Journal of Defence Studies

Aerial Terrorism

Aerial terrorism is gradually emerging as a potent form of terrorism capable of causing significant damage to human life and infrastructure. Aircrafts and UAVs can be easily used as guided missiles to target key locations and installations; and more importantly, to communicate a political message. Dealing with such threats can be difficult as it becomes complicated to fully understand the nature and scope of unconventional acts of terrorism.

Critical Defence Technologies – The DRDO Perspective

DRDO has been the torchbearer of the defence research and development in the country. It has been responsible for identifying critical technologies, working out modalities for technology development and identifying partners for technology acquisition. The author argues that the government along with several other stakeholders such as the Services and the industry need to play an important role in the technology development and production. It is emphasised on successful research and development which requires steady funding and incentives for scientific talent.

Outsourcing and Vendor Development in the Indian Ordnance Factories

Ordnance factories are the oldest and largest single organisation in India's defence industrial set up. The organisation is found to be inefficient and uncompetitive from the angles of market share, capacity utilisation, timely delivery of demands, cost of equipment produced, level of technology handled and the volume of exports. While the organisation may retain its structure, it could significantly improve its efficiency and competitiveness by selective use of 'outsourcing' of its production activities in an organised manner.

Community Participation in Border Management

India's territorial borders, both land and sea, suffer from diverse physical, ethnic and cultural contradictions. While the state has a major role in securing war frontier, the populations along territorial peripheries, too, can play an important role in securing our interests. The people living in these areas are the most important ingredient towards a secure and safe border area. This would entail reconceptualising the concept of border guarding to effective border management, where local people became the centre of gravity of all actions.

Chinese Naval Strategy in the Twenty First Century: The Turn to Mahan

In order to gauge the likely direction of Chinese foreign and security policy, it is important to follow Chinese commentary on how Beijing should manage its ascent to 'peaceful rise' which is claimed to be replete with references to 'history' and 'strategic theory'. The past does not predetermine the future, but by no means is it inconsequential.

Joint Logistics: The Way Forward

Joint logistics is an emerging imperative in the Indian operational context. The author argues that there is a tremendous scope for integration of logistics amongst the three services. A number of areas such as automation of common logistic processes, modes of transportation, certain provisioning and procurement policies and medical services have been identified. There is an urgent need to identify the commonality in processes and practices to initiate the process of jointmanship in the field of military logistics.

Keynote Address at the Eleventh Asian Security Conference

All-out wars are no longer the norm for settling disputes among states. Rapid globalisation has led to profound changes by creating interdependence amongst states and people making inter-state wars an era of bygone years. Liberal policies are increasingly connecting Asia to the world economy and building high stakes for peace and world order. India is committed to building a strong, non-discriminatory international norms and institutes to strengthen world peace and stability.

China’s Emerging Cyber War Doctrine

China will develop much greater depth and sophistication in its understanding and handling of information warfare techniques and operations. With Indian security becoming increasingly dependent on date processing and network centricity, it will become extremely vulnerable to such information warfare campaigns. India needs to adopt a multidisciplinary approach towards dealing with the emerging cyber warfare threats and develop appropriate response.

Deterring Threat from Weapons of Mass Destruction

A relaxed security situation has the potential to provide space for non-state actors to launch an attack with Weapons of Mass Destruction. While it may be difficult to deter WMD threats, there are ways and means to minimise the possibility of WMD attacks. The author argues that the solution lies in adopting an integrated approach by simultaneously addressing the 'demand' and 'supply' side of the WMD threat. This would imply maintaining pressure on nuclear capable states to heighten security of nuclear assets and also, severing the drug mafia-terrorist linkages in the longer run.

India’s Defence Cooperation

Defence cooperation is an ideal tool to advance the national foreign policy objectives by building bridges of friendship, preventing conflicts, building mutual trust and capacities on a global basis. The process signals the political commitment to develop cooperative relations and dispel mistrust and misperception on issues of common military interest. The evolving geostrategic realities necessitates that policy guidelines be formulated for integrated inter-ministerial planning on issues concerning the external security of the country.