On February 21, 2021, India signed a pact with Maldives to develop, support and maintain a harbour for the &nbsp;Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Coast Guard for maritime security in the region during the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. India will also support development of other infrastructure needed for the harbour, support the development of communications resources and radar services, and provide training. During his visit, Jaishankar met Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Speaker of the Peoples&rsquo; Majlis, former President Mohamed Nasheed, Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, and Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam.

Boosting India-Maldives Security Relations

On February 21, 2021, India signed a pact with Maldives to develop, support and maintain a harbour for the &nbsp;Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and Coast Guard for maritime security in the region during the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. India will also support development of other infrastructure needed for the harbour, support the development of communications resources and radar services, and provide training. During his visit, Jaishankar met Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Speaker of the Peoples&rsquo; Majlis, former President Mohamed Nasheed, Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, and Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam.

United States has secretly designed, built and test flown a prototype sixth-generation fighter jet under the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme. The last time an experimental fighter took off in the US was for a fifth-generation fighter 20 years ago. That contract eventually was won by Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s F-35 Lightning II. It took over ten years to complete and has become the most expensive American weapons programme ever. Other nations are still struggling to make their own fifth-generation fighters. But this unnamed sixth-generation jet has taken just a couple of years from the time serious work on the project commenced to actual flight. There are a handful of other sixth-generation programmes in various stages of development around the world. While the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is expected to launch the first flight of its New Generation Fighter (NGF) in 2026 the British-led Tempest is expected to be operational by 2035. Both China and Russia are also believed to be working on their own sixth-generation combat planes. India&rsquo;s military-industrial establishment needs to get cracking on sixth-generation technologies like optional manning, swarm drones, DEW, hypersonic weapons and ensure that they are effectively built into the AMCA.

6th-Generation Fighters: Closer Than You Think!

United States has secretly designed, built and test flown a prototype sixth-generation fighter jet under the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme. The last time an experimental fighter took off in the US was for a fifth-generation fighter 20 years ago. That contract eventually was won by Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s F-35 Lightning II. It took over ten years to complete and has become the most expensive American weapons programme ever. Other nations are still struggling to make their own fifth-generation fighters. But this unnamed sixth-generation jet has taken just a couple of years from the time serious work on the project commenced to actual flight. There are a handful of other sixth-generation programmes in various stages of development around the world. While the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is expected to launch the first flight of its New Generation Fighter (NGF) in 2026 the British-led Tempest is expected to be operational by 2035. Both China and Russia are also believed to be working on their own sixth-generation combat planes. India&rsquo;s military-industrial establishment needs to get cracking on sixth-generation technologies like optional manning, swarm drones, DEW, hypersonic weapons and ensure that they are effectively built into the AMCA.

With the battlefields getting swamped by drones, considerable research is on for the development of drones that can kill enemy drones and possibly eliminate the enemy swarm drone in its entirety without or in conjunction other air defence systems. But the missile threat has been there for long and a country like China has a concept of using missiles en-masse or in swarms as well to beat the enemy anti-missile systems. This is significant since China has an impressive array of missiles, the recent additions being three new cruise missiles (YJ-12B, YJ-18, and CJ-100), two ballistic missiles (JL-2 and DF-41), and a hypersonic glide vehicle (DF-17), in addition to the DF-31AG and DF-26.

Midflight Missile Interception

With the battlefields getting swamped by drones, considerable research is on for the development of drones that can kill enemy drones and possibly eliminate the enemy swarm drone in its entirety without or in conjunction other air defence systems. But the missile threat has been there for long and a country like China has a concept of using missiles en-masse or in swarms as well to beat the enemy anti-missile systems. This is significant since China has an impressive array of missiles, the recent additions being three new cruise missiles (YJ-12B, YJ-18, and CJ-100), two ballistic missiles (JL-2 and DF-41), and a hypersonic glide vehicle (DF-17), in addition to the DF-31AG and DF-26.

Bombers are large aircraft with a large radar cross-section (RCS) and, as such, vulnerable to both airborne and ground based air defence (AD) weapons. The major world powers have had strategic bombers since World War II. Even today the three largest air forces of the world of the United States, Russia and China operate strategic bombers. India, with the fourth largest air force has only fighter-bombers. With the H-6 bomber aircraft of the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China positioned in large numbers at Kashgar and also a few at Hotan, not too far from India-China border in Ladakh, it is time to understand the importance and role of strategic bombers and the implications of not having strategic bombers in the inventory.

