DOCSLIB.ORG

Decade of the Maritime Air Power

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Decade of the Maritime Air Power Aero INDIA AVAIL YOUR COPY NOW! `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) 2021 SP’s SPECIAL Military Yearbook 2019 MEET US AT HALL-E, STALL: E-4.6 www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com www.spsnavalforces.com ROUNDUP THE ONLY NAVAL MAGAZINE FOR NAVIES ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC PAGE 5 LEAD STORY Carrier Battle Group for Force Projection PHOTOGRAPH: Indian Navy Carrier strike groups represent some of the most potent means of force projection in any nation’s military, made up of an aircraft carrier and assorted ships tasked with defending and supporting carrier operations. Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) PAGE 6 Navy’s Quest for Carrier Borne Fighters The Chinese PLAAF and PLAN Aviation continue to field greater numbers of fourth- generation aircraft like J-20 and probably will become a majority fourth-generation force within the next several years. Thus India’s selection of future fighters for the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force has to take this threat into account. Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) PAGE 7 Landing Platform Docks China announced that it would deploy 1,00,000 marines overseas and has expanded its Marine Corps and developed amphibious assault ships and vehicles. With increased Chinese footprints in the INS Vikramaditya operates a combination of MiG-29K fighters and a variety of Naval Helicopters IOR, amphibious capability assumes critical importance for India. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) PAGE 8 Military Modernisation? Decade of the Is That All We Want? Any country faced with adversaries must, based on the resources available, decide on the overall path to take towards conflict resolution, assigning responsibilities to every arm of the state. Thus, capacity building Maritime Air Power for the Armed Forces is just one part of the solution. Commodore G. Prakash (Retd) Maritime Air Power is applied in the maritime theatre to fulfill maritime objectives, as PAGE 10 well as achieving the necessary degree of air control for maritime operations within Converting Cheetah/Chetak as UAV for Ship Operations this area of interest. Maritime Air Power has undergone historic transition in the With the advancements in drone technolo- decade gone by due to the fundamental shift in its role. gies, there is a large proliferation of drone designers and manufacturers of different sizes and roles in India. There is thus a fair amount of skill set and knowledge available n VICE ADMIRAL SHEKHAR SINHA (RETD) enced by the military and political context in within India alone. which he lived. Now we are into 21st century. It Commodore (Dr) R.K. Rana (Retd) Comprehensive National Air Power is not so anymore. It will be appropriate to mention the writings Civilians were usually absent from theatre PAGE 12 of Clausewitz, who suggested that war consists or the battlefield either because the battle oc- Aerial Submarine Hunters of a trinity; made up of people, the government curred in relatively unpopulated area or they Detection of submarine is done primarily by and the armed forces. War comprises and bal- fled the area prior to onset of war. Today, a Sonobuoy and Magnetic Anomaly Detec- ances between creative forces (symbolized by this linearity has diminished severely. Now tor (MAD) - refers specifically to magne- the armed forces action), rational forces (sym- the civilians and civilian objectives are inter- tometers used by military forces to detect submarines by observing the change in the bolized by the government) and emotional mingled with military objectives. The valid tar- magnetic field forces (symbolized by the people). Essentially gets which could not feasibly be struck in the Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) it means that the Armed Forces are separable past, now become vulnerable. The universe of from the people (who do not take part in fight- strikeable targets multiplies and therefore the PLUS ing) and from the government, which leads the potential of collateral damage and incidental News / Appointments 15 war. Obviously Clausewitz’s analysis was influ- injury while still achieving military objectives. Aero India 2021 Special 1 Command Every Scenario at Sea IAI’s Naval Warfare Suite. Interoperable Naval / Aerial Strike & Defense Systems that Connect Your Assets into a Unified Naval Fighting Force Meet every maritime challenge with: • Joint situational awareness with smart defense / response • Data integration from multiple platforms and sensors • Powerful Artificial Intelligence based decision making • Multi layered ship protection and aerial defense • Multi-challenge Strike Capabilities • Game-changing advantage in the maritime arena • Adaptable to customer requirements www.iai.co.il • [email protected] LEAD STORY This issue of Naval Forces rity provider in the Indian Ocean guard India’s maritime interests. luck. It is a de-novo approach is a Special Issue for Aero India Region in the changing security Then there is an article for to modernisation and capacity 2021 thus the lead article appro- challenges and construct. the selection of Multi Role Car- building, and worth a read. priately gives an overview of a In his annual Navy Day- rier Borne Fighter (MRCBF). In There are other articles like ‘Decade of Maritime Air Power’ 2020 press conference, CNS, January 2017, the Navy issued a on aerial platforms as hunter of in which the author explains that Admiral Karambir Singh said Request for Information (RFI) for