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CONTENTS

BUDGET 2018: 02 HOW HAS IT HELPED DEFENCE? A TIMES OF INDIA In this Anniversary PRESENTATION Special Issue, we

l MANAGING EDITOR take a look at how VISHESH PRAKASH Defence Budget l ASSISTANT EDITOR 2018-19, announced POOJA MADHOK in February, has l EDITORIAL TEAM YASMIN TAJ helped the Defence DIPIKA RATHI KAMINI KULSHRESHTHA sector in the first

l CHIEF GRAPHIC EDITOR quarter MUKESH ARORA

l DESIGN TEAM MAHESH BISHT, DINESH VIST, THE FOCUS NOW IS ON SUSHIL DUBEY THE STORY OF DEFENCE 24 INDO-PACIFIC MARKETING 8 INDUSTRIAL CORRIDORS l NATIONAL VERTICAL HEAD Let’s explore the ‘Indo- SHWETA ARORA Pacific’ and the [email protected] While the government has proposed to set up two defence ‘Quadrilateral Security l PROJECT COORDINATOR PEEUSH SRIVASTAVA corridors, it must consider Dialogue’ [email protected] private sector as a stakeholder l PRODUCTION COORDINATION in defence production MUKESH MALIK UTTAM ACHARYA

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All rights reserved with M/s Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Reproduction, in whole or part, without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Infringement of any of the above conditions can lead to civil and criminal prosecutions. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & DISCLAIMER: Great care has been taken in the 12 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT compilation and validation of information, and every effort has been made to ensure Our country needs to prepare that all information is up-to-date at the INDO-US time of going to press. The publishers are itself for the next generation 28 RELATIONSHIP not responsible for errors, if any, and their warfare. The role of AI is thus consequences. Over the years, Indo-US 2018 Copyright © Bennett, going to be crucial for India Coleman & Co. Ltd relationship changed from forced friendship to Pictures used in the magazine are for representational purposes only. a genuine camaraderie

TAKING INDIAN 36 AVIATION TO SAFER GROUNDS Steady growth in air traffic in the past few years is an indicator of EXPANDING TURBULENT sound economic 18 MARITIME PERIPHERY activities. It is time now to take the business of In the strategic landscape aviation safety seriously of Indo-Pacific, China can be seen both, as an opportunity as well as a key challenge 2-7_Cover_story_6done.qxd 6/29/2018 12:47 PM SUSHIL Page 2

COVER STORY

r By A Correspondent

n what can be a termed as a ‘strategic’ move, India’s defence budget for 2018-19 has been increased by 7.81 per cent. While India faces Budget 2018: military threats from both Pakistan and China, whether or not the defence ‘outlay’ is likely to Imeet the overall requirements of the defence services is for time to tell. As of now, let’s explore how the first HOW HAS IT quarter has been like. CATEGORY WISE ALLOCATION The Union Budget for 2018-19 envisages a total outlay of `24,42,213 crore. Out of this, `2,95,511.41 crore has been HELPED THE earmarked for the defence sector. This accounts for 12.10 per cent of the total central government expenditure for the year 2018-19. The defence outlay works out to just about 1.58 per cent of the GDP for 2018-19, the lowest such figure since the 1962 war with China, wherein it was 1.65 per cent. The fresh allocation of `2.95 lakh crore represents a growth of 7.81 per cent over the budget DEFENCE? estimates (`2.74 lakh crore) and 5.91 per cent over the revised estimates (`2.79 lakh crore) for the financial year 2017-18. Out of `2.95 lakh crore, `1,95,947.55 crore has India’s defence budget for 2018-19, announced in been allocated for revenue expenditure and `99,563.86 February, was increased by 7.81 per cent to `2.95 crore for capital expenditure for the defence services and departments under the ministry. The capital outlay also lakh crore over last year’s `2.74 lakh crore. Four includes the modernisation expenditure. For defence pension, which is over and above the outlay months down, let’s explore how it has helped the mentioned above, an amount of `1,08,853.30 crore has defence sector in the first quarter been provided in the Budget Estimates 2018-19. This is 26.60 percent above the Budget Estimates 2017-18 of `85,740 crore and 14.26 percent over revised Estimates 2017-18 of `95,000 crore.

INFRASTRUCTURE BOOST The good news also is that the infrastructure for connectivity in border areas is being developed. This is part of India’s defences in these remote areas. Rohtang

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However, more money should have Between these two places, all small and for a Technical Communication System been allocated for border connectivity. medium manufacturers will be has been long delayed due to the benefitted. The second corridor will be internecine fight between defence PSU EMPHASIS ON ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ announced later. and the private players. The futuristic Defence budget has also laid emphasis The ‘Make’ category under Defence infantry combat vehicle, another on the private investment in defence in Procurement Policy (2016), also flagship ‘Make’ initiative is also stick India. Measures to develop two defence promises to provide 80 per cent due to the complex procedure that the industrial production corridors in the funding for private sector players who ‘Make’ category entails, compared to an country have also been stressed upon. can develop a successful policy catering import option. The government will also bring out an to defence acquisition requirement. industry-friendly Defence Production This provision has also been buried A HOLISTIC PICTURE Policy 2018 to promote domestic under the myriad of promises to The total allocation to ministry under production by public sector, private promote indigenous R&D and various demands for grants during sector and MSMEs. The first defence manufacturing. 2018-19 has been placed at `4.04 lakh corridor will be established in Tamil In this backdrop, mention may be crore, which constitute 16.4 per cent of Nadu, linking Chennai and Bengaluru. made how an ambitious ‘Make Project’ central government expenditure and

Tunnel has been completed to provide Tawang and will also ensure that the all weather connectivity to the Ladakh stretch from Bomdila to Tawang region. Contract for construction of remains open throughout the year. Zojila Pass tunnel of more than 14 km Apart from this, several border is progressing well. More importantly, roads are being given priority. The construction of tunnel under Sela Pass budget has taken border roads, is also expected to be proposed soon. tunnels, strategic projects and the It seems that the defence budget has defence industrial corridor into taken into account all that has been consideration. requested. The expected construction In relation, the army had re- of the tunnel under Sela Pass, which is prioritised its five year plan for 2018- located near Tawang, shows that the 2023 to meet its operational The corridors of priority is being given for the defence requirements along the frontier with ‘growth’ planned of the North East and access to such China. The emphasis is on Defence budget has laid points, which are critical for defence. infrastructure development such as emphasis on the private Tawang is an important strategic building better road connectivity, more investment in defence in India. location for the Indian Army. It was a fuel storage facilities and troop Measures to develop two primary location where the 1962 accommodation. The Indian Army is defence industrial production India-China war was fought. From already looking at building capacities corridors in the country have Tawang, the LAC in Bumla is not far to move forces between sectors along been stressed upon located. Reaching Tawang by road is an the LAC and from the western front to arduous journey through bad road the northern front. connectivity. The Sela tunnel is Experts feel that the Sela Pass expected to reduce the road distance to tunnel is a step in the right direction.

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Budget 2018-19: At a glance The Union Budget for 2018-19 has earmarked `2,95,511.41 for defence. This accounts for 12.10 per cent of the total central government expenditure for the year 2018-19 The infrastructure for connectivity in border areas is being focused upon and is going to be developed at a fast pace. This is part of India's defences in the remote areas The budget has also taken border roads, tunnels, strategic projects, fuel storage facilities, and the defence industrial corridor into consideration

2.2 per cent of India’s GDP. This includes `1.08 lakh crore Force (23 per cent), which is most capital intensive in in pension payment to nearly 2.5 million pensioners. Of nature and Navy (15 per cent). DRDO has been historically the total defence expenditure, 34 per cent is accounted for accounting for 6 per cent of the defence services; though by capital expenditure, which includes land acquisition, the Defence Standing Committee (2008) had construction of new buildings, roads and acquisition of recommended that at least 10 per cent should be new weapons and platforms. The capital component has earmarked to DRDO to improve self-reliance quotient in been showing a declining trend, from about 40 per cent in design and development from 30 per cent. 2011-12 to around 33 per cent (2017-18). This is largely due On a concluding note, Budget 2018-19 is right in its to delay in acquisition, due to long winded capital intent for the defence sector, but needs a more acquisition procedure and interminable delays in selection fundamental upheaval and structural transformation to vendors. become a global hub, as the ‘Make in India’ initiative As far as share of services is concerned, Army expects it to be. constitutes the largest standing force of the defence services, with a strength of 1.1 million and accounts for —(For editorial queries, contact nearly 55 per cent of the expenditure, followed by Air [email protected])

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DEFENCE INSIGHT domination, competitive environment and level playing, etc. The half-hearted attempts to create a domestic defence industrial base is one of the missed opportunities.

FOREIGN DEPENDENCE THE STORY India’s mission to increase self- dependency for defence equipment to 70% remains a dream and self-reliance continues to hover around 35% despite tall claims. Import contents in OF DEFENCE indigenous source varies and is 13% in OFB production, 40-60% in HAL production, 36-47% in BEL, 16-20% in BEML, and over 40% in shipyard production. In general, the time and cost INDUSTRIAL escalation on DPSU orders have taken 5 years and cost 200-500%. It is matter of concern that despite all claims to achieve 70% indigenisation by successive government in the last 30 years, we are CORRIDORS still at less than 40% indigenous contents. The harsh fact is that India is questions that need to be answered on sector, involvement in defence the world’s top arms importer, as per While the government has proposed to set up two the site selection. Are the government production is at a sub-optimal level, we SIPRI report. defence corridors, it must consider private sector as a sector units in these two corridors need to analyse the issues that have been working optimally in niche technology responsible for the present state of MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY stakeholder in defence production, and allow it to work area? Can these DPSUs/PSUs and OFB affairs. The fact of the matter is that the The Indian Defence Industrial base as a success and security facilitator have capabilities and guide the SME policies never dwelt on crucial issues dominated by DRDO/DPSU/OFB never What’s wrong, sector? which have been mainly responsible for focused on technology development or Besides the above, the Gujarat the present state of affairs in defence upgrade on its own. Overloaded with where? Government is also promoting the production, like accountability, assured orders due to nomination, r Maj Gen Dr Bhupinder Yadav (Retd) promote ‘Make in India’ and generate While it is agreed that the Special Investment Region for employment. While the Tamil Nadu Corridor private sector, involvement investments in the defence ecently, the government has Public Sector Units (PSUs) in the region, in defence production is at manufacturing in Dholera. Some of the proposed to set up two defence the UP Corridor covers districts like Aligarh, a sub-optimal level, we states like Rajasthan, Haryana and industrial corridors, one in Agra, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, and need to analyse the issues Maharashtra have also been making Tamil Nadu and other in Uttar Chitrakoot. In this region, defence which have been efforts to attract investment in defence UTTAR responsible for the present Pradesh. The aim is to develop manufacturing base in Kanpur has 6 PSUs production. Any location selected for the state of affairs Rthe area into a defence production manufacturing arms and defence items. The purpose has to have infrastructure, PRADESH powerhouse through interaction between preliminary groundwork/detailed project connectivity, skilled manpower, stake holders, in order to create long-term report for visibility, realistic risk analysis and incentives and investment. CORRIDOR synergy through multiple measures to a clear roadmap is yet not available. There are While it is true that in the private

