INDIA THE GLOBAL POWERHOUSE OF MILLITARY

MANPOWER : 

AVAILABLE MANPOWER: 615,201,057
FIT FOR SERVICE:               489,571,520
ACTIVE PERSONAL'S:            1,325,450
RESERVE PERSONAL'S:         1,155,000

AGNI-5

LAND FORCES :

TANKS:                                                                        6,464
NUCLEAR WARHEADS:                                       90-100
TOWED ARTILLERY:                                              7,417
MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHING SYSTEMS:    300

ARJUN MBT

AIR FORCE :

FIGHTERS:          629
TRANSPORT:      667
TRAINER:            263
HELICOPTERS: 684

C-130J IN LEH

NAVY :

TOTAL SHIPS:                     202
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS:         2
SUBMARINES:                        15
AIR CRAFTS:                          46
DESTROYERS:                         9
FRIGATES:                              15
CORVETTES:                          25

INS VIKRMADITYA

JANNAT-E-KASHMIR

                                             "Agar Firdaus bar rooe zameen ast,

                                        hameen ast o, hameen ast o, hameen ast"

These words of 13th century sufi poet Amir Khusro needs no explanation at present also, in this 21st century. I have read and studied a lot about Kashmir from the last 2 decades, but i have seen it in all its forms  from early 20th century from the eyes of writers, Kasmiris,  soldiers, and books. From the shooting of the cameras in 60's to the shooting from the Guns in 90's, i have seen it.

When i saw kashmir from the eyes of  my father, it was in blossom's, full of beauty.From the yellow-red carpet of Chinars in Autumn to white carpet of snow in winters, Kashmir changed with seasons. 

Till 1980's Kashmir remained calm. One can taste Kashmiri cuisine's flavoured with saffron, Kashmiri chai with Bakarkhani, beautiful carpets, women with pashmina shawl's and locals smoking hookahs while sitting besides kangris.

Napolean Bonaparte bought Kashmiri shawl for his beloved wife as he has listened that Kashmiri shawl are very beautiful and are known for their best quality.

How can we forget the days of 60's and 70's, "Yeh chand sa roshan chehra" with Shami Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore. Shashi Kapoor's "pardesion se na akhiyaan milana" and many more.

And then in 1989 sound of melodies was replaced by the sound of Gun shots and blasts.

In 2010, I visited Kasmir first time on my way to Amarnath. On my way i saw men in olive, squinting from the roof tops, behind trees and from their bunkers.I was downhearted by seeing this.I remembered and hummed-

                 " Phir Jarra Jarra mehkega, Khushbu ke mausam aayenga
                                      Phir Chinar ki shaakhon pe panchi,

                                               ghar apna banaayenge, 

                       In raahon se jaane wale laut ke wapas aayenge,

                   Phir jannat ki galion mein log nagme gaayenge.................."

YEMEN CRISIS : THE STORY OF CONFLICT

PRESIDENT SALEH

The Houthis who started Shia insurgency in Yemen are actually Zaydi Muslims a subsect of Shia muslims constituting 2/5 th of the population. To say the that the present situation is just a Shia-Sunni rivalry is not right. Although the core of  Yemen crisis is Shia-Sunni rivalry but it is the proxy war's of Iran( Shia power) and Saudi Arabia (Sunni power) which has fueled the crisis. 

To understand the present situation it is necessary to peek into the past history of this impoverished country. There were two states north and south in the present day Yemen which existed till 1990's.The southern socialist state was formed at the end of 1960's and was officially called the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. The civil war which ended in 1968, the Yemini Arab Republic came into existence. The power struggle continued between them for many coming years.

  

In 1990's both the states reached an agreement and formed the present day republic of Yemen. In 2011 Arab spring protest started in Sanna. Initially the protest were against unemployment, adverse economic situation and the proposed amendment to the Yemini constitution which allow president Saleh to remain in office for life. President Saleh was badly injured in rocket attack and suffered burns to 40% of his body and was flown to Saudi Arabia for treatment. When he returned he promised to hand over the power to his Deputy Adbrabbuh Mansour Hadi. Last year following the conclusion Hadi announced that Yemen will become Federation of six region. Houthis rejected the plan and blows up Yemen's largest oil pipeline and took over the reigns of the Capital Sanna.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN YEMEN ARE INCREASING

The coalition air strikes may prolong the struggle and will create the vacuum which will result in non state actress to fullfill their dreams. It is not a domestic or regional problem but is Global problem. International Community will have to do something before the string is out of hand. for countries like India to remain neutral is the best policy.