submarines; rotary wing UAVs it has undergone a historic tran- that, “our operations shall revolve 57 MRCBF. The RFI laid out that for the Navy; stealth submarine sition in the decade gone by. around two active Carrier Battle the “The MRCBF are intended as project and so on which give you There has been fundamental Groups (CBG), necessitating a day and night capable, all weather readers an insight of all the hap- shift in the philosophy of mari- force level of three Carriers”. In multi-role deck based combat air- penings in the Navy. time patrol, anti-submarine and an article on the subject of Car- craft”. The article gives you an We as usual wind up this anti-surface warfare processes rier Battle Groups (CBG), the insight into the front runner fight- issue with the News Digest and and carrier borne fighter opera- author attempts to explain the ers for India’s present and future Flag Postings. I hope that you dis- tions. Prospects of strengthening rationale of the Navy Chief’s aircraft carriers. cerning readers will enjoy read- EDITORIAL anti-submarine rotary wing fleet statement. The role of the CBG In this issue, there is also an ing this special issue. If you are and increasing surveillance in the being to threaten or strike hostile article is on the implications of in Bengaluru do meet us at Aero Indian Ocean by addition of more elements with air power, carry modernisation where the author India 2021, Hall-E, Stall: E-4.6. long range and Medium Range out intelligence, surveillance propounds that history is replete Maritime Patrol Aircraft, utility and and reconnaissance and land with examples of how every multi-role helicopters, drones and marines if required. The opera- military ‘modernisation’ was commissioning of the first indig- tional importance of aircraft car- rendered obsolete by counters/ While the world is cancelling a host enous aircraft carrier are very riers in the projection of maritime anti that sprouted. Examples of leading shows, India has gone encouraging. The author then power in the Indian Ocean Region abound of ‘modern’ militaries ahead with unmatched conviction examines these fundamental cannot be denied. A potent CBG biting the dust in the face of and is organising Aero India 2021 shifts in concept and philosophies is required - one on West Coast superior leadership, doctrines, with not even a fraction of change and concludes that India is well and one on East Coast which tactics, brains, deceit, peculiari- JAYANT BARANWAL or an effect out of COVID-19. on the way to being a net secu- will provide immense leverage to ties of terrain, or even simple Publisher & Editor-in-Chief PHOTOGRAPHS: US Navy, SP Guide Pubns Prime Minister Modi while addressing Long Range Maritime Patrol and Anti- the Combined Commanders in 2015 said submarine Warfare “beyond the immediate, we are facing a From the year 1976, IAF relinquished the future where security challenges will be role of long range maritime patrol task to less predictable; situations will evolve and the Navy by transferring the Super Con- change swiftly; technological changes will stellation aircraft. This was first occasion make response more difficult to keep pace for the Navy to operate four engined long with. Threats may be known but the en- endurance aircraft. It was all new experi- emy may be invisible” He further said “full ence for the crew to be flying extended scale war may become rare, but force will long hours and from an air station, main- remain an instrument of deterrence influ- taining alertness on the radar and visual encing behavior and the duration of con- watch, transfer data information manually flicts will be shorter”. to Maritime Operation Centre, criss cross Effectively, to handle today’s changed number of FIR boundaries, operate close nature of warfare, comprehensive nation- to open airspace of neighboring coun- al power will have to be brought to bear tries and in the process get intercepted by to achieve political objectives in the short advanced fighter aircraft mainly of the US timeframe that would be available. While Navy. Aircrew developed the desired skills doing so, nations will ensure least collat- to handle the new ways in the changed eral damage and incidental injury since operational environment. Earlier, carrier military and civilian objectives will be dif- borne Alize provided surveillance in mari- ficult to discern, media will control dis- time patrol role which was adequate for semination and regulate public reaction.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Aerial Platforms and Suitable Communication Payloads
    Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 2014-03 Cost-effectiveness analysis of aerial platforms and suitable communication payloads Everly, Randall E. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/41375 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF AERIAL PLATFORMS AND SUITABLE COMMUNICATION PAYLOADS by Randall E. Everly David C. Limmer March 2014 Thesis Advisor: Cameron MacKenzie Co-Advisor: Glenn Cook Second Reader John Gibson Approved for public release;distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704–0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202–4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704–0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED March 2014 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF AERIAL PLATFORMS AND SUITABLE COMMUNICATION PAYLOADS 6. AUTHOR(S) Randall E. Everly and David C. Limmer 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION Naval Postgraduate School REPORT NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943–5000 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10.
