Experts Speak
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April 25, 2025
Uri, Pulwama and now Pahalgam
By Major General Atanu K Pattanaik (Retd)The Pahalgam attack on civilians, the deadliest of its kind since the September 2008 Mumbai attacks, specifically targeted male Hindus
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April 23, 2025
India's Arctic Outreach
By Major General Atanu K Pattanaik (Retd)A melting Arctic and the race for Greenland will be focus of the Strategic Summit during Prime Minister Modi's Norway Visit
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April 17, 2025
The Phantom of a European Army
By Major General Atanu K Pattanaik (Retd)Under the influence of the American 'Deep State', EU and NATO leaders now invoke the spectre of a non-existent European Army in a desperate bid to stay relevant and gain a seat at a negotiating table
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March 27, 2025
Cutting Edge Weaponry - Ukraine War
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Russia-Ukraine war has become a crucial testing ground for developing, testing and deploying the latest weapons and new military technologies
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March 27, 2025
Britain's Nepalese Troops
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Britain has decided to expand the role of Nepalese troops in the British Army and decided to form a new British Army regiment specialising in artillery, marking a historic shift in their traditional infantry role
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March 27, 2025
New Self-Propelled AD Gun Missile System
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)DRDO could potentially deliver a prototype within 18 months, possibly by mid-2026 because the project leverages existing proven technologies
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March 27, 2025
More Eyes in The Sky
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved the procurement of six additional Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C), which would be an upgraded version of the current two in-service India-developed systems called the 'Netra'
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March 24, 2025
Op Pawan: 35 Years Since
By Major General Atanu K Pattanaik (Retd)For reasons best known to the power that be, there is no annual homage at the National War Memorial to honour the supreme sacrifice made by 1,171 soldiers and officers 'killed in action' during the 32-months-long operation
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March 14, 2025
Sheshnaag-150 & Abhimanyu N-CCAV
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Significant breakthroughs in indigenous defence technology have been achieved with the Sheshnaag-150 Long Range Drone System and the Naval Collaborative Combat Air Vehicle (N-CCAV)
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March 14, 2025
China's Teesta Project
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh is 'manufacturing' consent of locals along the Teesta River to arouse anti-India slogans, facilitating the project to be awarded to China
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March 14, 2025
Boosting Air Defence Network
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Indian Armed Forces are overhauling their vintage air defence mechanism aiming to enhance the effectiveness of existing systems, advanced missiles, jammers and radars and induct new anti-aircraft systems
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March 14, 2025
Indigenous Hypersonic Missile
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The HGV can perform terminal manoeuvres and follow highly complex and adaptive flight paths. With a demonstrated range of at least 1,500 km, the missile will have several warhead configurations for use in various roles.
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February 27, 2025
UN Warns India of Terror Threat
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The UN report highlighted the adaptability of IS and Al-Qaida, noting that these terror groups remain resilient despite counter-terrorism efforts
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February 27, 2025
Indo-US Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA)
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)This Indo-US defence partnership marks a notable shift in US-India relations, reflecting a commitment to deeper strategic ties and collaborative defence manufacturing
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February 27, 2025
MArG 45 Mounted Gun System
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)MArG 45 is the only 45mm mounted gun system in the world and exemplifies ingenuity in challenging conventions, integrating firepower, range, and mobility into a single, ground-breaking platform
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February 15, 2025
Somber Mood in Kiev
By Major General Atanu K Pattanaik (Retd)The contours of Russia-Ukraine war's expected closure have sent shockwaves through European capitals and Kiev is in mourning. President Zelensky's worst fears have come true. Playing puppet came with a price, at times at great cost to a country and its people.
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February 14, 2025
Drones, Anti-Drone & Missiles
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The number of drone startups in India has more than doubled in the past three years to 398, surpassing China's 298
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February 14, 2025
The Hypersonic Challenge
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India needs to be very serious about such threats along the borders, especially when 24x7 satellite cover along all land borders is still 8-10 years away
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February 14, 2025
Cross Border Tunnels
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India needs to be very serious about such threats along the borders, especially when 24x7 satellite cover along all land borders is still 8-10 years away
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February 14, 2025
SANJAY Battlefield Surveillance System
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)SANJAY is an automated system that integrates the inputs from all ground and aerial battlefield sensors and fusing them to produce a Common Surveillance Picture of the battlefield
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February 4, 2025
Defence Budget 2025-2026
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that overall allocation for defence is 9.53 per cent more than the budget estimates of FY 2024-25, aimed at addressing critical capability gaps through big-ticket acquisitions in the current and subsequent financial years
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January 27, 2025
Electronic Warfare Weaponry
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)America's deployment of Remote Modular Terminals (RMTs) in the Indo-Pacific is sure to trigger an electronic war between the US and China, the Indo-Pacific being as important to China as the US, if not more
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January 27, 2025
Bhargavastra, Pinaka III & Golden Eagle
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India is making significant strides in indigenous defence development with the successful testing of advanced weapon systems, aimed at strengthening the operational readiness of the Indian Armed Forces
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January 27, 2025
New War Doctrine and Vision 2047
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Officially to be released by mid-2025, 'Vision 2047' is a long-term plan that aims to define the role of the Armed Forces in 2047 and guide preparations for future conflicts
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January 27, 2025
The Akashteer-IACCS Combo
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Indian Army and the IAF are actively working towards enhancing their joint operational capabilities in air defence with the integration of the Army's 'Akashteer' air defence system with the Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS), an automated Air Defence Command and Control Centre for controlling and monitoring of air operations by the IAF
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January 14, 2025
India-Indonesia Relations
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The India-Indonesia friendship, elevated to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, has widened bilateral relations to include defence industry collaboration, science, and technology
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January 14, 2025
China's Gargantuan Mega Dam
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The project would allow China to control the timing and quantity of water flows to South Asia, with enormous consequences to the region's agriculture and freshwater supplies
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January 14, 2025
Make in India Small Arms
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Major developments in the private defence manufacturing sector have demonstrated their capability to domestically manufacture small arms for the Indian Armed Forces
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January 14, 2025
China's Two New Counties
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Announcement of two new counties by China, falling in Aksai Chin region of Ladakh, came as a shock to the Indian Government
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January 14, 2025
Z-Morh Tunnel in Kashmir Valley
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On January 13, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the strategic two-lane bi-directional 6.5 km-long Z-Morh tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir
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December 26, 2024
Six Point India-China Border Deal
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives (SRs) of India and China, was the first in five years and focused on strengthening peace and finding a mutually acceptable resolution to the boundary question.