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FUTURE WISE

resorting to ‘copy-paste’ production and charging the nation on cost plus basis, with no accountability have made the country dependent on import. These DEFENCE MINISTER need a transformational synthesis of design, development, manufacturing structures and processes. Despite claims that the days of ‘nomination’ are over, and that public INAUGURATES BEL and private sector in defence production now compete on equal terms, the reality is that DPSUs are afforded several undue advantages over private manufacturers. REPRESENTATIVE Till now the private industry has not been able to contribute to its potential in the absence of a level playing field. The bogey raised about the private sector TAMIL NADU cannot make defence item as suitably OFFICE IN VIETNAM rebutted as various industrial houses have built and demonstrated their CORRIDOR capabilities to meet domestic defence requirements. A few examples of demonstrated performance on state-of- the-art weapons or peripheral systems made by private sector for defence forces, includes Combat Management System (CMS) of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, PINAKA Launchers, has already been investing for over a design and development of desired New beginnings for Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System decade and the private sector utilisation critical subsystems as in advanced BEL in Vietnam (ATAGS), MAFI (Modernisation of (capacity) is only 20-25 per cent, since countries. The Representative Office Airfield Infrastructure) and CMS for INS we are over-feeding the public sector. It There is no denial that the private will aim to promote BEL’s Arihant, Parts of Samyukta EWS, will involve cost and years to create the sector involvement will prove to be exports in areas such as Simulators, Body Protection, and facilities in case we go by experiences of cost-effective, increase indigenisation, Weapon Systems, Radar Military Explosives etc., thus, setting at SEZ and what is guarantee of such a help to generate employment and shall Systems, Naval Systems, rest the speculations on private sector move when such facilities are created in benefit, both government and private Military Communication capability in defence production. a region based on other consideration players by combining their expertise. Systems, Electronic rather than business? The private players have the capacity Warfare Systems, etc DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT An eminent industrialist once to deliver many of the required defence CAPABILITY mentioned that we don’t have to create systems to bring down the rising Defence Research Development additional infrastructure for defence quantum of imports and create Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, inaugurating the first Representative Office of BEL in Vietnam by handing Organisation (DRDO) has been having production as the infrastructure with in significant economic benefits for the over the symbolic key to Gowtama MV, CMD, BEL, during the Vietnam-India Defence Industry Business Meeting held over 6% of defence budget allocation, but the government sector is good enough country. The government is willing to at Hotel Melia, Hanoi recently. His Excellency P Harish, Ambassador of India to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; unfortunately, has not been able to foster for us. The need is to efficiently manage, help out the new entrants by the way of Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), and other senior officials are seen in the picture Republic of Union of the industrial ecosystem needed to make the under-utilised capacity and subsidies in R&D, consultancy, finances Myanmar, Indonesia, India a manufacturing hub in the sector. infrastructure in existence with and miscellaneous structural synergies efence Minister Ambassador of India to the Malaysia, Thailand and The harsh reality is that most OFB/DPSU through Private-Public- to offset the perceived disadvantages to Nirmala Sitharaman, Socialist Republic of Philippines. Spotting a niche development programmes have Partnership model. venture out in a new business domain. Drecently inaugurated Vietnam; Dr Ajay Kumar, market in Vietnam, BEL has undergone massive delays and cost In case we are concerned about It must also focus on the existing the first Representative Secretary (Defence now set up its first overruns. Unfortunately, the common national interest than there are far more players in the private sector. Office of Navratna Defence Production); and other Representative Office at defence items like, rifles, tanks, fighter broader issues relating to procurement On a concluding note, the PSU Bharat Electronics senior officials of India and Vietnam for addressing aircrafts, airborne warning and control policy such as ‘Level Playing Field’, government needs to consider private Limited (BEL) in Vietnam. Vietnam Defence forces. export business systems, aircraft carriers, surface-to-air, ‘Make Projects’, ‘Strategic Partnership sector as a stakeholder in defence The Defence Minister VIRO is located in close opportunities and to provide surface-to-surface and sub surface Model’, etc., from sloganeering to production and act as a facilitator like handed over the symbolic proximity to the Embassy of unstinted product support missiles are all based on foreign design. implementation rather than establishing it has done in auto, pharma and key of the Representative India, Vietnam, on the 10th and services to users in the corridors. The production infrastructure software sector. Permitting fair market Office of BEL at Vietnam Floor of TNR Tower, Hanoi. region. The Representative DO WE REALLY NEED CORRIDORS? will come as some of the industrial competition is the right approach to (VIRO) to Gowtama MV, BEL, India’s leading Office will aim to promote The dedicated defence corridor is a good houses have shown an inclination to encourage the private enterprise to Chairman and Managing Defence electronics BEL’s exports in areas such idea, but aren’t we late, as it will take assume the role of system integrators by venture into the field of defence Director, BEL, during the company, is fast expanding as Weapon Systems, Radar another decade to take off. A number of investing in R&D and infrastructure and production. Vietnam-India Defence its global presence, putting Systems, Naval Systems, committee have recommended develop capabilities in defence Industry Business Meeting its best foot forward to give a Military Communication measures to way forward but no one production. The envisaged investment —The author is MD at a research held at Hotel Melia, Hanoi, thrust to exports worldwide, Systems, Electronic Warfare recommended the establishment of should be spent to motivate and company assisting Indian Aerospace and recently, in the presence of especially South East Asian Systems, Combat defence corridor. Besides, the industry insensitivise industry to adopt model of Defence Market His Excellency P Harish, countries such as the Management System and Coastal Surveillance System.

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Technology/RD r Rear Admiral Dr S Kulshrestha

he term ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) was coined by John TMcCarthy in 1956 for the Dartmouth Conferences. He defined it as ‘the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programmes. It is related to the similar Artificial task of using computers to understand human intelligence, but AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable.’ Some other popular definitions of AI, include: ‘The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human Intelligence intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making and translation between languages.’ ‘A branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behaviour in computers. The capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behaviour.’ & Unmanned ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI), the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.’ AI applications have not reached a tipping point as yet mainly because programmers continue to define the problem to be solved, and also as to how Aircraft they are to be solved. Thus, this approach is constrained when solutions to complex dynamic

problems are required. The limitations of the rule- based approach have led to the development of machine language that permits machines to learn by adapting to new situations on their own and not follow the traditional approach. The best example of a very complex environment is a battlefield scenario. Machine learning, which is developed based upon how the human brain works or is built upon the neutral networks, is known as deep learning. It is believed that deep learning would enable machines to operate in a highly complex environment as also to adapt to the changing Our country needs to prepare itself scenario. However, as of now, it is difficult to assess and verify capabilities that a neural for the next generation warfare that network-based machine acquires on its own and predict action that it will take with very high would be much more technology probability. The ‘deep learner’ would continue to learn from the environment, and it would not be driven, much more automated and a feasible to trace the source of its learning. Potential of AI is being vigorously pursued in lot more robotised. The role of military laboratories in the quest to develop a fully-automated weapon system. Whereas the Artificial Intelligence is thus going to unmanned platform and the kinetic weapon appear to be within the developers reach, it is the be crucial for India processing of sensor data where AI finds its primary application. The requirements of the humongous intelligence, surveillance and

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Artificial Intelligence (AI): The role and operations

Artificial Intelligence (AI), the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings Artificial Intelligence has to acquire, analyse and interpret sensor information in a dynamic battlefield environment; thereafter it has to decide the course of action and task the UAV accordingly A task force is created to finalise guidelines and framework of a defence project for incorporating Artificial Intelligence into unmanned tanks, vessels, aerial vehicles and robotic weaponry

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has initiated an Artificial Intelligence project called ‘Mind’s Eye’. As per DARPA, “A key distinction between this research and the state-of-the-art in-machine vision is that the latter has made continual progress in recognising a wide range of objects and their properties that might be reconnaissance ISR data and its real- made them suitable for Raven. The limitations of the RPA the images received from the cameras ARGUS-IS can locate moving target thought of as the nouns in the time processing pose a severe warfare/global war on terror namely, sensors to provide a more into a single picture to provide independent of feed from the ground. description of a scene. The focus of constraint and have to be tackled by endurance way beyond what can be comprehensive ground picture, enhanced battlefield awareness. The It can also provide a very detailed Mind’s Eye is to add the perceptual AI since it is beyond human achieved by having a piloted aircraft; especially in remote areas where updated version of Gorgon Stare can picture of the target being tracked; and cognitive underpinnings for capabilities to do so in the time frame ability to transmit real-time imagery human/ground intelligence is provide coverage of 64 sqkm area effectively it has the capabilities of recognising and reasoning about the that the weapon system would of the battlefield directly to decision unavailable has led to the with greatly enhanced resolution. It large and small resolutions in one verbs in those scenes, enabling a require to take the strike decision. makers; and finally to carry out lethal development of an array of ‘wide-area also allows for storage of high- sensor. It generates 600 gigabits per more complete narrative of action in Unmanned Aircrafts/Unmanned attack remotely from thousands of surveillance sensor systems’ like the resolution imagery for 30 days, second or ~ 6 petabytes of video data the visual experience.” Ariel Vehicles or the UAVs are now kilometres without endangering own Gorgon Stare and Autonomous Real- permitting in-depth analysis of per day. The associated software is The small UAVs like the commonly referred to as ‘drones’ military personnel. The RPAs come in Time Ground Ubiquitous tactical events. called Persistics, which identifies quadrocopters have become the though some militaries would prefer various categories like large to small, Surveillance Imaging System ARGUS-IS is a composite focal objects on the ground and then tracks choice of the troops on the ground to the term Remotely Piloted Aircraft lethal or non-lethal, or long range to (ARGUS-IS). Both these systems can plane array (CFPA) assembly of 368 them across a ten sqkm zone. The carry out reconnaissance in confined (RPA)/UAVs to distinguish them from short range. The common military be pod mounted on large UAVs. overlapping 5 MP cell phone cameras extensive data provided by these and closed scenarios albeit without the remote-controlled target practice function across all categories is that The Gorgon Stare Development providing a composite 1.8 gigapixel types of systems far exceeds human the advantage of the quadrocopter aircraft ‘drone’. The RPAs or UAVs of ISR. Some examples are that of included nine cameras for colour image, imaging a 4-mile capabilities of real-time analysis, and having the bulky GPS and other have three characteristics which have Global Hawk, Reaper, Predator and surveillance, which in a way, stitch diameter area at 10Hz. this had led to the US. elaborate sensor packages associated

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with large UAVs. Here, the developments vessels, aerial vehicles and robotic in AI relating to the movement of insects weaponry. The project is aimed at have indicated a considerable potential significantly enhancing the operational in making these small UAVs highly preparedness of the Indian Armed potent. Algorithms have already been Forces. The project would be developed in respect of the insect’s implemented in a ‘partnership model’ ability to determine its position and between the armed forces and the location, obstacle avoidance and path private sector. This accounts for India’s retracing. These need to be adapted to preparation for next-generation warfare. the sensor packages and computing “This (AI) is where the future is going to capacity available on the small be. We need to prepare ourselves for the UAVs/quadrocopters. The simulation of next generation warfare which will be an insect’s movement (or the way it more and more technology driven, more navigates) is being carried out using GPS, and more automated and a lot Is AI ready cameras, sensors, and accelerometers. robotised,” stressed secretary, Defence For use in smaller UAVs which do not Production, while speaking at a recent to roll? have GPS, techniques such as visual conference. AI has a long way simultaneous localization and mapping Artificial Intelligence has a long and before it can (SLAM) are being developed. The arduous path before it can enable an enable an detection of the target in large UAVs is unmanned aircraft to function in a unmanned done by developing 3D images, X-ray reasonably autonomous fashion. AI has aircraft to images and infra-red images. However, to acquire, analyse and interpret sensor function in an these require tremendous computational information in a dynamic battlefield autonomous power, therefore, for smaller UAVs the environment; thereafter, it has to decide fashion focus is on techniques such as colour the course of action and task the UAV thresholding and edge detection. accordingly. Slow and Collison/obstacle avoidance in small The ability of Artificial Intelligence to steady move UAVs is being attempted by calculating replicate human cognitive abilities and As of now, the an ‘optic flow’ in images and estimating empower the UAV to detect enemy on its ability of AI to depth, velocity and motion of an object. own and carry out reconnaissance/kill replicate human The Government of India has task appears to be a couple of decades cognitive constituted a task force to finalise away but not very far away too. abilities appears specifics and framework of a defence to be a couple of project for incorporating Artificial —The author is a defence analyst and decades away Intelligence into unmanned tanks, an independent researcher