    [Show full text]
  • Ins Vikrant) at Csl, Kochi – 12 Aug 13
    ADDRESS BY CNS LAUNCH CEREMONY OF INDIGENOUS AIRCRAFT CARRIER I (INS VIKRANT) AT CSL, KOCHI – 12 AUG 13 1. Shri AK Antony, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri GK Vasan, Hon’ble Minister for Shipping, Hon’ble Members of Parliament, Hon’ble Members of Legislative Assembly & Council, Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Commodore K Subramaniam, Chairman & Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited, Flag Officers, Board of Directors of CSL, the proud work force of CSL, distinguished guests, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen. 2. I would at the outset like to thank the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri and the Hon’ble Minister of Shipping for their presence at this momentous occasion, which is historic not only for the Navy, but for the entire nation. I would also like to compliment the Chairman & Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard and his team for making this occasion a reality. 3. The Navy has always been conscious that designing and building warships is a strategic core capability for any country. After the first indigenous warship INS Ajay was constructed in 1960, 2 the then Prime Minister Smt Indira Gandhi, launched our first indigenous frigate INS Nilgiri in 1968. Since then we have never looked back. 4. The next significant capability achieved was in-house designing. The ships of Godavari, Brahmaputra, Delhi and Shivalik, designed by naval design teams, exemplify this niche competence/ we also constructed two conventional submarines. The valuable exposure to the technical know-how of submarine construction has helped us embark on an indigenous 30 year submarine building programme.
    [Show full text]
  • The Chinese Navy: Expanding Capabilities, Evolving Roles
    The Chinese Navy: Expanding Capabilities, Evolving Roles The Chinese Navy Expanding Capabilities, Evolving Roles Saunders, EDITED BY Yung, Swaine, PhILLIP C. SAUNderS, ChrISToPher YUNG, and Yang MIChAeL Swaine, ANd ANdreW NIeN-dzU YANG CeNTer For The STUdY oF ChINeSe MilitarY AffairS INSTITUTe For NATIoNAL STrATeGIC STUdIeS NatioNAL deFeNSe UNIverSITY COVER 4 SPINE 990-219 NDU CHINESE NAVY COVER.indd 3 COVER 1 11/29/11 12:35 PM The Chinese Navy: Expanding Capabilities, Evolving Roles 990-219 NDU CHINESE NAVY.indb 1 11/29/11 12:37 PM 990-219 NDU CHINESE NAVY.indb 2 11/29/11 12:37 PM The Chinese Navy: Expanding Capabilities, Evolving Roles Edited by Phillip C. Saunders, Christopher D. Yung, Michael Swaine, and Andrew Nien-Dzu Yang Published by National Defense University Press for the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs Institute for National Strategic Studies Washington, D.C. 2011 990-219 NDU CHINESE NAVY.indb 3 11/29/11 12:37 PM Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Defense or any other agency of the Federal Government. Cleared for public release; distribution unlimited. Chapter 5 was originally published as an article of the same title in Asian Security 5, no. 2 (2009), 144–169. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Used by permission. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The Chinese Navy : expanding capabilities, evolving roles / edited by Phillip C. Saunders ... [et al.]. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index.
    [Show full text]
  • Professlonal Engllsh Medlcl NE and Dlagnostlcs Навчальний Посiбник
    MlHlcTEPcTBo освIти l нАуки укрА[ни Нацiональний авiацiйний унiверситет О. Г, Шостак, В. l, Базова PRoFESSloNAL ENGLlSH MEDlcl NE AND DlAGNoSTlcS навчальний посiбник КиТв 2015 ь- Еи_ встуII KypciB напря- Навча-гьrшай посiбrrик уrшадеrпш1 дIя студенть I_tv прог- му пi.щоmвки 6.051402 <Бiомедична iюrсенерЙ>, Назчальними (за професiйним. спряму- рамами мсциIIJIIни <<Iноземна мова i*.о*tо передбачено вивчення студеЕтами напряму <<Бiомедrтчtrа 1 ха- irженерiш десяти модулiв, що визначае струкгуру посlоника !а- Принципи побудови ракгер виIOтадеш{я навчаJIьного MaTepia,Try, посiбьм виповiдають також формаry Програми з англiйськоi курсу ESP l{о"" дrr" студекгiв немовних спецiа:ьностей, завданням та вимогам Болонського процесу. основна мета нrrвч€lJl"rrоrо посiбrпш<а - н2IвIIити майбугrriх фа- xl хьцьзбiомедщчноiiяженерiiосноВzl}\,IпрофесiйногоспiлкУвапня аrглйською мовою. Автори також ставиJIи перед собою завдання перекJlад/, рзвинути у оryдеrггЬ cTiйKi н{lвички читанЕя, реферу- в"r"{Я технiчноi лiтератури з метою oтриманIUI 1 використання rе- необхiдrоi дlя професiftrоi дiяльностi iнформачii,-ПосiбrшшС 0го можIIивlсть прове- умiшryе тексти дIя щrгff*щ що дае hiB навчаJъноrо деннЯ дисrсусЙ та максиIшаjБного заJýленrrя сryдекrЬ до завданrш з W2 процесу. Система вправ дозвоJuIс вимадачевi обиратлл ура- й**;" iнд.