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December 26, 2024
Visit of Sri Lankan President
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)President Dissanayake's first state visit to India after Sri Lanka's recent elections focused on reconciliation, development, and defence cooperation
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December 26, 2024
China Swallowing Bhutan
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Over the years, China has occupied large swathes of territory in western Bhutan through salami-slicing, including areas like Doklam, Yakchu, and Langmarpo, even as boundary talks with Bhutan have continued for several years
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December 26, 2024
AI-Controlled Robotic Attacks & Air Defence
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Ukraine reportedly carried out the first attack exclusively using robotic systems near Lyptsi in the Kharkiv region, including drones equipped with machine guns, marking a possible milestone in robotic combined air and ground attacks
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December 26, 2024
Talibanisation of Bangladesh
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Jamaat-e-Islami is spearheading the radicalisation of youth in schools and colleges in Bangladesh, training some as potential suicide bombers, with Pakistan's ISI reportedly providing support for cross-border terrorist activities
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December 26, 2024
Starlink and Drones in Manipur
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)SpaceX founder Elon Musk has denied claims that Starlink devices are active in Manipur after the Army seized internet equipment resembling Starlink during a raid, stating that satellite beams have been turned off over India
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December 20, 2024
The Pushback
By Major General Atanu K Pattanaik (Retd)The pushback against the global elite's agenda is now unfolding silently and powerfully through the democratic process of voting
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December 12, 2024
Indigenous FRCV & NGMBT
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Prototypes are expected by 2027–28, with induction planned for 2030, marking a significant leap in India's armoured warfare capabilities
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December 12, 2024
The Invisible Factor
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Chimera, a Chinese metamaterial, promises invisibility across microwave, visible light, and infrared frequencies, inspired by chameleons, glass frogs, and bearded dragons
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December 12, 2024
AI Drones and AI Guns
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Artificial Intelligence is driving advancements in technology-enabled drone solutions while also developing innovative counter-drone systems for the Armed Force
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November 27, 2024
Showtime – Dnipro and Zhuhai
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Both Russia and China have demonstrated superior hypersonic weapon capabilities, leaving the US and NATO striving to catch up in a rapidly advancing arms race
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November 27, 2024
India–China Defence Ministers Meet
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun met for the first time after the India-China deal to resume patrolling in eastern Ladakh
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November 27, 2024
Hypersonic & Drone Wars
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India's hypersonic and drone capabilities are advancing but still require substantial development for credible deterrence against regional adversaries
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November 27, 2024
Integrated War and the Info Deluge
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The scale of data coming from thousands of sources is overwhelming, necessitating innovative systems like Human-Machine Teams and AI Walls to process intelligence effectively
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November 27, 2024
The ATAGS Boom
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The ATAGS project represents a landmark in India's indigenisation efforts under the 'Make in India' initiative, modernising the Indian Army's artillery capabilities
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November 22, 2024
1000 Days and Counting
By Major General Atanu K Pattanaik (Retd)The war in Ukraine has entered a potentially dangerous phase, with the US approving the use of ATACMS missiles for attacks farther into Russia, escalating tensions
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November 15, 2024
Why a Trump Win Matters
By Major General Atanu K Pattanaik (Retd)Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election, achieved despite formidable opposition and alleged deep-state interference, could prompt sweeping reforms in governance. His approach is expected to diverge sharply from past administrations, focusing on global challenges such as the Ukraine war, Middle East instability, radicalism, and tensions with China and Russia.
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November 14, 2024
China's Damning Cyber Prowess
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Chinese hacking group 'Salt Typhoon,' linked to China's Ministry of State Security, has conducted extensive cyber-espionage operations targeting US telecommunication infrastructure, political figures, and national security officials
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November 14, 2024
Whither DRDO Restructuring?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Despite forming 13 specialised committees for implementing the reforms, internal resistance from senior DRDO officials has significantly hindered progress, with reports indicating that the restructuring process is largely on hold
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November 14, 2024
Indigenous Asmi SMG & EVTOL Aircraft
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)These indigenous programmes mark a milestone in India's self-reliance in defence manufacturing
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October 26, 2024
BRICS Signals New World Order
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan, Russia, highlighted the bloc's growth and resistance to Western financial hegemony, and with 13 new nations added as Partner Countries, showing the increasing global influence of BRICS
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October 26, 2024
Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) & BMD
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The SBS-III project, costing ₹26,968 crore, is expected to be completed in a decade and will provide dedicated surveillance capabilities for India's armed forces across land, sea, and air.