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Expert Speak Expanding the turbulent maritime WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS WITH AIRSTRIPS AND periphery SURVEILLANCE PLATFORMS, CHINA HAS PROGRESSIVELY BUILT CAPABILITY TO In the strategic EXERCISE CONTROL OVER MARITIME SPACE OF SOUTH landscape of Indo- CHINA SEA Pacific, China can be seen both, as an opportunity as well opponents through limited escalation, as a key challenge. and has also delayed resolution of Here’s a look deep issues which it could not settle in its favour as yet. While it has refrained into this crucial from launching large-scale aggression or an all-out military operation, China periphery has pursued a strategy of small, incremental but persistent enhancement of its jurisdiction claims in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The ancient Chinese game of ‘Wei Qi’, also popular in Japan as ‘Go’, r Cmde Abhay Kumar Singh (Retd) provides a compelling insight into China’s ‘gray zone’ campaign to assert maritime space of South China Sea. war. Yet, ‘gray zone’ approaches are China’s ‘gray zone’ conflict strategy. It uncontested control over the South In East China Sea, China meant to achieve those gains without takes Chinese philosophical and ven though China has a long China Sea and jurisdiction over disputed promulgated ADIZ in November 2013. escalating to overt warfare, without military thinking as its foundation and coast line, the maritime islands in the East China Sea has been In addition, a raft of maritime and crossing established red lines, and thus puts Chinese strategic thinking and milieu in the Pacific is grim. going on for much longer, and has turned aerial incursions into the vicinity of the without exposing the practitioner to military operational art into play. The Its immediate maritime a darker shade of grey over time as the disputed islands has become now a the penalties and risks that such players’ gambits in the game imitate periphery consists of country’s confidence and power has permanent feature. Unarguably, escalation might bring. warfighting strategies of invasion, disputedE territories which is potentially a grown. China’s claims and presence in Chinese activities has remained below China’s coercive gradualism in the engagement, confrontation and serious obstacle in China’s unhindered the East and South China Seas has been threshold of overt provocation. At the region, especially in the East China Sea encirclement. Henry Kissinger has access to the larger ocean. China is party growing and is seemingly permanent. same time, China has maintained a and South China Sea, display a argued that “Chess teaches the to multiple, decades-old maritime China has been able to cow most of coercive psychological pressure to strategic approach which bears clear Clausewitzian concepts of ‘center of territorial disputes, which have its neighbours into sulky acquiescence contest otherwise established Japanese attributes of ‘gray zone’ conflict gravity’ and the ‘decisive point’ - the periodically led to incidents and episodes while avoiding a direct confrontation. control of the islands. strategy. game usually beginning as a struggle of increased tension. In the past decades, With construction of artificial islands Hal Brand has argued that the aim of China has, thus, far advanced its for the center of the board. ‘Wei Qi’ China has used a spectrum of assertive with airstrips and surveillance ‘gray zone’ approaches is to reap gains, claim through a variety of measures, teaches the art of strategic strategic tools to progressively shift the platforms, China has progressively built whether territorial or otherwise, that political, diplomatic and military, encirclement.” status quo in its favour. capability to exercise control over are normally associated with victory in including coercion of potential Inherent in the Chinese military

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PLA to conduct ‘a function for political work operations’ through ‘public opinion, psychological, and legal warfare’. China’s defence white paper in 2006 highlighted that PLA will “upgrade and develop the strategic concept of people’s war, and work for close China’s ‘Gray zone’ coordination between military struggle and political, economic, diplomatic, cultural and actions and why legal endeavours; use strategies and tactics in a they are needed comprehensive way; and take the initiative to China's ‘gray zone’ actions prevent and defuse crises and deter conflicts can be put into four and wars.” categories: Contestation of The three warfares strategy, through the rules and norms; implementation of non-kinetic, non-violent, exploitation of rules and but still offensive operations, can be considered norms; exploitation of as a key arrow in the Chinese strategic quiver physical control; and for influencing the cognitive processes of a contestation of physical country’s leadership and population, or what control Sun Tzu describes as ‘subduing the enemy By contesting rules and without fighting’. norms, China aims to shift China’s growing claims and permanent rules and norms in its favour presence in South China Sea and East China Sea through disputing the exemplify effective use of ‘coercive gradualism’, meaning of provisions and which is simply a step-by-step pursuit of one changing common practice nation’s interests against other nations’ of existing legal norms. interests, keeping strategic tension below Promulgation of Nine Dash threshold of overt conflict. China has made line can be cited as an gains incrementally by unilaterally changing example of this approach status quo without crossing the use of force red lines. China’s ‘gray zone’ actions can be broadly differentiated into four categories: Contestation of rules and norms; exploitation of rules and

strategic culture is the enduring believe in it brings into play new combinations of efficacy of secrecy and stratagem in resource and methods and these include, obtaining a decisive victory against even a supra-domain combinations (combining superior adversary. As Sun Tzu put it, ‘All battlefields and choosing the main domain); warfare is based on deception.’ The clear supra-means combinations (combining all objective of the Chinese approach to warfare available means, military and non-military, is to induce cognitive confusion in the to carry out operations); supra-national adversary’s mind through effective combinations (combining national, psychological operation. A quick and international and non-state organisations to decisive operation, executed with precision, a country’s benefit); and supra-tier aims to confound the adversary both combinations (combining all levels of materially and psychologically. conflict into each campaign). Contemporary Chinese doctrinal writings It has been argued that ‘in essence, it is a appear to bear the imprint of its ancient post-modern version of Sun-Tzu’s Art of philosophical legacy. One of the prominent War, updated to take into account not only writing in this genre is the concept of the digitalisation of the battlefield but the The role of ‘Gray ‘unrestricted warfare’, propounded by two weaponisation of law and the zone’ strategy Chinese Colonels, which in essence, reads financialisation of foreign policy.’ like a manifesto of hybrid warfare on It is to be noted that the Chinese ‘Gray zone’ strategy offers steroids. The publisher of English version of government does not consider the content of China a structure for the book has given this book even a more the book as a representative of institutional taking the initiative and provocative subtitle ‘China’s Master Plan to thinking. Nonetheless, many experts managing uncertainty in destroy America’. consider it as a virtual blueprint for China’s pre-kinetic situations, The main arguments in the book are based future war. although it also has on the premise that in unrestricted warfare, In December 2003, the Communist Party applications after there are no rules, and the lines between of China (CPC) Central Committee and the hostilities have battlespace and non-battlespace is CMC approved the concept of ‘three begun progressively blurring. Unrestricted warfare warfares’ and promulgated the revised PLA has been termed as ‘combination warfare’ as ‘Political Work Regulations’, assigning the

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norms; exploitation of physical construct defensive positions on seen its application of a playbook of tools control; and contestation of physical features that it controls is indicative of through which China makes all sovereignty control. exploitation of physical control. claims indisputable and dismisses all counter- By contesting rules and norms, Examples of contestation of physical claims. China aims to shift rules and norms in control include the incidents around With incremental changes to the status quo, its favour through disputing the the Senkaku Islands in 2010 and 2012, Beijing seeks to accrue small diplomatic meaning of provisions and changing the standoff at Scarborough Shoal in victories that serve its economic and common practice of existing legal 2012 and at Second Thomas Shoal in international agendas and domestic political norms. Promulgation of Nine Dash line 2014. In all these cases, China sought needs. can be cited as an example of this to decisively shift the status quo by China’s playbook of gray zone coercion has approach. gaining control of disputed territory or broadly three elements: ‘Salami slicing’ or Beijing also exploits existing rules maritime areas that were either ‘cabbage strategy’ can be considered as the first and norms to alter the status quo in its uncontrolled or, in more extreme element, which involves progressive In addition, it has also strengthened the favour, for example, promulgation of cases, controlled by an adversary. enhancement of physical presence and gradual balancing and hedging approach within the ADIZ in East China Sea and unilateral ‘Gray zone’ strategy offers China a change of status quo. This action is countries in the region. ban of fishing in the disputed water of structure for taking the initiative and simultaneously accompanied by the second Notwithstanding these negative South China Sea. managing uncertainty in pre-kinetic element of coercive diplomatic efforts, which consequences, China is likely continue with its China’s insistence on the sovereign situations, although it also has puts onus on the target country either to coordinated ‘gray zone’ strategic game through right to use the resources in waters applications after hostilities have accommodate Chinese view or to risk refinement of its non-kinetic tools to protect that it controls and to reclaim land to begun. A formulaic approach can be confrontation. One of the key element is and advance its long term interest. Recent re- disintegration strategy against opposing organisation of governance structure in China alliances which China has effectively used with shifting of Chinese Coast Guard within against ASEAN. command and control of PLA and The third element involves astute use of three amalgamation of Chinese government media warfares strategy, which involves use of legal outlets in a massive monolith are few pointers rhetoric to justify China’s position as legitimate, towards this approach. along with use of media to highlights its narrative China will leverage its accumulated and issue threats. China has consistently experience in managing ‘gray zone’ incidents demonstrated a preference for ambiguity, risk and use its sharp power as an instrument of manipulation and controlling the narrative to win first resort in cases where the direct military without fighting. action is likely to have negative collateral While China has managed to strengthen its effects, for example, in the diplomatic and strategic position in the maritime milieu, its opinion realms. ‘gray zone’ strategy has led to some negative The coming decade will be a critical consequences. China’s assertive approach has juncture in the Indo-Pacific. Given the truism resulted in adverse fallouts in South China Sea of ‘the past as a prologue’, China’s ‘gray zone’ and Southeast Asia, where a decade of its strategy, and its tools of ‘three warfares’, may effective and positive diplomacy has intensify in the Indian Ocean Region, in light evaporated. of its expanding strategic and economic Even though the claimant states are interest through the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ maintaining a low profile, the territorial and the Maritime Silk Route. disputes are far from being resolved. China’s coercion has alarmed these smaller nations, —The author is Research Fellow, Institute for convulsed ASEAN and opened the door for an Defence Studies and Analyses expanded US regional presence.

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Strategic Partnership East and South-East Asia in the past half- ‘geo-economic connect’ between the century, the ‘maritime underbelly’ of Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Asia - the ‘Indo-Pacific’ will surely Western Pacific (Pacific-Asia) in terms of surpass this ‘50 per cent’ ratio. the increasing dependence of the East and South-East Asian on the natural THE GENESIS OF ‘INDO-PACIFIC’ resources of the IOR. Such dependence The ‘Indo-Pacific’ idea is thus premised had begun some decades ago with the THE FOCUS IS ON on the need for enhanced geo-economic- growing industrialisation of the How different connectivity between the Indian and economies in Pacific-Asia. However, the Pacific oceans, shared prosperity, and the ‘security connect’ was a new countries perceive attendant need for good order and development. For instance, since 2004, ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategic stability. It also involves the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exerting restraining pressures upon was launched by the US to counter the Australia perceives itself as key to the Indo-Pacific disruptive tendencies, of either state or proliferation of Weapons of Mass INDO-PACIFIC concept, long before the non-state players. Destruction (WMD), which operated concept gained traction. Here’s exploring the conceptualisations of the ‘Indo-Pacific’, the This idea germinated about a decade across the entire maritime swath Interestingly, alike the ago, and involved a series of notable stretching from West Asia (Iran and Japanese, the Australians ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ and how different countries perceive these events. Amongst these was the January Syria) to North-East Asia (North Korea). have envisioned a 'free 2007 Annual Dialogue between the During the Dialogue, China’s and open Pacific' Institute for Defence Studies and increasing geopolitical assertiveness and Owing to China's Analysis (IDSA) and the Japan Institute growing influence in the IOR was also increasing military- r Captain (Dr) Gurpreet for International Affairs (JIIA). During discussed. A couple of years earlier in strategic footprint in the S Khurana Some centuries ago, for much of the time, the discussions, it was noted that the 2005, a US think-tank had reported its IOR and the need for India India and China together contributed to to play a more active pan- more than half of the global Gross Domestic Asian maritime security n the taxonomy of Product. The proportion fell sharply role, led to its call for India ‘geopolitcs’ and beginning the 18th Century due to the to be a regional 'net ‘geo-strategy’, the combined effects of the industrialisation of security provider'. The US prefix ‘geo’ refers to the Europe and the colonisation of Asia, but expanded the 'Asia-Pacific' a country’s strategic it is on the rise again. nomenclature to geography, whichI is the core underpinning Given the economic progress achieved by 'Indo-Asia' of its national-strategy. Geopolitics involves China has not expressed the satiation of the country’s geo-economic any official reaction, but its and other objectives, which are sought to be academia has expressed met through coherent geo-strategies in an enhanced concern on various domains. The military domain ‘Indo-Pacific’ merely represents an ‘assurance’ and ‘insurance’ for effectiveness of the other ‘operative’ strategies. Notwithstanding the talk about the ‘Rise of Asia’, the ‘Rise of the Indo- Pacific’ may be a more accurate conceptualisation.

