Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja

There are times when a nation is blessed with decisive leadership, which can take bold policy initiatives that would benefit future generations. In the budget...

Introduction ​Oil was the ‘Black Gold’ of the 20th century, fuelling vehicles, wars, the world economy and, hence, its geopolitics. Today, the world is in...

The attacks on Saudi Aramco are a reminder of India’s dependence on a very volatile and unstable region of the world. The attack appears to...

For 1300 years or so, the caliphs, or the “successors”, took pride in developing the Islamic community that the Prophet Muhammad had left behind. The...

The Indian Air Force had issued a “Request for Information” (RFI) for 126 MMRCA in 2001. After much dilly-dallying, for almost two years beyond the...

President Donald Trump was elected president of USA in 2016, the year that the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action...

The US exit from the deal and intensification of economic pressure, confronts both Iran and the US with an uncertain end-game, complicated by the appearance,...

It was in May 2014 that Prime Minister Modi met his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, for bilateral talks; since then the two leaders have met...

There is never a dull moment in world politics. International relations are in a constant state of flux with many an extraneous factor causing shift...

China’s spending and influence were a hot topic in the recent election in the Maldives; in the region, where China has loaned billions of dollars...

Understandably, India does not wish to be a 70 per cent import-dependent nation. Yet, at the same time we cannot be 100 per cent self-sufficient...

In an announcement that was somewhat on expected lines, President Donald Trump cancelled the planned summit with the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, scheduled for...

It was in June 2013 that the maverick President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, relinquished office after the present incumbent, Hassan Rouhani, was elected in a...

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un (Kim), accompanied by his wife, visited China during the week 26-31 March; that the formal acceptance of Kim Jong-un’s...

Not a single day passes with some mention of China in Indian newspapers, whether it is about China’s internal policies and struggles, an impending trade-war...

Any talk of Maldives and the images conjured are of luxurious resorts and hotels in the ocean, each trying to woo customers through advertisements promising...

The vibrant defence industrial base of DPSUs, OFs and R&D that has existed for decades has not produced the desired results; though there has been...

Approaching the end of the year, it is time to make a report card for the Indian Military muscle power. The calendar year 2017 began...

Countries that consume large amounts of energy have been coping with oil prices hovering around $110 per barrel since the beginning of 2011, as most...

Wikipedia defines Special Operations as “military operations that are ‘special’ or unconventional and carried out by dedicated special-force units using unconventional methods and resources. Special operations may be performed independently...

The Middle East has never been a picture of stability, much to the chagrin and worry of the world. The region, however, has had some...

In the closing stages of the primaries in USA, Ms Hillary Clinton, would not have seen herself, in her wildest of dreams, out of the...

Formally established on 08 October 1932, the IAF will be celebrating its centenary of extraordinary service to the nation, in 2032. Beginning with just four...

India has an opportunity, and should seize it, without delay or any hedging. This does not mean going along with whatever President Trump says. If...

Introduction ​A fluctuation in the world oil market manifests itself on nations in a myriad of ways; an increase in the price leads to inflation in the oil-importing nations, whereas the oil exporters laugh all...

2016 was a bizarre year in many ways, and if one thought it cannot get anymore bumpy, one is for a surprise. The new-year, 2017,...

Is there malaise that ails the Indian media today? Yes, and the disease is in both print and visual media, which have undergone a transformation...

It was in the wee hours of 18 Sep 2016 that four heavily armed terrorists, who had earlier infiltrated across the Line of Control (LOC),...

The North East is located at a crossroads between three major economies – East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. This geopolitical advantage, has however,...

The date of 24 June 2016 will remain in one’s memory for quite some time. It was on this day that the results of many...

There is palpable excitement in the air in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and within the strategic community. The reason is not too difficult to...

The defence industry, more so the aviation sector has been in a state of excitement ever since the announcement was made of “Make in India”...

Predicting the future in a confusing security environment is a challenge; with all the present fusions and fissions, it becomes even more challenging. The consistencies...

Secularism in the Muslim world appears to be in terminal retreat. The two levels of struggle within that world are, first, Sunni versus Shiite, and...

Having learnt a lesson from the 1990s, the Government of India (GoI) has since laid emphasis on indigenisation of the defence industry with a number...

Combat aircraft constitute the cutting edge of any air force and so it is with the IAF as well. Modernisation and upgradation of combat platforms...

A National Aerospace Policy, that caters to the interests of all stakeholders, duly synchronised where necessary, is the need of the hour along with an...

Events such as the Purulia arms drop, use of hijacked airliners as a lethal arm of terrorism, disappearance of a civil airliner from the radar...

To some, the India-China War, which started on October 20, 1962 with the Chinese Army walking across the contested and an undefined border, was not...

The US occupies, and in the foreseeable future, will continue to occupy a position of pre-eminence on the world stage. Indian perception of world politics...

India’s military build-up, particularly of its naval capabilities and naval installations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, worried ASEAN policy makers, who saw India as...

“Simulators go a long way in ensuring that a pilot learns about systems under simulation before he actually uses these on-board an aircraft thus saving...

“He (the soldier) is thus the very basis and silent, barely visible cornerstone of our fame, culture, physical well-being and prosperity; in short, of the...

Except for the debacle of the Sino-Indian War of 1962, India has managed to perform quite well in the various military conflicts. However, each of...