All stories by Ajai Shukla
Why the IAF desperately needs a Jaguar upgrade
Rediff.com27 Mar 2015The IAF is down to 34 squadrons. This will dip to 30 squadrons by the end of this decade, as nine squadrons of MiG-21 and MiG-27s retire.
Rafale proposal 'effectively dead' as Dassault bid not cheapest
Rediff.com16 Feb 2015Even as three Rafale fighters line up in Bengaluru for eye-popping aerobatics displays at the Aero India 2015 exhibition this week, senior ministry of defence sources say the proposal to buy the French fighter is "effectively dead".
'The hard work starts now'
Rediff.com3 Feb 2015There's still little indication of forward movement in Indo-US defence relations.
Modi & Obama's back-room boys broke impasse on N-deal in London
Rediff.com27 Jan 2015The agreement was reached in intensive negotiations between contact groups that Obama and Modi had set up in September.
Is there a message in DRDO chief's exit?
Rediff.com21 Jan 2015By removing Avinash Chander last week, the government has chosen to sacrifice the organisation's most potent symbol of success
Why South Block should stop behaving like a yokel at a country fair
Rediff.com20 Jan 2015India must present its demands of America confidently, instead of fearing that its pocket will somehow be picked, says Ajai Shukla.
Why South Block should stop behaving like a yokel at a country fair
Rediff.com20 Jan 2015What will Parrikar put in the skies instead of Rafale?
Rediff.com14 Jan 2015Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has voiced his concern at Dassault's reported reluctance to meet the terms of the IAF tender, which required the French company to guarantee the 108 fighters that HAL would build in India, after the first 18 were supplied fully-built in France.
'India needs to highlight its world-class nuclear security'
Rediff.com13 Jan 2015With the spectre of nuclear terrorism growing, the international community is concerned about the security of India's nuclear facilities. The worry has grown since 2010, when radioactive Cobalt-60 surfaced in a New Delhi scrapyard, killing one person and hospitalising eight others.
How a 'Made in India' project was scuttled
Rediff.com7 Jan 2015Instead of the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40, which Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd could build, export, overhaul, upgrade and even modify into a light-attack aircraft, powerful lobbies have promoted a Swiss trainer -- the Pilatus PC-7 Mark II.
The workhorse who developed India's missiles to propel economy!
Rediff.com6 Jan 2015Saraswat played a key role in developing a series of missiles at a time when India faced tight international technology sanctions.
Why 'Make in India' is a distraction!
Rediff.com6 Jan 2015The defence ministry needs to focus keenly on "Made in India" projects without being distracted by "Make in India" slogans, says Ajai Shukla
Questions linger over Pakistan's 'terror boat'
Rediff.com4 Jan 2015Days after the Indian Coast Guard intercepted a 'terror boat' from Pakistan, there are still some doubts over the claims.
Terrorism must be fought without discriminating between 'good/bad terrorists'
Rediff.com24 Dec 2014India must watch for signs after Peshawar that Pakistan is waking up to the dangers of Islamism, muses Ajai Shukla
This 'Made in India' warship is ready for export
Rediff.com19 Dec 2014This is the first time an Indian shipyard has been commissioned to design and build a warship to specifications formulated by a buyer country. This marks an important first landmark in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's drive to increase defence exports.
Shoot or not to shoot? Army's dilemma in Kashmir
Rediff.com9 Dec 2014Hard men with guns cannot manage the state forever.
HAL vs IAF: Govt decision on trainer aircraft row today
Rediff.com9 Dec 2014The Indian Air Force argued that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's HTT-40 trainer jet would be costlier than the Swiss Pilatus trainer over its 30-year service life. When HAL challenged this contention, the IAF was not able to back it with figures.
Why young army officers in Uri camp are fuming
Rediff.com8 Dec 2014Young soldiers blame commanders of for the debacle at the Uri army camp. Ajai Shukla reports
Negotiating with China: Doval's task is cut out
Rediff.com27 Nov 2014With India's political wheel turning full circle this year, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will negotiate from an expanding diplomatic space, writes Ajai Shukla
India just saved its warships from being sitting ducks
Rediff.com25 Nov 2014Without advanced towed array sonar systems, all warships the navy has built and bought since the 1990s would be sitting ducks in war.