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‘String of Pearls’ in the Indian Ocean. INDIA provider’. The US thus expanded the Chinese analysts as the ‘Indo-Pacific The Japanese were becoming wary of India reoriented its geostrategic ‘Asia-Pacific’ nomenclature to ‘Indo- gateway’. Indirectly, the Indo-Pacific the increasing risks to their geo- orientation to the East nearly three Asia Pacific’ (as an effort to maintain concept has also enhanced the economic interests in the IOR. The decades ago through its ‘Look East’ US relevance as a resident power in legitimacy of Chinese military Indians were worried over the Policy of 1991. This is dictated inter alia Asia). presence in the Indian Ocean. possibility of a permanent Chinese by the need for economic connectivity During his Asia tour in November naval presence in the IOR. Both were with India’s extended eastern 2017, President articulated ‘Indo- THE GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE equally anxious over the fluidity of neighbourhood, good order at sea, and Pacific’ repeatedly. Whether or not During the IDSA-JIIA Dialogue of Balance of Power (BoP) in maritime- a credible strategic deterrence against being a reincarnation of the ‘rebalance January 2007, the geographical scope Asia, and how would the new balance China. However, the effort was not to Asia’, his tone and tenor indicated a of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ was conceived as affect their respective strategic effective enough. The Indo-Pacific desire for an anti-China partnership, the IOR and the Western Pacific. interests. The participants, therefore, concept of 2007 was, therefore, also a thereby polarising the ‘Indo-Pacific’, However, three notable variations have discussed China’s strategic subconscious effort to support India’s which was not constructive. The recent since emerged. The Japanese PM’s vulnerability - its energy lifelines vision. The idea did not gain traction move by the US Congressional speech of August 2007 covered the transiting the Indian Ocean. The ‘Indo- until 2014, when the India’s PM Committee to rename the US PACOM entire Pacific Ocean right up to the Pacific’ idea was an opportunity to provided policy ballast to it through his to ‘Indo-Pacific Command’ is indeed a Americas. The US prefer to have the will depend upon political-level nomenclature of the Quad needs to be showcase the Indian Navy’s ability reinvigourated ‘Act East’ policy. welcome development, assuming that Indo-Pacific coincide with the Area of partnerships among the key players in reviewed, and the word ‘security’ choke China’s jugular, and thereby, it would interface the Indian Navy with Responsibility (AOR) of its Pacific the region vis-à-vis China. removed from ‘Quadrilateral Security dissuade its growing assertiveness. AUSTRALIA the US Naval Forces, Central Command, if it translates into The functional parameters at the Dialogue’. The Quad could then focus This led to the publication of paper, Australia perceives itself as key to the Command (NAVCENT). However, it reviewing the nomenclature of the Executive Level are yet to be fleshed out. on geo-economics, including titled ‘Security of Sea Lines: Prospects Indo-Pacific concept, long before the reiterates the rather narrow American command. Australia may prefer to have China will react to it based upon how connectivity models as alternatives to for India-Japan Cooperation’ in IDSA’s concept gained traction. Its Defence world-view on security and military it merely straddle Oceania, ranging these parameters are decided. Shared the Chinese MSR. It could help the Strategic Analyses journal. The paper White Paper of 2013 is the first-ever power, which needs to be reconsidered from the IOR to Southeast Asia. values are important instruments of regional countries to building capacity introduced and explained the ‘Indo- ‘official’ articulation of concept in the by Washington DC. Notwithstanding these differences, two statecraft, but cannot alone form the for sustainable development of marine Pacific’ concept, elaborating on the contemporary times. Interestingly, aspects are salient: basis of policy-formulation, which needs resources and ocean economy in ASEAN AND EU Even though the IOR is vastly to incorporate ‘shared interests’ as well. general, under the concept of ‘Blue Consequent to the US President’s dissimilar to Pacific-Asia in terms of So the executive level could be best Economy’. To facilitate geo-economics, articulation, the ASEAN and the geopolitics and security issues, the worked out by acknowledging that: the Quad could also work towards European Union (EU) have become countries in one part are being The foremost aim of the Indo-Pacific strengthening maritime safety averse to the ‘Indo-Pacific’ idea. From impacted by events in the other part. concept has always been to achieve mechanisms in the region. their shared perspective, President The Indo-Pacific region is essentially freedom and prosperity Concurrently, the Quad could work Trump’s articulation will force a maritime-littoral region, wherein Towards this, moderating the towards politico-diplomatic persuasion smaller countries to take sides and issues necessitate maritime solutions. behaviour of China is only a way-point, and dissuasion of China, such as by involves a quasi-military alignment. That stated, none can ignore the not the ultimate end-state supporting regional countries to However, driven by their national differences in geographic scope of the While the core objective is common, subject China to international legal interests some key ASEAN and EU ‘Indo-Pacific’. This represents each Quad member is driven by arbitration, capacity-building and countries like Vietnam, Indonesia differing and dynamic national differing interests capability enhancement of the regional France and the UK are ‘on board’ the interests, which is crucial. China’s reaction is likely to be maritime forces for maintain a Indo-Pacific construct. carefully calibrated to exploit the favourable balance of power and PROGNOSIS ‘fault-lines’ among the quad members sharing strategic assessments. CHINA Trends indicate the likelihood that The security (military) dimension China has been circumspect about the ‘Indo-Pacific’ concept will THE WAY FORWARD would need to be used as an ‘Indo-Pacific’ since November 2012, progressively gain acceptance, Towards making the ‘Indo-Pacific’ ‘assurance’ and ‘insurance’ when the US Secretary of State Hillary notwithstanding the differences in its concept and the Quad effective in mechanism. Towards ‘assurance’, Clinton lauded India as an important geographical scope. Its future contours achieving its objectives, the subtle pressures need to be exerted player in the Indo-Pacific region. China upon China through multi-lateral has not expressed any official reaction, naval mechanisms like the Western vulnerability of Japan’s Sea Lines of alike the Japanese, the Australians but its academia (that reflects and Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) and Communication (SLOC). The aim was have envisioned a ‘free and open supports official policy-making) has the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium ‘strategic communication’; to send a Pacific’, but their pictorial depictions expressed an enhanced concern, (IONS), linking up the two. subtle message to China that its own do not encompass Japan, reflecting the especially after President Trump’s Towards ‘insurance’, the Quad SLOCs could be targeted if it scope of Australia’s geostrategic articulation of Indo-Pacific. would need preparedness to respond continued its behaviour of politico- frontiers. Meanwhile, Beijing has capitalised to both state and non-state security military assertiveness. upon the Indo-Pacific concept by challenges in key areas, inter alia, A few months later in August 2007, UNITED STATES reinforcing its geo-economic connects situational awareness, operational the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Since 2010, the US realised that the with the IOR countries. Chinese compatibility (inter-operability) Abe addressed the Indian Parliament, ‘Asia-Pacific’ construct was inadequate academic literature refers to China’s through combined naval exercises, and speaking of the ‘Confluence of the to meet its geopolitical objectives; Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiative as enhancing maritime-military Pacific and the Indian Oceans owing to China’s increasing military- ‘Indo-Pacific with Chinese sustenance through a web of logistic dynamic coupling as seas of freedom strategic footprint in the IOR; and characteristics’. The MSR has been agreements among the Quad members. and of prosperity’. In August 2016, consequently, the need for India to play augmented lately by the government Shinzo Abe expanded this vision a more active Pan-Asian maritime approval for ‘Hainan Free Trade Zone —The author is Executive Director, further to ‘free and open Indo- security role, which led to its call for and Port’ (to be completed by 2025- National Maritime Foundation (NMF), Pacific’. India to be a regional ‘net security 35), which is being expressed by the New Delhi

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Country Focus programme and led to the expansion of transfer, DRDO’s inclusion on the US Indo-US cooperation in energy and ‘entity list’, and the 90-day request for satellite technology. proposal timelines, among others. The What gradually began from there on US also highlighted challenges in the is a series of agreements, Indian acquisition system, including intensification of defence trade, joint foreign direct investment limitations exercises, personnel exchanges, and inconsistent offset policy collaboration and cooperation at implementation. Indo-US regional and global defence security In turn, the US took action that forums and constant exchanges increased transparency of technology between each of the three services. The release processes and in concert with spillover effect led to the two countries export reform, moved less sensitive relationship: collaborating in other sectors also items from the US Munitions’ List to apart from defence. the Department of Commerce’ dual- sanctions kicked in was the sale of the Defence Trade and Technology use export authority. The average ANTPQ 37 (V) 3, that India bought Initiative (DTTI) launched in 2012, was export license processing time dropped From forced friendship to under the Foreign Military Sale an unprecedented joint endeavour that dramatically to 29 days, license denials category, Firefinder counter-battery brought sustained leadership focus to were reduced to less than one percent artillery radar sets as well as associated the bilateral defence trade relationship, of Indian licenses, and the State equipment and services. However, US to create opportunities for the US and Department amended ‘Letters of Offer a genuine camaraderie declined to provide any support for the India to develop new areas of and Acceptance’ to negate the radars after the sale was done. Most of technology cooperation in the defence necessity of technical assistance the radars as such remained with little sector including co-production and co- agreements. As part of DTTI, the US The relationship between the world's two largest democracies, the United technical support. development, and to foster more Government also prepositioned release sophisticated science and technology decision for over thirty cooperative States of America and India, has been shaped by external circumstances and UPWARD TRAJECTORY cooperation between the two programmes and expedited official regional policy-making as much as it has been driven by the political will of Reality in geo-politics, terror reality in countries. The DTTI aims to ensure review processes. DRDO was dropped the US, changed environment in the that the only limitations in defence from the problematic ‘entities list’. the two nations in the last 70-odd years of India’s independence Indian Sub-continent, was a realisation cooperation between both the Currently, Indo-US bilateral for both democracies to understand countries ‘should be due to relations have developed into a ‘global each-other. By 2005, both countries independent strategic decisions’ rather strategic partnership’ and their r Ganesh Raj via the South East Asian Treaty sanctions’. In opposition to the Indo- affirmed their commitment to than caused by ‘bureaucratic obstacles defence relationship has now been Organisation (SEATO) and Central Russian rocket deal meant for Indian transform the bilateral relationship or inefficient procedures’. extended till 2025. The latter is evident RELATIONSHIP POST INDIA’S Treaty Organisation (CEATO) also Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and build inherent strengths. Since Towards that end, in September from the recent outcome of the Indian INDEPENDENCE known as the Baghdad Pact. Pakistan in 1992 US made sanctions on the July 18, 2005, the civil nuclear deal 2012, the Government of India PM’s visit to the US, which is the ‘third India’s strong ties with Soviet Union became an important ally to the US in entities involved from both Indian and lifted a three-decade US moratorium provided a list of impediments that major bilateral summit’, after dates back to early 1900s when both the containment of the Soviet Union, Russian sides. While India maintained on nuclear trade with India. It they identified in the US system, September 2014 and January 2015. A nations were fighting their own leading to further strategic that it wanted the rocket for peaceful provided for the US assistance to including the categorisation of India in significant achievement has been the internal challenges. In India’s case, it complications between the US and space exploration, the US perception India’s civilian nuclear energy the USG system for technology recognition of India as a ‘major defence was the nation’s freedom struggle and India. The War of 1971 cleared out any was different, that the resultant partner’ by the US and its readiness to for Russia, it was the Russian ambiguities prevailing on who was technology would also enable India to share defence technologies to a level revolution followed by the Bolshevik supporting whom. The US provided build offensive missiles in violation of commensurate with that of its closest Revolution. It is known that during this military support to Pakistan while the international Missile Technology allies and partners. time, Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Soviet Union deepening its friendship Control Regime. The affected party in India was recently granted access to Tolstoy carried out lengthy with India provided full military this case was only ISRO from the the Missile Technology Control correspondence in order to understand support from its side. India’s victory in Indian side. Regime, Wassenaar Arrangement and the situation prevailing in each other’s that war brought the US and India’s As the situation began to normalise the Australia Group while the US was countries. Indian freedom fighters diplomatic relations further apart. and both economies looked beyond the also seen supporting India’s case and sought inspiration from how Soviet existing sanctions, upset by the expressing its support for India’s Union was carrying out revolutions. AN ERA OF ‘SANCTIONS’ Pokhran tests carried out by India in membership in the Nuclear Suppliers These ties continued post- Fast forward to 1991, and the Soviet November 1998, the US came down Group. independence as a new stage began in Union disintegrated into independent heavily with its second round of the development of Indo-Soviet nations and the US emerged as the sanctions. This time around, the list of THREE FOUNDATIONAL relations in the mid-fifties. During single largest hegemon, making the entities against whom the sanctions AGREEMENTS India’s IInd Five-Year plan 1956-1961, world unipolar. This coincided with were imposed, was quite spread out. The US has also made proposals in eight of the sixteen heavy industry India opening its doors to foreign The list included most of the key specific areas for participation in projects of the Indian Government private capital in its most historic Indian defence public entities as well multi-national operations, expanding were built with the help of the Soviet liberalisation, privatisation and as private players. two-way defence trade, expanding Union. In the beginning of 1960s, globalisation move. Trade between As India developed itself as a nuclear collaboration on missile defence, Soviet-Indian trade expanded and grew India and the US grew dramatically at power while maintaining its no-first conducting exchanges on defence by 30 times compared to early 1950s. this time and it seemed the birth of a use policy, diplomatic relations strategy, increasing intelligence During the same period, Pakistan’s new era of Indo-US relationship. improved with the start of 21st cooperation, and to co-manufacture ties with the US gained momentum. What followed for roughly next 15 Century. The first military deal in ages and co-develop modern defence Pakistan officially aligned with the US years was not a ‘new era’ but an ‘era of that went through just before the equipment with India. Whenever the

