Experts Speak

April 26, 2020
Torpedoes for Indian Navy
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
On April 13, the Trump Administration notified the Congress of its determination to sell Harpoon Block II air launched missiles and lightweight torpedoes worth $155 million to India.
April 11, 2020
India-Turkey Fleet Support Vehicles
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
News reports of March 23, 2020 have confirmed that India is going ahead with a $2.3 billion (about 15,000 crore) deal to manufacture five fleet support vessels (FSVs) in collaboration with a Turkish shipyard.
March 21, 2020
Defence Procurement Procedure 2020
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Releasing the Draft Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2020, on March 20 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Our aim is to make India self-reliant and a global manufacturing hub...
March 21, 2020
Deep Underwater Rescue
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Indian Navy’s first Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) procured from Britain (James Fishes Defence of UK) to meet unique requirements of our Navy completed Sea Acceptance Trials successfully last year in June.
March 9, 2020
NSUAS for Indian Navy
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on February 24, 2020, for a Naval Ship-borne Unmanned Aerial System (NSUAS) as the Indian Navy (IN) is looking at acquiring 15 naval ship-borne drones for surveillance and reconnaissance roles at sea.
March 9, 2020
China's Combat Robots
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The use of robots in warfare, which earlier was a topic for science fiction, is increasingly being researched to fight future wars.
March 9, 2020
Structure of Department of Military Affairs (DMA)
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Structure of the newly established Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) heading it as Secretary DMA, has come up with the news of its organisation released through the media in installments.
February 26, 2020
Visit of President Donald Trump
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
US President Donald Trump's maiden visit to India witnessed Indo-US Strategic Partnership transit into 'Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership'.
February 26, 2020
Changing Dynamics of Indo-Pacific
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Close on the heels of India (in partnership with Australia and Indonesia) organising the fourth East Asia Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation at Chennai...
February 10, 2020
Defence Budget 2020-2021
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Presenting the budget for FY 2020-2021 in Parliament on February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not mention defence at all, which isn't surprising given her attitude towards the Armed Forces.
February 10, 2020
Indigenous K-4 and Pranash Missiles
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
On January 19, 2020 India successfully tested the indigenous K-4 missile of Vizag coast. K-4 is a nuclear capable Intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile developed by the DRDO to arm the Arihant-class submarines.
January 20, 2020
Defence Budget – Now and Next
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
India's defence budget for 2019-20 stands at 3.18 lakh crore. This included a capital outlay of just 1,03,394 crore that is not enough to upgrade capabilities and more money is required to avoid a funding crisis.
January 4, 2020
India's First CDS – what should be the priorities
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Speaking to reporters India's first CDS General Bipin Rawat has said, "As per the task given to the CDS we have to enhance integration and do better resource management. We have to achieve more synergy and integration. This is the motive. All the three services will work as a team.
December 23, 2019
Indo-US-2+2 Dialogue
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
December 18, 2019 saw the Indo-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue at Washington DC; External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from India and the US side represented by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Mark T. Esper.
December 23, 2019
Maritime Surveillance
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
With the centre of gravity of conflict veering towards the Indian Ocean, the requirement of maritime surveillance of the Indian Navy (IN) is in more limelight.
December 23, 2019
India-Australia 2+2 Dialogue
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The third edition of India-Australia Foreign and Defence Secretaries' Dialogue (2+2) was held on December 9, 2019, in New Delhi.
December 23, 2019
New Assault Rifles after 15 years
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Media reports of December 14 indicate that soldiers deployed on the borders with Pakistan and China have finally started receiving new assault rifles after a wait of almost 15 years.
December 5, 2019
Visit of Sri Lankan President
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The two-day state visit of Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to India commencing November 29, his first foreign visit after assuming presidency, has signaled a new beginning, contours of which will unfold in coming months.
December 5, 2019
Boost for Defence Startups
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Speaking at the ‘Defence Connect’ seminar on November 11, 2019, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Looking at the talent India possesses, I am pretty confident that we can become a $10 trillion economy in the next 10-15 years”.
November 15, 2019
Defence Minister’s Russia Visit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow on November 5 for a three day visit to Russia. This was his first visit to Moscow as Defence Minister.
November 15, 2019
‘Tiger Triumph’ and ‘Sindhu Sudarshan-VII’ kick off
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Two prominent military exercises kicked off back to back on November 13. ‘Tiger Triumph’, the Indo-US tri-services exercise under aegis of HQ Integrated commenced on India’s eastern seaboard, in the Bay of Bengal and will continue till November 21.