All stories by Ajai Shukla
Has navy inducted INS Khanderi with several defects?
Rediff.com1 Oct 2019There were 35 defects that still remained to be resolved. Of these, 29 could not have been resolved during the monsoon since they required testing in absolutely calm seas. Nor is the Khanderi being commissioned with a full complement of its primary weapon, the torpedo.
Limited choices in strategic partners in defence
Rediff.com25 Sep 2019The defence ministry has lost sight of what it intended to achieve -- which was to nurture private defence firms that would compete on equal terms with the 9 defence PSUs and the 41 Ordnance Factory Board factories.
Small Indian company makes waves among navies
Rediff.com19 Sep 2019C2C DB Systems is tightly integrated into India's warship production eco-system.
Rajnath to fly in Tejas, spend night on Vikramaditya
Rediff.com18 Sep 2019'The Raksha Mantri's day at sea'/
Look at the weapons Russia wants to sell us!
Rediff.com6 Sep 2019Russia -- already India's biggest arms supplier from 2014-18, accounting for 58 per cent of India's defence imports -- eyes more, reports Ajai Shukla.
Chief of Defence Staff will need to show tough love
Rediff.com30 Aug 2019'Since each chief single-mindedly pursues his service's interests in the competition for turf and in core matters such as budget share. The CDS, therefore, must act as an "honest broker" whose decisions serve the broader national purpose, rather than narrow service interests,' says Ajai Shukla.
4-star or 5-star? Status of CDS remains unclear
Rediff.com27 Aug 2019Given Prime Minister Modi's emphasis on "sharp(ening) coordination" rather than "joint command", analysts are guessing that a four-star permanent chairman of the chiefs of staff committee is likely, with the title of CDS, if not the functions and five-star rank, reports Ajai Shukla. Ajai Shukla reports.
IAF plane crunch worsens; Jaguar engine upgrade axed
Rediff.com20 Aug 2019With Honeywell demanding what Indian Air Force sources term an "exorbitant" price for F-125IN engines, the IAF has told HAL that it has abandoned its plan to upgrade 80 Jaguar fighters with new Honeywell engines, reports Ajai Shukla.
Bhabha Kavach to protect CAPFs from AK-47 bullets
Rediff.com22 Jul 2019Each Bhabha Kavach has four hard armour plates, which protect the wearer from the front, back, and either side. It can protect CAPF personnel from 7.62 mm bullets fired from AK-47 rifles -- the chosen weapon of terrorists from Kashmir to Bastar.
3 Indian start-ups to become part of Lockheed's global supply chain
Rediff.com22 Jul 2019These companies were identified through the India Innovation Growth Programme, an innovation contest through which the US firm identifies Indian research and development potential.
Can India build submarines?
Rediff.com18 Jul 2019Insufficient technology has been transferred during the ongoing Project 75, which involves building 6 Scorpene-class submarines.
HAL wants private firm to build Dhruv chopper
Rediff.com11 Jul 2019A large Dhruv order could significantly boost Indian defence exports. These have grown from Rs 1,940 crore in 2014-2015 to Rs 10,745 crore in 2018-2019.
Defence salary bill leaves less for new weapons
Rediff.com8 Jul 2019Most of the scanty 6.35% rise in the defence budget is accounted for by manpower and running expenses.
Coming soon! Next-Gen warships
Rediff.com2 Jul 2019The warships will be armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles which can reach targets 295 km away.
Navy finds defects in Scorpene submarine
Rediff.com19 Jun 2019For the navy, which is making do with just 14 conventional submarines against a requirement of 24, the INS Khanderi delay extends a dangerous operational void.
What the Raksha Mantri must do
Rediff.com8 Jun 2019Ajai Shukla presents an action plan for Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to fix the systemic weaknesses in defence.
After Trump snub, US increases defence ties with India
Rediff.com7 Jun 2019'The US and India continue to use their deepening relationship to build new partnerships within and beyond the Indo-Pacific.'
Probe indicates deadly computer glitch in Mirage jets
Rediff.com7 Jun 2019A Court of Inquiry investigating the February 1 crash that killed two pilots is confronting the worrying possibility of a glitch in the flight computer that kicks in without warning, causing the aircraft to behave unpredictably.
IAF could save 100 million litres of fuel annually
Rediff.com3 Jun 2019'This is a huge step in promoting the 'Make in India' mission as this bio-fuel would be produced from Tree Borne Oils sourced from tribal areas and farmers.'
Indian Navy acquires new strike ability
Rediff.com18 May 2019Two navy destroyers, the INS Kochi and INS Chennai, fired MR-SAMs simultaneously at two simulated incoming missiles.