All stories by Ajai Shukla
India Must Engage with the Taliban
Rediff.com8 Sep 2021The activation of diplomatic channels is likely to yield better results than a simmering hostility, recommends Ajai Shukla.
What is IAF spending $329 million on?
Rediff.com30 Aug 2021A five-year contract to provide comprehensive maintenance support for India's fleet of 12 C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter aircraft.
BrahMos Missile, now made in UP
Rediff.com27 Aug 2021More than 100 BrahMos missiles are planned to be built in the next three years.
Why the Taliban Conquered Without A Fight
Rediff.com24 Aug 2021The Afghan tradition of gaining control of areas does not necessarily involve combat. Most engagements are settled through negotiations and pay-offs before battle is joined. This style of fighting is peculiar to Afghanistan, explains Ajai Shukla, who witnessed such a transaction between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance in November 2001.
INS Vikrant : 12 years late, 13 times the cost
Rediff.com21 Aug 2021The MiG29K and MiG29KUB, the aircraft carrier's primary fighters, spent more time in the hangar than in the air, with fleet serviceability remaining below 50 per cent, reports Ajai Shukla.
At Rs 5375 cr, HAL signs biggest ever deal with GE for Tejas engines
Rediff.com19 Aug 2021HAL is working closely with GE to develop the LCA's export potential.
Chinese Chequers on LAC is Not for the Faint-hearted
Rediff.com13 Aug 2021The Indian Army has shown it can face down the PLA, but is too often held back by a political leadership that lacks boldness, asserts Ajai Shukla.
Navy's new submarines will cost $1 bn each
Rediff.com28 Jul 2021Building 6 conventional submarines is one of the Indian Navy's most important weapon construction programmes.
Worrying! PLA advances in Ladakh
Rediff.com21 Jul 2021With the two armies again in a face-off at multiple points, there is apprehension of renewed clashes.
About time Modi spends money on military!
Rediff.com9 Jul 2021The political-electoral calculus favours spending thousands of crores on vanity projects like Sardar Patel's statue and the Central Vista over building up our military to handle the confrontations and conflicts that loom large, points out Ajai Shukla.
IAF's Jaguars face retirement by 2024
Rediff.com26 Jun 2021The retirement of the Jaguar would create a six squadron gap in the IAF's combat fleet which would cost $20 billion-$30 billion to fill.
Ladakh: 9 Issues to WORRY India
Rediff.com23 Jun 2021China remains in firm control of an estimated 600-800 square kilometres of Indian territory.
20 Ways the Indian Military CHANGED
Rediff.com12 Jun 202120 defence ministry reforms 'is a reflection of the resolve of the government to make the defence sector stronger and more efficient.'
France offers India world's top torpedoes
Rediff.com5 Jun 2021'The F-21's capabilities far exceed all other torpedoes currently in service.'
As INS Rajput retires, China's reality check
Rediff.com29 May 2021China has been commissioning three new destroyers every year while India has barely completed one destroyer every 2-3 years.
DRDO fights Covid, without ignoring defence research
Rediff.com22 May 2021As remarkable as DRDO's contribution in containing and treating COVID-19 has been, its success over the last 15 months has been in its primary role of developing conventional defence equipment and technologies.
Why China is building villages in Bhutan
Rediff.com18 May 2021'Its aim is to force the Bhutanese government to cede territory that China wants elsewhere in Bhutan to give Beijing a military advantage in its struggle with New Delhi.'
What HAL plans to do after Sukhoi-30MKIs
Rediff.com15 May 2021Top HAL sources say the AMCA, which is being developed as the IAF's next-generation stealth fighter, is slated to be assembled at HAL Nashik.
Why Tejas is better than Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder
Rediff.com14 May 2021'The JF-17 is the aircraft of today and the Tejas is the aircraft of tomorrow.'
Tejas jet's oxygen plant for Covid use
Rediff.com21 Apr 2021The 'On-Board Oxygen Generation System' developed for the Tejas can produce 1,000 litres of oxygen every minute.