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US intends to form closer military ties and services from one party to the agreeable mechanisms to ensure the Government identify such an with a country, the beginning is always other would be in return for either cash security of state-of-the-art industry player (will it be private or through the three foundational payment or the reciprocal provision of communications equipment and public and what will be the selection agreements viz. Logistics Exchange logistic support, supplies, and services. encryption systems and articulates process)? Will the transaction be led Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), It’s essential to note that LEMOA does policies and procedures to prevent by the two government or by the two Compatibility and Security Agreement not create any obligations on either theft or compromise of these systems. industry players of different nations? (COMCASA), and Basic Exchange and party to carry out any joint activity. It Thus, it creates the conditions for the How will the Indian industry player Cooperation Agreement for Geo- also does not provide for the Indian military to receive modern assure and ensure the control of spatial Cooperation (BECA). These establishment of any military bases on secure and/or net-enabled weapons technology to their US counterparts? agreements become the foundation of other nations ports or any other kind of systems such as precision armament, The defence procurement the greater expansion and maturing of basing arrangements. air-to-air missiles, space systems and processes of both nations are very defence ties between the two signing COMCASA: Earlier known as navigation systems that are critical complex and have been structured in nations. Through these agreements, Communications Compatibility and components in platforms like fighter this manner for many decades. What the two nations are able to build a basic Security Agreement (CISMOA), this aircraft and unmanned aerial systems. is required at this stage then is the ground work and promote will enable India to get encrypted Hitherto India has had to purchase presence of few intellectuals/experts interoperability between militaries by communications equipment and more expensive commercial of defence procurement who have a creating common standards and systems allowing military commanders communications equipment, raising deep understanding of the systems. These agreements enhance to communicate with aircraft and ships the overall acquisition price of a procurement systems of both nations, the sale and transfer of high-end platform. and thereby, can identify pros and technologies that are of strategic Contrary to the general views, cons and chart out a dedicated interest. COMCASA does not curtail Indian framework wherein both the defence Both countries are moving toward sovereignty or provide the US ministries can work with their own signing two remaining ‘foundational unauthorised access to Indian military strategic equipment from the US, continue will handicap the country’s industry colleagues and also of the agreements’. As the first agreement, systems. Specifically, it does not limit ranging from attack helicopters to anti- defence preparedness. Although there other nation. LEMOA, has already been signed in the Indian military services’ flexibility submarine aircraft to force multipliers are talks of relaxing the application of 2016. The three foundational in its procurement nor obligate India like the C130Js. The purchases, on one CAATSA on a case-to-case basis, the TAKING THINGS FORWARD agreements are as follows: to pursue technological agreements hand, have helped plug gaps in India’s eventual position is still not clear. The relationship between the two The Logistics Exchange Memorandum with the US alone. It also does not arsenal, and on the other hand, have So, what is the intent of the current nations has gained increased of Agreement (LEMOA): This was provide the US undue access to Indian also strengthened its domestic defence trade? While India has been momentum in three fronts (also signed in August 2016 after the then IT systems or corrupt Indian industry by virtue of offsets discharge. given the status of a ‘Major defence referred as three pillars). First, ‘Two Indian Defence Minister met his US navigational systems. Apart from the above, there is also partner’ by the US, it stands to be seen plus two’, an opportunity by the key counterpart, Secretary of Defence in A lot of opportunities were missed the procurement of Predator and what does this status means in action. heads of the two nations to come Washington DC. The agreement signed due to Lack of COMCASA. The C-17 Guardian Drones, which is at various The US and India will have to together and devise a roadmap of this was based on the memorandum in and C-130J transportation aircrafts stages of procurement. This proves deliberate over the purpose of this new relationship; second, is the principle reached between two leaders were not able to be include Link-16 and that off late, the US has been a alliance in the first quarter of the 21st interaction between the military in April 2016. LEMOA is facilitating IFF, Single Channel Ground Airborne significant partner in India’s defence Century amidst the growing global officials of the two nations (the agreement that establishes basic terms, Radio Systems, Digital Transponders, preparedness plans. uncertainties viz. shifts in economic Chairman Chiefs of Staff committee, conditions, and procedures for Secure Voice Terminals, or SATCOM powers, political instability in several Admiral Sunil Lanba’s visit to US reciprocal provision of logistic support, Transceivers. Similarly, the P-8Is were CAATSA VERSUS MAJOR DEFENCE pockets of the globe, immigrants crisis, being the recent one) and continuous supplies and services that include food, provided without secure UHF voice, PARTNER global warming and climate control military exercises being carried out; water, billeting, transportation, and Link-11/Link-16 preventing History has its own strange way of and continued threat from terrorist lastly and more importantly, the petroleum, oils, lubricants, clothing, current generation fighters like the repeating itself. After 25 plus years groups. defence trade between India and the communication services, medical Rafale or future Indian fighters from since the first sanctions, in January As long as the defence trade United States. services, storage services, training participating in tactical networks that this year, the US again imposed a new relationship will remain of a While the first two are within the services, spare parts and components, provide a common picture of the aerial round of sanctions known as the contractual nature and not move perimeter of a selected high-ranking repair and maintenance services, combat environment. The Indian Army Countering America’s Adversaries beyond the short-term necessities, we group, the third pillar envelopes and calibration services, and port services. through a secure network, as the also hasn’t been able to receive GPS- through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). might continue to find our progress impacts a much larger community It will provide access to supplies, spare advanced radio needed for an aircraft guided munition and fire and forget This, once again, is at the back of a restricted. and simultaneously has the potential parts and services from each other’s to talk to the submerged submarine is smart weapons that are essential to deal (S-400 missile systems) between On talking about if the systems and to positively impact the first two land facilities, air bases and ports, protected by CISMOA. The US insists modern ground forces. India and Russia just like in the year processes aligned, we can say that the pillars. Over the past year, there have which can be reimbursed and it does on COMCASA as a condition to supply Basic Exchange and Cooperation 1992. The impact this time can be process of acquiring a high-value been increased efforts to identify not provide automatic access to the use this equipment because it is afraid that Agreement (BECA): The BECA would comprehensively much larger than defence product varies within the two gaps, find out limitations and seek of military bases. Reciprocal logistic its advanced technology may be leaked provide India with topographical and what affected India anytime in the nations. The overall system needed for game-changer policies, ideas and support would be used exclusively to India’s other defence partners, aeronautical data and products, which past. As per the sanctions, India is the acquisition of a competitive (not pathfinder projects that can thrust during authorised port visits, joint especially Russia. The US and India will aid geospatial intelligence, barred to carry out defence business even high-end) technology by the this relationship upwards. exercises, joint training, and expect to resume talks on signing the navigation and targeting. This also with almost all of the Russian Defence Indian Government through an Indian What is clear is that both the US humanitarian assistance and disaster agreement soon. The decision to relates to digital mapping especially Corporation. This is no secret that private entity is a fairly complex and India stand to benefit with relief efforts. Logistics support for any resume conversations was taken after accurate targeting with long range India’s 60% of imports are from this algorithm. Such an algorithm has cordial ties. But time alone will tell if other cooperative efforts shall only be the joint visit of the defence secretary missiles. country. What is deeply disturbing is multiple variables, whose values is not the US-India relationship will stand provided on a case-to-case basis and foreign secretary to the US earlier that while on one side, the US has easy to guess, for instance, how will the the test of time! through prior mutual consent of the this month to set up the 2+2 dialogue STRATEGIC DEALS SIGNED WITH declared loudly that they have assigned US Government create an environment parties, consistent with the respective between the foreign and defence THE US IN LAST FEW YEARS India the role of ‘major defence where its own private industry agrees laws, regulations and policies. ministers of both countries. In the last few years, India has signed partner’, it ended up choking that very to sell off their IP to Indian industry —The author is Partner and Leader, Provision of logistic support, supplies, COMCASA establishes mutually and/or procured some important and nation, which if the sanctions are to players? How will the Indian Aerospace and Defence Practice, EY