F-35 and F-22 V/S T-50 PAKFA

            

 The T-50 PAK-FA bests the F-35 in several categories, including fuel load —19,624 lbs internally for the F-35 vs. 25,000 lbs for the T-50. And the Sukhoi fighter also boasts something called “extreme plus agility.”While the T-50 lacks the “critical all-aspect stealth performance” of the F-22, its “extreme plus agility” could make the PAK-FA the “most lethal and survivable fighter ever built for air combat engagements.”The F-35 and T-50 have similar RCS behavior. But the T-50’s unusual shape could actually prove advantageous — in a separate analysis, American radars have an exceedingly hard time detecting the PAK-FA, while Chinese “counter-VLO radars” spot the T-50 best — bad news on all fronts. The T-50 prototype is still in the early stages of development, and the PAK-FA won’t enter service until at least 2016 (and even then, probably not in large quantities). As it stands, the T-50 wouldn’t satisfy the requirements of a very low observable (VLO) design, crucial to modern fifth-gen aerial warfare and considering America’s difficulty in detecting the T-50 — to say nothing of successfully engaging it — the skies could get a lot less friendly for the Joint Strike Fighter in the next decade.

F-35

The United States Air Force undertook the Advance Tactical Fighter program in the mid 1980’s. Two air superiority fighters to replace F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon have since then been developed. In 2005 the first fifth generation fighter jet the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor was introduced by the USAF. It is an air superiority, supersonic, highly maneuverable stealth-featuring fighter equipped with state of the art weapons and electronics. It has supercruise at Mach 1.8, which means fly at Mach 1.8 without the use of afterburners. The F-22 has never been sold to a foreign country. Even though it was expensive, the US let Lockheed Martin built another fifth generation fighter – The F-35 Lighning II. The aircraft is similar to the F-22 in terms of stealth and having top modern weapons, but it was built in three different variants because it was planned to be used by both the Marines, Air Force and Navy and therefore needed to have STOVL and Vertical Take off and Landing features. The equipment and performance can be changed depending on the mission, for example, if the objective does not require stealth technology the external pylons for weapons or fuel can be loaded (which increases the not only the weapons load but also the radar-visibility). This fighter got extremely expensive because to build a fifth generation aircraft capable of doing vertical takeoffs and landings proved itself to be extremely complex. The project has currently cost the US tax payers over 1 trillion dollars, and is by that the most expensive aircraft program ever.

T-50 PAK FA

The Sukhoi PAK FA “Perspektivny aviatsionny kompleks frontovoy aviatsii”, which means “Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation” is a twin-engine, multirole fighter jet developed by Sukhoi. It is planned to be introduced by 2016. The aircraft is equipped – just like the Raptor – with  top modern weapons, stealth technology and has supercruise at mach 1.6. Since it has not yet been revealed there is very much speculations about it and there is a lot of propaganda involved. For instance Vladimir Putin claimed that: “This machine will be superior to our main competitor, the F-22, in terms of maneuverability, weaponry and range” which you can choose to interpret in any way you want. But it is by many considered to be the best fighter in the world when it enters service with the Russian air force. The main points that are considered by many to be better with the PAK FA than with the raptor is its IRST, its engines and its 3D Thrust vectoring system (the Raptor does not feature IRST and only has 2D TV). The engine that is currently being developed by Saturn and is said to be the “fifth generation fighter engine” will be delivered in the coming years and just like any other tremendously expensive project there has been a lot of speculations about it. India is also currently developing a fifth generation fighter projected to be introduced in 2022, namely the HAL FGFA, which is an upgraded version of the PAK FA. It is claimed that it is supposed to have 43 improvements compared to the PAK FA, among others stealth, supercruise, advanced sensors, networking and combat avionics.

TOP FIVE WAR QUOTES

"ALL WAR REPRESENTS FAILURE OF DIPLOMACY"

- TONY BENN

"IF YOU WIN, YOU NEED TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN ..............IF YOU LOSE, YOU SHOULD NOT BE THERE TO EXPLAIN"

- ADOLF HITLER

"APPEAR WEAK WHEN YOU ARE STRONG AND STRONG WHEN YOU ARE WEAK"

- SUN TZU

" IN THE TIMES OF WAR THE LAW FALLS SILENT"

-MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO

"IT IS FOOLISH AND WRONG TO MOURN THE MEN WHO DIED. RATHER, WE SHOULD THANK GOD THAT SUCH MEN LIVED"

- GEORGE S. PATTON JR.

INDIAN AIR FORCE FUTURE FLEET

RAFALE

DASSAULT AVIATION  RAFALE

• OVERALL EMPTY WEIGHT:10 TONNES
• MAXIMUM TAKE-OFF WEIGHT:24.5 TONNES
• MAXIMUM SPEED:1.8 MACH
• CAN CARRY LASER GUIDED BOMBS
• AM39 EXOCET ANTI SHIP MISSILE
• MICA AIR TO AIR "BEYOND VISUAL RANGE" MISSILE
• SERVICE CEILING: 50,000 FEET
• HAMMER ROCKET-BOOSTED AIR TO GROUND PRECISION GUIDED WEAPON SERIESSCALP LONG RANGE STAND OFF MISSILE

The deal is to buy 126 fighter jets. They will replace MIG-21 soviet origin fighter jets in phased manner. The first 18 multi role medium air-craft are to be imported and rest are to be build by state owned Hindustan Aeronautical Limited.

