineptitude of the practising military strategy. The Capital Acquisition processes the world over, inherently are outpaced by technologies appearing on the horizon that makes the contemporary inventory seem impoverished. Woebegone the fate of nations, who succumb to these rapid changes, without having the patience and foresight to let the technology mature and prove itself, before incorporating it in conformity to the existing war fighting country-specific dictums.
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Pakistan has more Enemies than Friends along its Borders
December 10, 2019; By: Maj Gen Harsha Kakar (Retd)
Pakistan has commenced fencing both its volatile borders; Iran and Afghanistan. For this it spends money it had earmarked for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, forcing it to approach China again for another loan. Pakistan has been rattled by terrorist strikes from both borders as also increased military threats.
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Non-Contact Conventional Deterrence
December 06, 2019; By: Lt Gen P R Shankar (Retd)
The author addresses an issue that’s been debated less often. How to make deterrence stronger along the conventional axis? His reliance is more on precision and long-range artillery to cause attrition to counterforce targets. The capability enhancement in these areas has not kept pace with the emerging threat levels posed by Pakistan and China. Further, on account of unsound restrictions on the entry of artillery officers into the General Cadre, there is limited perception at the top leadership level, of use of long-range precision firepower’s preeminence in strengthening conventional deterrence.
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Army HQ Headed for Surgical Transformation
December 03, 2019; By: Brig SK Chatterji (Retd)
Indian Army had ordered four transformation studies in order to make it leaner, meaner and more in tune with the requirements of the modern day battlefield. These studies have since been completed and certain operational issues tested out in testbeds to ascertain efficacy of the recommendations.
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Govt Selecting Indian Production Partners Defy Logic
November 27, 2019; By: Amit Cowish
The issue of the Ministry of Defence involving itself in the selection of Indian Production Agency under the Buy and Make category has been debated for a long time. If nothing more, it takes the responsibility of the foreign OEM to select a suitable partner. They also gain the advantage of turning around to say they were saddled with the partner when the contract does not roll out as per its clauses. The author’s analytical approach provides the logic for a fresh look.
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Rafale Judgement Leaves No Scope for Further Investigation
November 26, 2019; By: Ravi Shankar
In its recent judgement in the Rafale case, the Supreme Court has emphatically ruled that there is no scope for further investigation and yet the petitioners are seeking a CBI inquiry based on erroneous interpretation. |
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FDI in Defence: Navigating the Twists and Turns
November 19, 2019; By: Maj Gen Nitin Gadkari (Retd);
The issue of FDI in defence has dogged our decision-makers for long. A sector, at once stage, allowing little or no foreign capital, has partly opened its gates; albeit hesitatingly. Issues of national security have kept bold decisions at an arm’s length. However, we have not progressed with indigenization in the defence sector at a pace that may be graded as satisfactory. The author analyses the pros and cons that cloud decision making when it comes to higher FDI in the defence sector. |
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Is the Open Skies Treaty Doomed?
November 12, 2019; By: Col RN Ghosh Dastidar (Retd)
Nations resort to various measures to build confidence and avoid conflict. The Open Skies Treaty is one of those measures and caters for nations, with or without satellite resources, to make am assessment of threat from inimical nations. However, there is a strong feeling in influential quarters in the US to dump the treaty. The author provides the details of the treaty and the tug-of-war that’s on. |
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United States Space Command: Tasks and Wherewithal
November 06, 2019; By: Maj Gen PK Chakravorty (Retd)
Assets in space were initially developed as combat support mechanisms for operations conducted on land, sea and air. However, at some stage, these systems in space transgressed from a support role to a combat role. The militarization of the space has been swift, but with such capabilities being limited to only a few nations. The author provides some details of the US Space Command that will help focus on the American quest for retaining dominance, along with an overview of systems being used in space. |
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1971 Indo- Pakistani War: Battle for the Skies
1971 Indo- Pakistani War: Battle for the Skies
The Indian Air Force achieved complete superiority over the Pakistani Air Force in the Eastern Theatre within the first few days of the war. |
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Indo-Pakistani 1971 War: Battle of Poonch (J&K)
December 13, 2019; By: Brig SK Chatterji (Retd)
Rarely in the annals of military history are successful defensive battles celebrated. Defence of Poonch is one such towering example where the 6 Sikh battalion was presented the colours for their valiant stand at Poonch. |
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SOME OF OUR EXCLUSIVE PIECES
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EXCLUSIVES
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Sri Lankan Army is not just meant for war but also for nation building, says its Chief
December 05, 2019; By: Nitin A. Gokhale
Sri Lanka’s Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva’s appointment to the top post in August 2019 created a bit of a controversy after some of the Western countries raised objections to him taking over for alleged excess committed by him during Eelam War IV during the period 2006 to 2009. However, neither the General nor the Sri Lankan government has paid heed to these objections. In this exclusive interview to BhartaShakti.in Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale in Colombo, Lt Gen Silva speaks on a range of issues. |
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Navy Chief: We are building a combat ready, credible and cohesive Indian Navy
December 05, 2019; By: Nitin A. Gokhale
On eve of Indian Navy Day on 4th December, Chief of the Naval Staff, Adm Karambir Singh, spoke to our Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale on a host of issues that the Indian Navy is focused upon: From taking steps to face rising Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean region to build partnerships in the region and from stressing on more indigenisation in the navy to his plans for enhancing the Indian Navy’s reach. |
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Overview: The Lightning War of 1971 & Birth of Bangladesh
December 05, 2019; By: Nitin A. Gokhale
BharatShakti.in presents a series on the Lightning War of 1971 and the Birth of Bangladesh. In the first video of the series, Founder and Editor-in-Chief Nitin Gokhale and Editor Brig S K Chatterji (Retd) talk about how the Indian forces took their time, equipped and trained, waited for the winter when passes along the Chinese border became impassable, the monsoon flooding in the riverine terrain was over, and the Mukti Bahini was prepared. They waited for Pakistan to start the war and then responded with lightning speed to liberate Bangladesh in 13 days of war. |
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Won’t Do Anything That Will Harm India’s Interests: Gotabaya (Full text of interview)
November 25, 2019; By: Nitin A. Gokhale
Last Saturday, Sri Lanka’s newly-elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, sat down with Nitin A. Gokhale, Editor-in-Chief of BharatShakti.in and sniwire.com, two Indian digital platforms with a global outlook to talk about his vision for a new Sri Lanka and his plans for making the country prosperous and progressive. He also spoke extensively about Sri Lanka’s foreign policy and his views on how Colombo looks at the two crucial relationships with India and China. |
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Rs. 500cr Push to Fund 250 Startups: Defence Ministry
November 12, 2019; By: Ravi Shankar
The Defence Ministry will finance Rs. 500 crore to startups for their innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative in the next five years as part of the overall policy to boost ‘Make in India’ in the arms manufacturing field. |
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At BharatShakti.in, our Industry Capabilities listing page gives you details of various IDIs, their product range, niche capabilities and contact information, thus easing your search for the right partner for your business activities. Our Policy page is a repository of knowledge, hosting relevant government and departmental documents required for transacting in the area defence production. It also devotes space to FAQs on defence procurement that would be updated.
We at BharatShakti.in invite you all to be a part of our team. Do visit our pages regularly. Write to us, list your defence capabilities with us and engage with us. It's BharatShakti's faith and belief that the Indian Defence Industry is capable of addressing most of the requirements of Indian Armed Forces. |
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