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INDIAN NAVY policy initiatives, the navy’s placed a tremendous strain on the Navy’s responsibility extends over a much limited resources. In the stifling r Commodore Anil Jai Singh, IN (Retd) larger geographic extent. protectionist environment promoted by The Indian Navy is structured as a the MoD to safeguard their state-owned Bridging The t the Bi-Annual Naval balanced carrier-centric blue water force enterprises, the long delays in Commander’s Conference with the ability to project power well construction and huge cost overruns by held in New Delhi, between beyond its shores. Besides its impressive the shipyards have had to be May 7-11, 2018, the country’s ability to deliver kinetic effect as well as compensated by the Indian Navy. Similar Indian Navy and its Defence Minister highlighted maintain a sustained presence in distant has been the case with the equipment the need for a strongA and credible Indian Navy and gave waters, the focus on the cyber and space required on board these ships, strategic role in the the assurance that it will be supported in its efforts to domains has greatly enhanced the Navy’s particularly the propulsion, weapon and defence address its critical capability gaps, and also in its long- situational awareness capability as also sensor packages which are the very GAPS: India has mandated itself as term acquisition plans. its overall maritime domain awareness in raison d'etre of a warship. the 'net security provider’ This must have come as music to the ears of the Navy’s the Indian Ocean Region. In the last two decades, the five An imperative for the in the Indian Ocean. As the operational commanders tasked with ensuring the safety The Indian Navy presently has 136 government owned shipyards have largest naval power here, it of India’s maritime interests. It is to their credit and to ships and submarines in commission, delivered just 22 front line surface places a major the credit of the entire force that despite widening divided between the western and eastern combatants (6 destroyers, 6 frigates, 3 responsibility on the IN to capability gaps, the Indian Navy has been able to sustain seaboards. The aspiration is to have a ASW corvettes, 4 missile corvettes and 3 deliver this mandate an unprecedented operational tempo in the last few years 200 ship Navy by 2027. In the early years large LSTs). The last ten years have been by adopting innovative deployment patterns and of the century, the Navy had stated its no different with just 11 ships being The Indian Navy is certainly optimising the availability of platforms at sea due to deft intent to reverse the ratio of small ships delivered (3 destroyers, 3 frigates, 3 ASW a force to reckon with in NAVY refit management. to big ships form the 70:30 ratio to a Corvettes and 2 large LSTs) and there is the Indo-Pacific and has the capability and capacity to Indian Navy is a strong and credible The mounting security challenges in the maritime 30:70 ratio. Almost two decades later, the little hope for any improvement in the domain against a multitude of threats, ranging from ratio remains the about the same even if near future either. defend India’s maritime interests in the region force. It is imperative, thus, to the strategic to the sub-conventional, and increasingly one were to stretch the definition of large The submarine and naval aviation from the cyber and space domains leaves absolutely no ships to include missile corvettes and stories are even more dismal. Other than Besides its impressive address its critical capability gaps room for slack. Landing Ship Tanks (LST). If the intent one SSBN (as a strategic project), the ability to deliver kinetic and give support to long-term naval India has mandated itself as the ‘net security to reverse this ratio is still central to the Indian Navy has added just one effect as well as maintain a provider in the Indian Ocean’. As the largest naval Navy’s future force structure, this target submarine in this period, and that too, sustained presence in plans and ensure its bright future power in the region, it places a major responsibility on is indeed very ambitious. just six months ago. In naval aviation, the distant waters, the focus on the Indian Navy to deliver on this mandate. With the Indigenisation and self-reliance in induction of the P8I Long Range the cyber and space acceptance of the contiguous oceanic spaces of the defence has been an avowed national Maritime Patrol aircraft and the MiG domains has enhanced the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific as a single objective and the ‘Make in India’ 29K fighters are the only silver lining in Navy’s situational geopolitical entity called the ‘Indo-Pacific’, the Act initiative, launched by the Prime an otherwise dark cloud of missed awareness capability as East policy of the government Minister in 2014, identified defence as opportunities, cancelled RFIs and RFPs also its overall Maritime and the maritime one of the key sectors. and half-baked attempts at encouraging Domain Awareness in the Indian Ocean region orientation of our The Indian Navy is justifiably proud of indigenisation. recent foreign having been at the forefront in However, more alarming than the slow promoting defence indigenisation and pace of shipbuilding with its attendant self-reliance for over five decades with consequences on cost and quality, is the the result that all its 40-odd ships and even slower pace of decision making in submarines are being built in Indian the hallowed corridors of South Block. shipyards. However, the inability of the The convoluted procurement procedures country’s shipyards to deliver ships have tied up decision making in knots on time and within cost and this is not helped by the double has led to a whammy of constrained resources due to compromise in the shrinking annual defence budgets (in Navy’s combat real terms) and snowballing capability and requirements. Indian Naval plans centre around a three aircraft carrier navy. Presently, it has just one INS Vikramaditya, obtained from Russia. The

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first indigenous aircraft carrier, Vikrant (IAC 1), has been in build for over a decade and is still a few years away from commissioning. The ambitious plan for the second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-2) of 65000 tons displacement with cutting edge contemporary technologies, including the latest American E-MALS aircraft launch and recovery system (even nuclear propulsion was being considered at one stage), is still on the drawing board. The construction of the Project 15B destroyers and the Project 17A frigates is underway and will enter service in the how to progress it. In that period the protect its own shipyards by creating an quest for maritime and global power. It next few years even if there are no Indian Navy’s Mine Counter Measure unfavourable competitive scenario and is already the dominant maritime slippages. More attention will have to be capability is on the verge of extinction an unequal playing field. These power in the Western Pacific, the large paid to these and future programmes as with the MCMV force level down from shipyards are facing very strong presence of the US Navy destroyers and frigates are integral to 12 to just one 30-year-old MCMV. headwinds and, if not supported, could notwithstanding, and is now a constant Carrier Battle Group formations. Similar is the case with LPD soon go under. and growing presence in the Indian Mine warfare is a potent low-cost Programme, Fleet Support Ship The Indian Navy is certainly a force Ocean. This has been acknowledged by option to inflict unacceptable damage Programme and the list goes on. to reckon with in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Chief of the Naval Staff and on an enemy in the littorals and a very The IN’s much lamented antiquated has the capability and capacity to also the current Chairman of the clear and present danger in our likely submarine capability is getting a defend India’s maritime interests in Chiefs of Staff Committee. operational area. The Mine Counter breather with the induction of the the region. However, given its current A force level comparison between Measure Vessel (MCMV) programme Project 75 submarines of the French force level constraints, it should focus the Indian and PLA Navies is not a zero to replace the older MCMVs has been Scorpene class built indigenously in on consolidating its position of sum game and may not be an accurate in the pipeline for over a decade but the collaboration with DCNS (now Naval strength in the Indian Ocean and reflection of their respective strengths MoD bureaucracy is still unclear on Group), France. should shape the development of a and weaknesses, but it still makes a The first submarine of the class of six, collective maritime narrative of this compelling argument which should be INS Kalvari, which took 12 years to largely disaggregated littoral, while taken heed of. In the last two decades, build, was commissioned in December simultaneously ensuring a seamless while the Indian Navy added a sum 2017. While this delay in itself should connectivity with the western pacific total of 22 indigenously built major war have served as a catalyst to progress the through various bilateral and vessels and two submarines to its fleet, next submarine programme (P75-I), it is multilateral institutional mechanisms, the PLA Navy added 132 ships and ten years since the first RFI for the P75- both military and otherwise. This more than 50 submarines. With a I was issued and is presently more or would also be in consonance with defence budget four times that of India less at that very stage itself. It has now India’s Foreign Policy objectives. and the focus on maritime power, this been linked to the Strategic Partner (SP) Ever since the Japanese Prime asymmetry will only widen. confrontation will be possible and even and intangible elements. programme, the latest brainchild of the Minister spoke about the confluence of There is a perception that the PLA conflict cannot be discounted. It is believed that numbers MoD. The inherent ambiguities in the two oceans in his address to the Indian (Navy) does not as yet have the sea legs Navies do not get built in a day and notwithstanding, the PLA (Navy) has SP model which are now being reviewed Parliament in 2007, the Indo-Pacific to fight in its ‘far seas’ but with its naval capability cannot be measured some inherent capability deficiencies. will lead to even further delay. has been part of the strategic narrative. relentless pursuit of its geopolitical only in terms of numbers of hulls; it While this may be true, these will be Private sector participation in While countries like Japan, the USA, goals through a combination of includes crew time at sea, quality of overcome sooner than later after which shipbuilding was formalised in the Australia and India are still flirting economic and military muscle in this training, maintenance philosophies, the numbers will start telling their own procurement procedure more than a with this idea, it is China which has region, it is only a matter of time before operational availability and technology story. For the Indian Navy too, the lack decade ago and the MoD should have been the first off the block with its competition will be inevitable, absorption and numerous other tangible of numbers will affect capability encouraged this by creating an enabling ‘Two-Ocean strategy’ in its Mahanian enhancement in many critical areas of environment. However, it did quite the expertise in the air, on the surface and opposite in its intent to below the sea, which would then need to be developed afresh. Hence, if Indian Navy is considered to be a strong and credible force, and the country is committed to address the Navy’s critical capability gaps and support its long-term acquisition plans, it is time to start delivering on the promises made.

—The author is Vice President and Head (Delhi Branch), Indian Maritime Foundation

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AVIATION REVIEW

What’s wrong, where in the aviation sector The major issue in the aviation sector is the lack of aviation infrastructure. It is a well-known fact that whenever any expansion takes place, infrastructure in civil aviation always lags behind, and this needs to be handled on an urgent basis Training is another issue. Worldwide training programme for skill development, for enhancing the knowledge and to follow good practices is operators' own responsibility. But in India, no operator wants to have a training programme unless it is TAKING INDIAN mandatory AVIATION TO

front, the efforts and determination by government agencies as well as the Aviation SAFER GROUNDS Industry have been inadequate. There are safety issues that need to be Steady growth in air traffic in the last couple of years is an indicator of addressed immediately if we have to sustain air traffic growth in the country. On March 20, sound economic activities in India. It is time now to take the business of 2018, the Delhi High Court was informed by aviation safety seriously, and make Indian skies safer the operator of Indira Gandhi International Airport that there are as many as 365 obstacles around the aviation hub that may pose threat r to aircraft safety. Earlier on January 22, 2018, Dr RK Tyagi year. India has a total of about 400 Aviation Ministry’s warned that the Airlines airports/airstrips and heliports, and out of should stop cutting corners and ensure high ast year, Indian airline operators this figure, only 129 airports are being service quality, also saying that the ministry handled a total of 11.7 crore operated by the Airport Authority of India. will step in if things don’t change. In the same passengers, registering a growth of Remaining facilities are non-functional additional 875 aircraft are placed for month, Parliamentary Standing Committee 17% on year-to-year basis. The but have tremendous potential of acquisition. India’s aviation sector, no doubt, on transport, tourism and Culture had remarkable air traffic growth is utilisation in the coming years. is now a sunrise sector. criticised the training procedures adopted by Levident from the fact that in the year 2010, Average domestic air passenger growth in One does not have to be complacent with the airlines operators. the traffic volume was just 5 crore passengers, India is 18% per annum whereas the the growth in air traffic as increasing When the DGCA is being directed by the which is almost half of the traffic in 2017. international traffic growth rate is 10-12% per activities in the skies demand strong air safety courts to mend its ways on air safety and In the month of April 2018, six of Indian annum. This growth is further likely to mechanism. Along with the growth in the make those responsible for air safety airline operators with a fleet of 534 aircraft improve when another 100 or so aircraft are Aviation Industry, it is equally important that accountable, the Civil Aviation Ministry, in a handled 1.15 crore passengers, registering a added to the fleet of the operators by next adequate safety oversight and supervision written reply in Parliament on March 13 this growth of 26% over corresponding month last year. Apart from this, firm orders for mechanism are in place. However, on this year, stated that in 2017, a total of 24,791 snags