Does India Need A Strategic Bomber?

Bombers are large aircraft with a large radar cross-section (RCS) and, as such, vulnerable to both airborne and ground based air defence (AD) weapons. The major world powers have had strategic bombers since World War II. Even today the three largest air forces of the world of the United States, Russia and China operate strategic bombers. India, with the fourth largest air force has only fighter-bombers. With the H-6 bomber aircraft of the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China positioned in large numbers at Kashgar and also a few at Hotan, not too far from India-China border in Ladakh, it is time to understand the importance and role of strategic bombers and the implications of not having strategic bombers in the inventory.

During the Army Commanders Conference held in October 2020, one of the issues discussed was to study the Tibetan history, culture and language on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the international border as part of countering propaganda and the spread of influence by China. The proposal is reportedly being examined by the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on directions of the Chief of Army Staff.

Army Focuses on Tibetology

During the Army Commanders Conference held in October 2020, one of the issues discussed was to study the Tibetan history, culture and language on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the international border as part of countering propaganda and the spread of influence by China. The proposal is reportedly being examined by the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on directions of the Chief of Army Staff.

After discovery of a Chinese village in Bhutan last year, a newly constructed Chinese village has been discovered, or rather reported, in Arunachal Pradesh during January 2021.&nbsp; The village, located on the banks of the River Tsari Chu, lies in the Upper Subansiri district and only came to light when reported by the media. In the past as well, within a month after the India-China standoff at Doklam was resolved peacefully in 2017, China occupied the Doklam Plateau less the small area of standoff. India had reportedly increased surveillance astride the entire length of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Chinese Village in Arunachal Pradesh

After discovery of a Chinese village in Bhutan last year, a newly constructed Chinese village has been discovered, or rather reported, in Arunachal Pradesh during January 2021.&nbsp; The village, located on the banks of the River Tsari Chu, lies in the Upper Subansiri district and only came to light when reported by the media. In the past as well, within a month after the India-China standoff at Doklam was resolved peacefully in 2017, China occupied the Doklam Plateau less the small area of standoff. India had reportedly increased surveillance astride the entire length of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

In December 2011, Iran captured a state-of-the-art American Lockheed Martin RQ-170 &lsquo;Sentinal&rsquo; drone. The capture helped Iran copy and produce its indigenous drone within one year. Iran said the RQ-170 drone operating across the border in Afghanistan was electronically commandeered by Iran&rsquo;s cyber warfare unit and made to land at an Iranian airfield by sending false signals to the drone&rsquo;s GPS receiver in order to capture it. US government officials were of the view that this kind of spoofing was not possible. However, several months later Professor Todd Humphreys of Texas University demonstrated how this could be done by spoofing a drone and landing it in the university&rsquo;s football stadium. Following this, US officials admitted spoofing is possible, but denied this happened to the RQ-170 flown by the CIA which was captured by Iran. But the US denial was possibly a face saver because no other explanation of how the drone was captured could be provided.

GPS Circle Spoofing and Electronic Attacks

In December 2011, Iran captured a state-of-the-art American Lockheed Martin RQ-170 &lsquo;Sentinal&rsquo; drone. The capture helped Iran copy and produce its indigenous drone within one year. Iran said the RQ-170 drone operating across the border in Afghanistan was electronically commandeered by Iran&rsquo;s cyber warfare unit and made to land at an Iranian airfield by sending false signals to the drone&rsquo;s GPS receiver in order to capture it. US government officials were of the view that this kind of spoofing was not possible. However, several months later Professor Todd Humphreys of Texas University demonstrated how this could be done by spoofing a drone and landing it in the university&rsquo;s football stadium. Following this, US officials admitted spoofing is possible, but denied this happened to the RQ-170 flown by the CIA which was captured by Iran. But the US denial was possibly a face saver because no other explanation of how the drone was captured could be provided.

The Annual budget was presented in the Parliament on February 01. This year everyone was waiting eagerly to hear the Finance Minister, since this budget was in the backdrop of the COVID pandemic and resultant slowdown of the economy.&nbsp; The Defence sector too was looking at major increase in the allocation in view of standoff against China in Eastern Ladakh. The Finance Minister did not make any mention of the amount of the Defence allocation though this was part of the budget documents released online.

