Experts Speak
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June 8, 2017
Another giant leap with GSLV Mk III
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)When India fired the high thrust cryogenic engine CE-20 launching GSLV Mk-III in its first experimental flight from Sriharikota on june 5, it was a monumental leap drawing the curtain on what the US sanctions prevented ISRO from doing in 2003, even as the US seeks strong ties with India in wake of all round Chinese aggression.
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May 30, 2017
Strategic Partnership Model – Game changer?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On May 20, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley finalized the broad contours of the Strategic Partnership (SP) policy.
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May 30, 2017
New Defence Procurement Organization
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)According to recent media reports, government is mulling setting up a new autonomous organization, 'Defence Procurement Organization' (DPO), to be created within the MoD to deal exclusively with procurement for the Armed Forces as recommended by a committee headed by Dr Pritam Singh, former Director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow.
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May 30, 2017
Ransomware – Beware!
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)WannaCry or WannaCry 2.0 the ransomware that struck globally some 150 countries last month affected some 200,000 PCs worldwide. India was the third hardest hit county with close to 50,000 PCs affected.
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May 30, 2017
Empowering DIPP – or weakening defence?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Considerable confusion prevails about whether the proposed Defence Procurement Organization (DPO), as a follow up to the Dr Pritam Singh Committee recommendations, is to be 'all encompassing' in matters of defence procurement, which it actually should be. But this confusion appears to have been compounded through a recent notification (Notification S.O. 1636 (E) dated 19.05.2017 of Ministry of Home Affairs) vide which the power to issue licenses for the manufacture...
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May 30, 2017
Next level Cyber War
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The news about IAF's Sukhoi SU-30 gone missing near India-China border has been making headlines. The Sukhoi had taken off on a routine training mission on 23 May 2017 when radar, radio contact was lost roughly 60 km north of Tezpur air force base in Assam.
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May 25, 2017
Defence modernisation in three years of NDA rule
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)The three services had suffered prolonged neglect in respect of modernisation in the period 2004 to 2014 owing to a number of factors.
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May 24, 2017
NDA's achievements in defence sector in three years
By Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)The Modi government which completes three years on 26 May 2017 is planning to celebrate their achievements by putting out a report card giving out statistics of their achievements in the last three years of NDAs governance.
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May 24, 2017
Defence in 3 years under NDA II
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On May 26, 2017 the NDA II government completed three years in office. Last three years have seen India rising in economic strength and making way for greater say on the world stage.
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May 20, 2017
M777 howitzers finally debut India
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In what is being described as "laying the Bofors ghost to rest", the first two M777 howitzer guns manufactured by BAE System of USA arrived in India and...
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May 20, 2017
US nudges Pakistan — Wee bit only
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The US National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has blamed Pakistan for deteriorating India-Pak relations and warned that the ties might worsen further if another "high- profile" terrorist attack emanates from across the border this year.
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May 20, 2017
Beyond ICJ ruling on Kulbhushan Jadhav
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The unanimous verdict by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) staying the execution of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Yadav was on expected lines because Pakistan had violated India's right, provided under the Vienna...
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May 20, 2017
North Korea — Rogue supported by rogue
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)As North Korea carried out another ballistic missile test, shortly after President Moon Jae-in took office in South Korea, US President Donald Trump called for "stronger sanctions" against North Korea, while China is urged restraint.
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May 20, 2017
PM Modi's Sri Lanka visit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)When Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe came to India on a 5-day visit in April 2017, he had reiterated the invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting Sri Lanka on occasion of Vesak Day celebrations commencing...
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May 20, 2017
New counter-Maoist strategy — Why it is regressive?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The twin Maoists attacks in Sukma on March 11 on a 110-strong CRPF column) and on April 24 on a 99-strong CRPF column, inflicted massive casualties on the CRPF; 36 killed and 12 injured, besides loss of 34 weapons...
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May 19, 2017
Phased Induction of M777 155mm Ultra Light Howitzers in the Indian Army
By Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)As part of its massive artillery modernisation plan, the army had planned to induct several types of howitzers through in-house manufacture by Defence Research...
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May 18, 2017
Expediting Defence Procurements
By Ranjit KumarIndia's defence acquisition framework is considered to be one of the most cumbersome, time consuming, complex and fraught with uncertainties.
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May 15, 2017
Strategic partnership policy — Needs speedy conclusion
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)When Defence Procurement Policy (DPP) 2016 was released by the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Defexpo 2016, it was without few appendices, which were added later.
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May 12, 2017
Countering Maoists — Serious review required
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Post the ghastly Maoist ambush at Sukma on April 24, killing 24 CRPF personnel and injuring seven (of 99-strong CRPF column), a Gazette notification...
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May 12, 2017
GSAT-09 — Modi's gift to South Asia
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)GSAT-09 or SAS (South Asia Satellite) is the latest technological move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for integrating South Asia, a resolve he had shown at the swearing in of his government by inviting all SAARC leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
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May 12, 2017
Another beheading by Pak Army
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)A press release on May 1 by Army's HQ Northern Command read, "Pak Army carried out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the line of control in Krishna Ghati Sector.
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May 12, 2017
ICJ reprieve for Kulbhushan Jadhav
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The reprieve obtained by India for Kulbhushan Yadav from the International Court of justice (ICJ) is a diplomatic victory. This is all the more special because the ICJ deals with international law involving states and not individual cases.
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May 12, 2017
'Negative' defence budget — Goes more negative
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The relationship between economy and defence is that both are dependent on each other. Defence cannot be strong without good economy...
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April 25, 2017
PM Modi's Israel visit — Expectations?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel on July 5-6 this year, first by any Indian Prime Minster will be a historic event of extraordinary proportions since...
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April 25, 2017
Another joint doctrine — But who will implement?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
Media is agog with headlines of "New defence doctrine to ensure Army, Navy, IAF can tackle entire spectrum of conflicts".
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April 25, 2017
Kamov helicopters — Finally through?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
In March 2017, media reported that the Indo-Russian Kamov helicopter deal had hit a hurdle, pricing and technology transfer being main issues.
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April 25, 2017
Pakistan's 'Jadhav' sentencing — Rotten to the core
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
A press release of April 10 by Pakistan's notorious ISPR said that Kulbhushan Jadhav arrested from Balochistan on March 3, 2016 for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan was tried by FGCM under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Section 3 of Official Secrets...
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April 25, 2017
Increased violence in Kashmir — And the enemy within
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The increased violence in Kashmir Valley doesn't appear to have been as seriously as warranted, especially the institutionalized radicalization...
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April 13, 2017
Indo-Bangla relations at all time high — Teesta should be next step
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The four day visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (April 7-10) has taken Indo-Bangladesh relations to an all time high. Just before her visit...