LCA-TEJAS

TEJAS

INDIA' domestically produced light combat aircraft TEJAS  is yet to get final operational clearance.

the jet has been powered by general electric 404 engines. The IAF has an initial requirement of 200 single seat TEJAS  fighters and 20 twin seat fighters. At present it has ordered 40 Mark 1 TEJAS jets.

The mark-2 version of TEJAS has more powerful GE-414  engine. Indian Air Force is going to order 10 squadrons of tejas.

SUKHOI/HAL FGFA

FGFA:-  PAK-FA

The INDO-RUSSIAN  FGFA is to have first prototype for indian air force in 2017. INDIAN AIR FORCE IS TO HAVE 200 Plus fighters.

• CREW: 1-2
• SPEED: 2.3 MACH
• RANGE: 3500 KM (SUBSONIC)
• FERRY RANGE: 5500 KM IN ONE FUELLING
• SERVICE CEILING: 65000 FEET

The Indian FGFA will predominantly armed with weapons of indian origin such as ASTRA , BRAHMOS etc. The Indian version will also include two seater which will also include co-pilot for weapon system operator.
In 2010, a total of 500 aircraft's were planned. Russian  Air Force will have 200 single-seat and 50 twin seat while Indian Air Force will have 166 single seat and 48 twin seat.

AMCA

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

• CREW: 1
• EMPTY WEIGHT: 14 TONS
• LOADED WEIGHT: 24 TONS
• MAXIMUM SPEED:1.6- 2.5 MACH
• SERVICE CEILING: 59,000 FEET
• RANGE: 2800 KM
• FERRY RANGE: 4600 KM

AMCA is intended to be superior than Jaguars,Mirage 2000,MIG 27. Around 480 aircraft's are to be produced . AMCA'S  primary purpose is as a multi role fighter which includes Attack mission, Strike role, As a Intercepter   and Bombing mission. 

AMCA'S are to replace Sepecat Jaguar and Dassault Mirage 2000 and Mikoyan MIG-27. AMCA  will be a twin engine using advanced versions of Kaveri engine.

INDIAN STRATEGIC OIL RESERVES

Strategic  petroleum reserves refer to crude oil stockpiles held by particular government of a country  for economic and national security during an energy crisis .

The sharp slide in crude oil prices  on the global level has raised the spirits of  think-tanks and policy makers  in India to enhance its oil reserves .  In 2003  India started the development of a strategic crude oil reserves  sized at  37000000(approx.) barrels, enough for 14 days  in the event of  energy emergency. 

presently the strategic reserve facilities are:

• Mangalore -10.995 million barrels
• Udupi -18.7 million barrels
• Visakhapatnam - 1.33 million ton.

A special purpose vehicle -Indian strategic  petroleum reserve limited under the oil industry development board was floated to implement the project.

On the other hand China, which has 170 million barrels of strategic oil reserves  has been continuously  expanding it further to 90 days reserve to match USA.

India is in talks with west asian and middle east crude oil producers like kuwait and saudi arabia to allow them to book crude oil storage facilities on the east and west coast.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with saudi king Salman bin abdulaziz 

Recently saudi Crown prince Salman bin Abdulaziz met Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in Brisbane on the sidelines of G20 meeting to discuss investment in strategic oil storage in india. This follows a meeting two weeks a ago when Indian petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, met his saudi counterpart Ali al naimi.

With the increase in crude oil demand the government is al;so realising the need for setting additional storage facilities  for 12.5 million tons of such facilities in Rajasthan, Odihsa ,Gujrat and Karnatka.

IS INDIA READY FOR DEFENCE EXPORT

LCS- TEJAS

INDIA is ready to take-off in the highly competitive world off exports in response to prime minister Narendra Modi call to boost Indian arms export.

Recently union defence minister Manohar Parrikar said as many as 38 countries are sending their defence personnel for training in india and the country is considering export of defence equipment to these but he refrained from naming them for security reasons .he said that these countries are being given favorable space so that they can depend on India for their defence preparedness.  

INDIA has a long list of  platforms such as LCA-TEJAS, ALH-DHRUV, RUDRA, ARJUN TANKS and various missile systems that India can export at affordable price. Akash, Prahar, Nag missiles have huge export potential.

Avinash Chander former DRDO Chief  said that there was scope to export 500-1000 of the single engine LCA-TEJAS .

ALH-DHRUV

Dhruv has become the first major Indian weapon  to have secured large foreign sales.With a unit price 15% less than other advance light helicopters ,it has elicited interest in many countries from Latin america, Africa, west Asia , south east Asia and Pacific rim nations. Forces from 37 countries have shown interest and requested for demonstrations.

India is also building offshore patrol vessels for Myanmar and other countries in its shipyards. 

Hope in the coming decade India's name will be on the list of major arm exporters.