COVID Speed Breaker for Defence Budget 2021-22

The Annual budget was presented in the Parliament on February 01. This year everyone was waiting eagerly to hear the Finance Minister, since this budget was in the backdrop of the COVID pandemic and resultant slowdown of the economy.&nbsp; The Defence sector too was looking at major increase in the allocation in view of standoff against China in Eastern Ladakh. The Finance Minister did not make any mention of the amount of the Defence allocation though this was part of the budget documents released online.

C295 set to replace IAF AVROs

Efforts by the&nbsp;Indian Air Force (IAF)&nbsp; to replace its&nbsp;&nbsp;ageing fleet of 50 HS 748 Avro&nbsp;twin-turboprop&nbsp; aircraft&nbsp; began nearly eight years ago when on&nbsp; July 24, 2012,&nbsp; a Request For Information (RFI)&nbsp; for&nbsp; 56 transport aircraft&nbsp; was issued.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thereafter, in May 2013,&nbsp; a global Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to which the only response received was from Airbus Defence and Space with the offer of the C-295, a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft. The Indian company to be a partner of the OEM in this project is Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). The case has now been sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for final approval which hopefully will be received shortly.

SpaceX’s 25th Launch in 2020; Strengthens Commercial Spaceflight

Despite the pandemic woes, SpaceX seems to be on an upward journey adding new feathers to its cap. On December 13, Falcon 9 launched the SXM-7 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Station, Florida, marking SpaceX&rsquo;s 25th mission just in 2020. Earlier, SpaceX also received certification from NASA for human spaceflight.

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Two Decades of Humans in Space

International Space Station is a symbol of exploration, possibilities, research &amp; collaboration beyond planet earth. November 2, 2020 marked twenty years since the International Space Station received its first residents. Since then the orbiting habitat, also referred to as an orbiting laboratory, the International Space Station (ISS) has stayed occupied, making it possible for humans to live in space.

The progress made by a number of companies to make the Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) a viable and reliable product is indeed noteworthy. This concept[w1]&nbsp; has the potential of reducing dependence on traditional infrastructure requirements whilst dramatically increasing its deployment possibilities. As with most innovations in the domain of aviation, the VBJ can also trace its roots to the needs of the military. A large quantum of funds has been poured into Research and Development to acquire the capability to produce the tilt-rotor Osprey, the Harrier with variable jet nozzles and a number of other features. The challenge is to integrate various cutting edge technologies to have an economically viable aircraft that can meet with the prevailing safety standards, the sophistication expected and price of Business Jets operating in the six to eight seater, twin-engine category. Once this challenge is met with, the aircraft will find markets globally. &nbsp;[w1]

VERTICAL BUSINESS JET - A GAME CHANGER

The progress made by a number of companies to make the Vertical Business Jet (VBJ) a viable and reliable product is indeed noteworthy. This concept[w1]&nbsp; has the potential of reducing dependence on traditional infrastructure requirements whilst dramatically increasing its deployment possibilities. As with most innovations in the domain of aviation, the VBJ can also trace its roots to the needs of the military. A large quantum of funds has been poured into Research and Development to acquire the capability to produce the tilt-rotor Osprey, the Harrier with variable jet nozzles and a number of other features. The challenge is to integrate various cutting edge technologies to have an economically viable aircraft that can meet with the prevailing safety standards, the sophistication expected and price of Business Jets operating in the six to eight seater, twin-engine category. Once this challenge is met with, the aircraft will find markets globally. &nbsp;[w1]

The China Daily, PLA&rsquo;s official mouthpiece, reported in an article on April 19, 2021 that China has deployed a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) and the brigade is located 5,200m above sea level in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The report did not give the type or firing range of the weapon but said it was a system with a long-range rocket with precision strike capability and had entered service in 2019. Another publication referring to the report in China Daily wrote the move by the PLA is aimed at reinforcing China&rsquo;s border defence and acting as a deterrent to India, saying, &ldquo;An artillery brigade stationed 5,200 metres (17,000 feet) above sea level in Xinjiang military district has intensified its drills using a rocket system during full-wing combat-ready training.&rdquo;