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were reported by nine airline operators. but implements the same and carries regulations on a particular operation While the overall safety ambience is out surveillance to ensure safety have to be considered due to some very deteriorating, the accident standards. In India, the aviation important reasons, but it is very investigations have taken another regulator i.e. DGCA functions under the important to stick to the safety aspects beating, thereby indicating the growing Ministry of Civil Aviation. It has very even while taking such decisions. system inadequacies of DGCA and the limited financial and administrative Deviation from safety aspect may lead Air Accident Investigation Board powers including manpower to corrupt practices. Therefore, all (AAIB). On December 16, 2015, in an recruitment and deployment. Being concessions or deviations permitted by accident, the ground service engineer subordinate to the ministry, there may the regulator should be in public was sucked into the right engine during Build up sometimes be interference from the domain. These should be put on DGCA start of aircraft at taxiway. At that time ministry in its day-to-day working website; putting these in public domain two cockpit crew, four cabin crew and safety which affects rational decision making. will have many advantages - 109 passengers were on board the institutions Being a part of the government, it is arbitrariness will reduce, person aircraft. The AAIB took one year and not necessary that technical civil granting concession will examine all seven months to submit the accident It is time when aviation professionals will head the aspects of safety issues before doing so, report on July 19, 2017. AAIB submitted have even fixed their growth rate so that stakeholders think of same. To overcome all these difficulties, and the operator will also be reluctant to 19 recommendations for correction. the gap between infrastructure and air disruptive changes and worldwide regulators have been taken ask for concessions. However, it doesn’t have a system to traffic growth can be bridged. In 2006-7, build the safety out of the administrative control of the In India, another major safety issue is monitor the implementation. when sudden boom of expansion came institutions around ministries and a Civil Aviation Authority the training aspect. Worldwide training On Jan 13, 2018, a Pawan Hans in the Civil Aviation Sector, issues of technical knowledge (CAA) has been formed in most of the programme for skill development, for Helicopter, while heading to an oil rig in infrastructure were highlighted. There competence and countries. enhancing the knowledge and to follow adequate empowerment Mumbai offshore crashed in the high was a lot of air congestion at In India, there was a proposal but it good practices is operators’ own to DGCA as well as AAIB seas along with two pilots and six senior Mumbai/Delhi route; flights that has still not seen light of the day. If we responsibility. But unfortunately, in our officers of ONGC. It is a classic case of normally took 1 hour 40 minutes to have to work for future development of country, no operator wants to have a poor safety culture as well as reach destination had to hover over the civil aviation and ensure safety of training programme unless same is engineering and maintenance airports for 30-40 minutes in the sky to additional steps to enhance air safety operations, we need to have a CAA, made mandatory by the regulator. We It may be noted that it takes about deficiencies, wherein the oil companies, get landing clearance. This way, the measures have not been taken so far as independent of Civil Aviation Ministry need to have a comprehensive look into 7-8 years to train an accident the DGCA, AAI and also the Ministries flight time to reach such destination necessary infrastructure for such steps with adequate financial and training programmes and training investigator to do an independent of Civil Aviation and Petroleum and almost doubled. There have also been is missing. It might turn out to be a administrative powers and mechanism instructors. investigation. At the moment, trained Natural Gas are equal stakeholders, and incidents in the sky as well as on the major safety hurdle in the future. to take decisions without being The accident investigation is a major manpower is available with DGCA altogether need to act to improve upon ground. These happen due to shortage DGCA has worked very hard to influenced and with adequate flexibility tool for safety enhancement and has and a few with some of the airlines. If the safety ambience in the offshore of necessary infrastructure in the face of increase specialised approaches (which to adapt to global changes and good been so used worldwide. An accident we have to run AAIB properly, it helicopter operations in the high seas. traffic congestion. Our terminal is now more than 99%), thus reducing practices. CAA has to be headed by a investigation is a very specialised job and should be given administrative and The report of AAIB, however, is still buildings are another major hurdle in Approach and Landing (ALA) issues but capable technocrat who can go deep into requires lot of experience and training. financial independence. Chief of awaited. the expansion of infrastructure. air fields which have now been selected the complexity and technicalities of civil This work was being done by the DGCA AAIB should be at least of the same The major issue in our country is the Another glaring example of safety and are without any vertical or Instrument aviation related issues. till 2010. DGCA had developed lot of skill level as DGCA and he should report lack of aviation infrastructure. It is a infrastructure inadequacies can be seen Guidance System (ILS). Thus, efforts Another major issue of regulator is the and had experienced and trained preferably to some other ministry, if well-known fact that whenever any in the UDAN initiative by the done for specialised approaches to kind of regulations it applies. There are investigators. However, being a part of a not to the Civil Aviation Minister expansion takes place, infrastructure in government. UDAN is an excellent reduce ALA cannot be maintained at various regulations like Aircraft Rules, regulator, independence of investigation directly. AAIB should have at least 20 civil aviation always lags behind. That is initiative to provide connectivity to these airports. Added to this, these CAR, AIC etc., in vogue. Basic principle was always questioned. Practice followed trained investigators (at the moment why a number of countries in the world regional airports and towns. But airports have got no landing and of regulation is that these should be worldwide was to have a separate they should pick up trained navigational facilities and get operated practicable and implementable. This accident investigation bureau. With this investigators from DGCA) and then in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) mode. It is should be clearly defined and subjected in mind, AAIB was created. But half- recruit professionals at middle level to be noted that even the visibility at to proper interpretation and should be hearted efforts could not achieve the from the industry, including defence, Delhi Airport (it has most sophisticated non-conflicting with other regulations. goal for which it was created. This and train them for 5-6 years to navigation aids) remains less than 4 kms Many of the existing regulations do not resulted in lower standards of become independent investigators. on most of the days of the year while in meet this criterion and some of them investigation. Independence of AAIB must have 4-5 regional offices VFR visibility required for have outlived their utility. Practice with investigation has been further and must be provided with adequate smaller/remote will be 5 kms. Thus, it regulator has been sometimes to copy compromised. AAIB reports to the infrastructure in the form of will be a major bottleneck for UDAN EASA/FAA/ICAO regulations without Ministry of Civil Aviation at a very junior laboratories, hangar and other operations or a safety risk if operators even considering its practicability in our level. Ministry of Civil Aviation is distinct facilities. start violating regulations. work culture and infrastructure responsible for commercial operations On a concluding note, it is time to take Security is another major issue at available with us. If a regulation cannot and controls PSUs and Airlines whereas the business of aviation safety seriously these airports which are mostly without be implemented, it gives a wrong DGCA which is responsible for accident and make Indian skies safer. It is time boundary walls and proper fencing. impression to the operator who starts investigations reports to an additional stakeholders think of disruptive changes Non-standard site strip (only 75 ft site taking liberties with other regulations. secretary level officer in the ministry. and build the safety institutions around strike available) will be another added Therefore, the need of the hour is to Independence of AAIB is lost technical knowledge competence and risk factor. revise and relocate all civil regulations somewhere in between. Beside, AAIB provide adequate empowerment to The DGCA as a regulator is very under guidance of an expert committee has only few trained investigators. It is DGCA as well as AAIB. important contributor to the air safety. that should be represented by all impossible to manage country like India We have to maintain international stakeholders. with such less number of investigators —The author is President, Aeronautical ratings for the safety that requires For a regulator, another major issue is and that too without regional offices. Society of India; Independent Dirctor - Air logical and major decisions. The to grant concessions. It is true that There is no functional and India; Mentor Director - Defence regulator not only makes regulations sometimes, some deviations from the administrative independence to AAIB. Innovators and Industry Association

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MAKE IN INDIA r By A Correspondent

ndian Army is the third largest in the world, Indian Air Force is the fourth largest and Indian Navy is the seventh largest in the world. Being among the top ten countries Iin military expenditure and arms import, the PM’s initiative is surely going to encourage several private entities to focus towards the manufacturing of ammunition. The government has been actively working towards transforming India as a hub of military manufacturing. The ‘Make in India’ initiative has been an adage for MAJOR BOOST most of its defence exhibition. INDIA: AMONG FIGHTER AIRCRAFT LEADERS IN THE WORLD American Defence Technology Major Lockheed Martin’s proposal to for defence and manufacture custom-built F-16 fighter jets in India has given impetus to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The proposal aimed to include India in the world’s largest fighter was seen by experts as the government’s aircraft clique and enable it to become the efforts to promote domestic defence fighter jet export hub. The exports of F-16 industry. The government is pursuing a aviation sectors is expected to begin within next five years. target of `1,70,000 crore turnover in the More than 200 F-16s could be exported military goods and services sector by the from India in the future. Three years after the year 2025. India’s Defence Minister has INDIA: THE EMERGING DEFENCE stressed that the government aims to launch of Prime Minister’s promote India as a major manufacturing A step in the right MANUFACTURING HUB direction ambitious ‘Make in India’ The DefExpo 2018, held in Chennai in destination through the Annual Defence Expos, and the response to the four-day April this year, under the theme ‘India: The The DefExpo 2018, held initiative, defence and long event by both foreign and domestic Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’ under the theme 'India: aviation sectors seem to industries has been very impressive. The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub' was be reaping in the benefits seen by experts as the of the project government's efforts to promote domestic defence industry

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Women in Defence

New project Good move The Indian Army The project will be a announced `15,000 great move to crore ammunition manufacture production project ammunition to be executed in indigenously, in line the next ten years with ‘Make in India'

The initiative is also seen as the government’s serious attempt to address the issue of the dwindling stocks key ammunition. Considering the evolving security threats, Army Chief General has avowed the fast tracking of procurement of ammunition. In a bid to further accelerate its goals, the Indian Army recently announced digitising all items including, vehicles, ammunition stocks, and various other aviation assets.

PLANES AND DRONES Striving to bring in The government has not only restricted its ‘Make in India’ initiative to Earlier this year, the Indian Army and Auditor General (CAG) revealed ammunition manufacturing, it is also announced that will undertake `15,000 that of the 152 types of ammunition intending to manufacture planes and crore ammunition production project were used, 40 per cent of which ran out drones in the country. The Minister of Gender Parity in which will be executed in different in just ten days of war. This, indeed, Civil Aviation recently stressed that phases in the next ten years. points towards the importance and India will need about 1,300 planes in the The project, that has been long in need of such projects. next few years. “We do not want 1,300 contention, will be biggest ever move to planes to be bought from abroad. We will manufacture ammunition make them in India,” he said. He also REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTS stressed that the second priority for the the Armed Forces indigenously. About 11 private firms will manufacture a wide range of The multi-crore project is expected to government is production of drones as ammunition for the Army’s critical create an inventory of all major this sector holds huge potential and is Women are gradually entering what was previously considered a male's weapons and tanks. weapons to equip the forces to fight a definitely futuristic in nature. It may be noted that in the wake of 30-day long war. Apart from enhancing bastion - the defence forces. A report the India-China military standoff in its ammunition, the larger objective —(For editorial queries, contact Sikkim, on July 21, 2017, the Controller here is to cut dependence on imports. [email protected])

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r Huta Raval concerns coupled with logistical primary objective of the Navy is to constraints. Women pilots were first safeguard the nation’s maritime borders, included in 1991, for choppers and transport and in conjunction with other armed forces n a country which showcases an aircrafts. According to official sources, it of the union, act to deter or defeat any ironic contradiction of women takes approximately INR 15 crore to train a threats or aggression against the territory, being worshipped in the form of fighter pilot. people or maritime interests of India, both deities on the one hand and It was in June 2016 that three flight in war and peace. I Indian Armed belittled on the other, urban cities are cadets in their early 20s - Avani Chaturvedi From the practical perspective, Navy witness to women being part and parcel from Madhya Pradesh, Bhawana Kanth recruitment for eves is getting a slightly Forces: Making an of practically every professional sector - from Bihar and Mohana Singh from average response owing to the amount of equal footing for manufacturing, finance, banking, textile, Rajasthan, post undergoing stage-II away-from-family-time and also because trading, hospitality, etc. Until a couple of training on Kiran Intermediate Jet Trainers most Indian women are not exposed to the women decades back, the exception to the rule at Hakimpet Air Force Station in sea. Officially established on was the defence forces which were Hyderabad, created history as India’s first Understanding this, several progressive October 8, 1932, the hitherto virgin territories for women. women fighter pilots in the Indian Air initiatives have been taken by the Indian Indian Air Force is the air But today, a look around reveals that Force. Bad weather, thunder, lightning, Navy in the recent times towards arm of the Indian Armed Indian women are steadily breaking the uncertainties and hazards of flying— empowering women officers. Recognising Forces. The government glass by going ‘where no wo/man has nothing could deter these three flying the importance of providing equal opened the fighter stream gone before’. As a consequence, the cadets from achieving their goal. opportunities to women officers, seven for women on an Army, Navy and Air Force, which till a The icing on the cake for women in the women officers from the batch of Short experimental basis for few years ago were considered male forces is that they are treated on par with Service Commission Officers of the five years in October preserve, are now open to women and their male colleagues; they get no Education branch and Naval Constructor 2015. Women pilots were that too in combat roles. preferential posting and are assigned as per Cadre, who joined in 2008-09, have been first included in 1991, for What do these women bring with needs of the force. granted permanent commission. choppers and transport them when they join the defence forces? Official figures claim that the armed Additional avenues for employment of aircrafts Well, primarily their will power, in-built forces have granted permanent commission women officers have also opened up. From resilience, determination to stand (PC) to 340 women officers till June 2016. 2017, women officers can choose to join as Recognising the shoulder-to-shoulder with their male Women were allowed to join armed forces Pilots of Maritime Reconnaissance planes importance of providing counterparts and innate desire to prove since early 1990s, but could serve only 14-15 viz. Boeing P8I, Dornier, etc., as also in the equal opportunities to their grit. Along with this their years as short-service commission officers. Naval Armament Inspectorate Cadre. Thus, women, seven women organising and planning skills; their INDIAN NAVY a total of eight branches/cadres will be officers from the batch of shrewd strategising and their power of India has a rich maritime heritage and the opened for women officers in the Navy. Short Service Commission judgment are qualities which stand Force wins hands down when it comes Officially established on October 8, Rig Veda carries the earliest reference to The Navy is also finalising the policy for officers of the Education them in good stead in their new roles. to popularity among the Eves - of the 1932, the Indian Air Force is the air arm maritime activities. Indian mythology has women officers to serve on select warships branch and Naval Another pro for women is their total 1109 enrolments between 2013- of the Indian armed forces. Its numerous episodes pertaining to the ocean, that have appropriate facilities for women. Constructor Cadre, who adaptability and flexibility and 2016, a whopping 607 belong to the Air complement of personnel and aircraft the sea and the rivers, with belief that The ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’ expedition joined in 2008-09, have willingness to compromise when the Force. Bearing testimony to women’s assets ranks fourth amongst the air- mankind has benefitted from the wealth of flagged off on September 10, 2017 is a bid to been granted Permanent situation demands so. All this more than desire to literally and figuratively spread forces of the world. Its primary mission seas and ocean. In fact, a study of the demonstrate that women are second to Commission compensates for their alleged their wings! is to secure Indian airspace and to country’s maritime history reveals that none in tough adventure activities. Under limitations in the physical endurability The strength of women officers (all conduct aerial warfare during armed Indians took to the sea for trade, commerce this expedition, a crew of six Naval women India began recruiting arena. the three wings combined) comprises conflict. and cultural exchanges. officers including the skipper, successfully women to non-medical A cursory glance at the statistics 5.4% of the total strength. Let’s take a The government opened the fighter Today, the Indian Navy is a well-balanced completed the all-women, positions in the armed reflecting women enrolment in the quick look at some landmarks left by stream for women on an experimental and cohesive three-dimensional force, circumnavigation of the world by an Indian forces in 1992 three main streams of the defence forces women in these three forces: basis for five years in October 2015. But capable of operating above, on and under Team in a 55-feet sail boat within a short viz. Army, Navy and Air Force from the combat roles in the Army and the Navy the surface of the oceans, efficiently span of 8 months and returned to Goa in Ministry of Defence reveal that Air INDIAN AIR FORCE were still off limits due to operational safeguarding the national interests. The May 2018. Led by Lieutenant Commander