China Deploys Long Range MLRS

The China Daily, PLA&rsquo;s official mouthpiece, reported in an article on April 19, 2021 that China has deployed a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) and the brigade is located 5,200m above sea level in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The report did not give the type or firing range of the weapon but said it was a system with a long-range rocket with precision strike capability and had entered service in 2019. Another publication referring to the report in China Daily wrote the move by the PLA is aimed at reinforcing China&rsquo;s border defence and acting as a deterrent to India, saying, &ldquo;An artillery brigade stationed 5,200 metres (17,000 feet) above sea level in Xinjiang military district has intensified its drills using a rocket system during full-wing combat-ready training.&rdquo;

The Indian Navy's first MH-60R production helicopter conducted its maiden flight in Owego, New York in April 2021. The flight was carried out at Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) plant. In February 2020, India and the US had signed a deal for the procurement of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Indian Navy. Under the $2.12 billion deal, 24 x MH-60R Seahawk helicopters will be purchased. Delivery of the first six is expected to take place within 2021.

Indian Navy Getting MH-60R Seahawks

The Indian Navy's first MH-60R production helicopter conducted its maiden flight in Owego, New York in April 2021. The flight was carried out at Lockheed Martin&rsquo;s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) plant. In February 2020, India and the US had signed a deal for the procurement of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Indian Navy. Under the $2.12 billion deal, 24 x MH-60R Seahawk helicopters will be purchased. Delivery of the first six is expected to take place within 2021.

The Indian Army (IA) has issued a RFI (Request For Information) in April 2021 inviting responses from overseas and domestic vendors by June 18 for its planned procurement of 350 locally manufactured &lsquo;light tanks&rsquo; weighing less than 25 tons along with performance-based logistics, niche technologies, engineering support package, and other maintenance and training requirements. The&nbsp; RFI dated April 22 and published on April 24 states that the light tanks are to be procured in a &ldquo;phased manner&rdquo; under the &lsquo;Make in India&rsquo; category of the Defence Ministry&rsquo;s Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP 2020). Earlier in October 1999, the Indian Army (IA) had issued a RFI for 200 wheeled light tanks (armoured cars) and about 100 tracked light tanks. This was after the 1999 Kargil Conflict. The new RFI has been issued because of the 2020 Chinese aggression and the continuing standoff, with China refusing to disengage from Depsang Plains, Gogra and Hot Springs.

Light Tanks for Indian Army

The Indian Army (IA) has issued a RFI (Request For Information) in April 2021 inviting responses from overseas and domestic vendors by June 18 for its planned procurement of 350 locally manufactured &lsquo;light tanks&rsquo; weighing less than 25 tons along with performance-based logistics, niche technologies, engineering support package, and other maintenance and training requirements. The&nbsp; RFI dated April 22 and published on April 24 states that the light tanks are to be procured in a &ldquo;phased manner&rdquo; under the &lsquo;Make in India&rsquo; category of the Defence Ministry&rsquo;s Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP 2020). Earlier in October 1999, the Indian Army (IA) had issued a RFI for 200 wheeled light tanks (armoured cars) and about 100 tracked light tanks. This was after the 1999 Kargil Conflict. The new RFI has been issued because of the 2020 Chinese aggression and the continuing standoff, with China refusing to disengage from Depsang Plains, Gogra and Hot Springs.

The importance of aerial surveillance for India with hostile neighbours like China and Pakistan needs no elaboration.&nbsp; Aerial surveillance for airborne intelligence is being done by both the Research &amp; Analysis Wing (RAW) operating their dedicated aircraft, as well as the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF is currently operating three Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) and two Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) - Embraer Netra AEW&amp;C Airborne Early Warning and Control) jets. Two additional Phalcon AWACS are being contracted, which will raise the Phalcon AWACS fleet to five. The DRDO had also been developing an AWACS system based on the Airbus A330 platform but apparently that is still in the making or perhaps shelved.&nbsp;

ISTARs in the Sky

The importance of aerial surveillance for India with hostile neighbours like China and Pakistan needs no elaboration.&nbsp; Aerial surveillance for airborne intelligence is being done by both the Research &amp; Analysis Wing (RAW) operating their dedicated aircraft, as well as the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF is currently operating three Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) and two Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) - Embraer Netra AEW&amp;C Airborne Early Warning and Control) jets. Two additional Phalcon AWACS are being contracted, which will raise the Phalcon AWACS fleet to five. The DRDO had also been developing an AWACS system based on the Airbus A330 platform but apparently that is still in the making or perhaps shelved.&nbsp;

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