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News Bytes NAVY GIRLS REACH HOME AFTER TRAVELLING AROUND GLOBE ON BOARD INSV TARINI n all-woman crew Hope. “In every small way commanding the and big way, the Navika AINSV Tarini Sagar Parikrama is returned to Goa on May 21, something that we can be 2018 after successfully proud of for generations circumnavigating the globe to come,” said the in a 55-foot sailboat in Defence Minister. more than eight months, The six women officers the first-ever Indian were trained for the expedition steered by project under Captain Vartika Joshi, the crew comprising Lt 2016, things are gradually changing Now, approximately 15% of the Canada women sailors. Defence Dilip Donde, the first Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and with the Indian Army Chief going on Army is women and 2 of its combat Minister Nirmala Indian to solo- Swati P, Lieutenants Aishwarya record to say that the government is troops - 99 troops - are women. Sitharaman and Navy circumnavigate the globe Boddapati, S Vijaya Devi and Payal deliberating, among other things, on USA: In the US, while women had chief Admiral Sunil Lanba between August 19, 2009, Gupta covered a total of 21,980 nautical the ‘employment of women officers’ been serving in various ranks in the welcomed the crew at INS and May 19, 2010, on miles in INSV Tarini, inducted into the and evolving a ‘positive roadmap’. armed forces, it was not until 2013 Mandovi boat pool in board the Indian-built Indian Navy on February 18, 2017. Although women rights activists that the ban on women serving in Panaji. vessel INSV Mhadei. Through this circumnavigation, women have welcomed the move, stressing combat was lifted. Three women have succeeded in leaving an indelible that this would ensure gender parity in completed the US Marine Corps’ The ‘Navika Sagar A Navy spokesperson Parikrama’ expedition said the expedition was mark. the Indian Army Forces, just like other Infantry Training Battalion course Lieutenants Aishwarya sailing vessel INSV Tarini was flagged off on completed in six legs, countries. but weren’t allowed to serve till Boddapati, S Vijaya Devi visited five countries and September 10, 2017. Led with stopovers at INDIAN ARMY ‘further studies’ proved that they are and Payal Gupta covered a crossed the Equator by Lieutenant Fremantle (Australia), The Indian Army is the land based With this, let’s take a look at countries physically capable. Ash Carter total of 21,980 nautical twice. It sailed across four Commander Vartika Lyttleton (New Zealand), branch and the largest component of that have broken the gender barrier: approved final plans for opening miles in INSV Tarini, continents and three Joshi, the crew Port Stanley (Falkland the Indian Armed Forces. The primary combat positions for women in the US inducted into the Indian oceans, and passed south NORWAY: comprising Lt Islands), Cape Town mission of the Indian Army is to ensure In 1985, Norway became Army in 2016. Navy on February 18 last of the three Great Capes - national security and national unity, the first country to enrol women in GERMANY: Germany opened combat commanders Pratibha (South Africa) and year. The Indian-built Leeuwin, Horn and Good defending the nation from external submarines. And along with Israel, units to women in 2001. By 2009, at Jamwal and Swati P, Mauritius. aggression and internal threats, and Norway became the first country to least 800 women were serving in maintaining peace and security within take in women in all combat roles in combat roles in the German Army. its borders. It conducts humanitarian the military in 1988. UK: In the United Kingdom, all largest passenger and rescue operations during natural DENMARK: In 1988, Denmark created exclusions on women serving in LIGHT MULTIROLE VRT500 cargo cabin with total calamities and can also be a ‘total inclusion’ policy. They also had Ground Close Combat (GCC) roles capacity of 5 people and commissioned during internal threats. a combat trial study which concluded were lifted in July 2016. HELICOPTER PRESENTED FOR THE will be equipped with a Indian women in their traditional that men and women are the same on FRANCE: In France, women make up modern interactive roles have been organically inculcated the field. Women are taken in all 1.7% of the military and they can serve FIRST TIME AT HELIRUSSIA-2018 avionics complex. The with the values which the army infuses combat roles except the Special in all combat positions. performance of the in the soldier through years of training, Operations Forces because of physical ISRAEL: It is reported that 88-92% he VRT500 helicopters helicopter will allow it to namely, ‘Espirit-de-Corps’, which requirements. However, the Danish roles in the Israeli Army are open to Twill become the first speed up to 250 km/h and means the spirit of selfless sacrifice, Army rolled out the policy to include female candidates and approximately holding’s helicopter in the have up to 860 km of valour, non discrimination, fairness women in the forces in 1962. After a 69 % women can be found in all the segment of light helicopters range and up to 730 kg of and honesty, discipline and integrity, decade of study, women were positions. with takeoff weight up to 2 fidelity, honour and courage , death to permitted to fill combat positions in AUSTRALIA: Australia army opened useful load. tons. Now, aircraft of this dishonor and forthrightness. 1988, except piloting fighter aircraft, combat roles to women in 2011 and The helicopter is India began recruiting women to although this restriction was lifted in front line combat positions were type amounts to 18% of the planned to be supplied in non-medical positions in the armed the year 1992. opened for women in January 2013. world helicopter fleet. passenger, multirole, forces in 1992, yet only 2.5% of its more FINLAND: In Finland, enlisting in the NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand has no These days, specialists cargo, training, VIP and than one million personnel are women army is voluntary for women and not restrictions on roles for women in its from the holding company HEMS configurations. The - most of them as administrators, mandatory, but if they enlist, training defence forces. conduct structural tests of VRT500 will be the first intelligence officers, doctors, nurses or for combat positions is open to them. On a concluding note, we agreed the carrying system. HEMS up to 2 tons dentists. India, which has one of the SWEDEN: In Sweden, women can that with regards to women inclusion Aerodynamic tests are helicopter in the world, largest armies in the world, has serve in all parts of the military. in the forces, things are not moving at planned in the short term. which enables to load and resisted allowing women to take up CANADA: In 1989, a tribunal as fast a pace as we’d like them to, but “The VRT500 is said to domestic, and foreign The VRT500 is a light offload a standardised combat or fighting roles, citing concern appointed under Canadian Human yet there is a slow and gradual change have excellent performance markets,” said Anatoly single-engine helicopter gurney through rear cabin over women’s vulnerability if captured Rights Act ordered full integration of which is a positive indication that the which, with the keen price, Serdyukov, Industrial with coaxial propellers and doors. It facilitates the and over their physical and mental women in Canada’s Armed Forces. time is not far when more women will should lead to success of the Director, Avaition Cluster of 1,600 kg of takeoff weight. whole process and allows ability to cope with the stress of front Women were permitted to serve on rule the skies, land and seas in their helicopter both on Rostec State Corporation. The aircraft will have the to save time. line deployments. But since October board Canadian submarines in 2002. bid to serve the country.

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Events 2018 DEFENCE, AVIATION & AEROSPACE CALENDAR 2018

Here’s a look at the past and future events, exhibitions and trade shows

THE EVENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO: THE EVENT THAT WAS A GRAND SUCCESS Farnborough Airshow EUROSATORY 2018 When: 16-22 July 2018 Held from June 11-15, 2018, at Paris, Where: UK EUROSATORY 2018 unquestionably The 5-day trade event provides the ultimate platform established itself as the leading international for the aerospace industry to do business. One can exhibition in the field of Land and Airland discover a range of new business incentives, attractions Defence and Security. The 2018 edition and networking opportunities at FIA2018. With key highlighted a change in the visitors’ level and an global influencers, thought leadership and knowledge internationalisation and professionalisation of transfer, FIA offers the very best value and experience the exhibition. It is undeniable that the word for businesses. Since the first powered flight in Britain, ‘innovation’ characterised the 26th edition of Farnborough itself represents a long history rich in the show. Already present in major groups, mid- pioneering heritage; where visionaries meet cutting market companies and SMEs, innovation was edge innovation. With key organisations and global further enhanced at the exhibition by the influencers all under one roof, FIA provides plenty of presence of the start-ups in Eurosatory LAB opportunities to meet the industry face-to-face. From and in the GENERATE incubator of GICAT. The the unique ‘Meet the Buyer’ programme to conferences, field of security is now a full component of FIA is where one can forge valuable business Eurosatory alongside the Defence sector. For connections. the Live demonstrations, real specificity of the show, the presence for the first time of security SMDS - Space & Missile Defence Symposium forces: RAID, GIGN, Prefecture of Police (with When: 8-10 August, 2018 the BRI and the BSPP), Special Forces and the Where: Huntsville, USA Ground Forces, was a real success. Let’s not The SMD Symposium is the leading educational, forget the importance of reflexion at the professional development and networking event in the exhibition with no less than 71 conferences on space and missile defense community. The symposium varied and complex topics. EUROSATORY also is widely attended by leaders and professionals from the welcomed students to allow them a chance to United States and allies around the world. discover the many jobs offered by the Defence and Security sectors. Land Forces Australia When: 4-6 September Where: Adelaide, Australia respected and influential in the region. In particular, the Presented in collaboration with the Australian Army, Australian Army has strong ties with the armies of the Land Forces 2018 is an international industry Indo-Pacific. It is frequently involved in joint training exposition to showcase equipment, technology and exercises and the exchange of personnel. Its acquisition services for the armies of Australia and the Indo-Asia- decisions, assessments and technology are noted Pacific. The region boasts some of the fastest-growing throughout the region. Australia’s defence forces are economies in the world, bringing prosperity and better embarking on a period of significant acquisition and lives to billions of people. But growing threats, including modernisation with acquisition projects worth more those presented by non-state actors, mean the demand than AUD$190 billion planned for the next decade. for defence technology to safeguard the region’s Other armies throughout the Indo-Pacific region are prosperity and security has never been greater. embarking upon similar upgrades, with many seeking to Australia is strategically positioned within the Indo- acquire or enhance a wide range of capabilities, Pacific region. The world's only island continent, including amphibious ships and watercraft, helicopters, Australia bridges the Pacific and Indian Oceans. A armoured and utility vehicles, etc. leading and influential country within the region, Land Forces 2018 will be the essential event to access Australia is a major trading nation with a highly army and land defence decision-makers and to connect developed and technologically advanced economy. with military, government, scientific and industry The Australian Defence Force is amongst the most leaders from Australia and the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

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