вiдrЙrло< здiбноСrей сryдеrrГiв (нагп,rсаШ11 Рефератiв, Ыш*ч* доповЙей викоIlrlнtlf рiзноманiпшо< коruунiмцiйшпоi вправ). TBopd шдл rив,m-Гьноiдiяльносгi, що гр5пrrуIorься ImypиBI@( з I*rJ,KoBo- ,"йrrrr* д""рел, пi,щrлrцrють моrшацiю сryдеrrгiв, а змiстовi iндшi- peaJБHolvfy жшггi ryашнi завдаш{я допомагitють розв!шrуш необхiдli В KoMyHiKжlrBHi навlrчr<и та здатнiсть до са},Iовираження, У посiбlшку викIIадено основи грitматики англйськоi мови. Слов- нrшс TepMiHiB до кожного роздiлу дOпомагае краще оволодiтк jIексичним матерiалом та дае змOry Еоповнити словниковии запас, засвоенtrя лексичного та rраматиqного матерiалу допоможе сту- сЕряму- деrrговi орiсrrryватиоя в zlнгломовнiй лiтераryрi фахового кIHIUI, брати участь у мiхсrародншr конфереrщiях, MODULE 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Realignment and Indian Air Power Doctrine
    Realignment and Indian Airpower Doctrine Challenges in an Evolving Strategic Context Dr. Christina Goulter Prof. Harsh Pant Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed or implied in the Journal are those of the authors and should not be construed as carrying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Air University, or other agencies or departments of the US government. This article may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. If it is reproduced, the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs requests a courtesy line. ith a shift in the balance of power in the Far East, as well as multiple chal- Wlenges in the wider international security environment, several nations in the Indo-Pacific region have undergone significant changes in their defense pos- tures. This is particularly the case with India, which has gone from a regional, largely Pakistan-focused, perspective to one involving global influence and power projection. This has presented ramifications for all the Indian armed services, but especially the Indian Air Force (IAF). Over the last decade, the IAF has been trans- forming itself from a principally army-support instrument to a broad spectrum air force, and this prompted a radical revision of Indian aipower doctrine in 2012. It is akin to Western airpower thought, but much of the latest doctrine is indigenous and demonstrates some unique conceptual work, not least in the way maritime air- power is used to protect Indian territories in the Indian Ocean and safeguard sea lines of communication. Because of this, it is starting to have traction in Anglo- American defense circles.1 The current Indian emphases on strategic reach and con- ventional deterrence have been prompted by other events as well, not least the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan, which demonstrated that India lacked a balanced defense apparatus.
    [Show full text]
  • China-Pakistan Aerospace Nexus
    CENTRE FOR LAND WARFARE STUDIES ISSUE BRIEF No. 208 January 2020 Air Marshal Anil Chopra, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM China-Pakistan (Retd), was a fighter pilot, test pilot, and a pioneer of Mirage-2000 fleet, and has commanded a Mirage 2000 Squadron and IAF’s Flight Test Centre, Aircraft and Aerospace Nexus Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE). He was the Team Leader of the MiG 21 Bison Upgrade project in Russia (1996-2000). He has commanded operational airbases in both the Western and Eastern sectors. He was the Head of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Jammu and Kashmir (2006-07) and Head of Operational Inspections of the IAF (2008-2010). He retired as the Head of Human Resource (HR) as Air Officer Personnel in December 2012. He has been a member of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), Lucknow Bench (2013-17) and the Executive Council of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (2013-15). He The JF-17 Thunder is a third-generation plus fighter has also been the Advisor on a Committee of the National Green Tribunal (2019). aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China. It can be considered a show-case of Sino-Pak defence Key Points cooperation. Pakistan continues to be China’s • China is Pakistan’s ‘time-tested all-weather friend’ and strongest ally. Their relationship became very has for long helped Pakistan build its military-industrial close after the Sino-Indian war of 1962. Pakistan complex. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Pakistan, followed by ceded to China, 5,180 square kilometre of land Bangladesh and Myanmar, are the biggest purchasers of Chinese weapons.
    [Show full text]
  • Aircraft Carriers – Glug Glug Glug….. Really? Significance of Carrier Borne Airpower for India
    www.maritimeindia.org Aircraft Carriers – Glug Glug Glug….. Really? Significance of Carrier Borne Airpower for India Author: Dinesh Yadav Date: 23 July 2018 In his recent article published by the Lowy Institute, titled “Glug, Glug, Glug: India’s interest in unsinkable Aircraft Carriers”, David Brewster1, probes India’s medium term plan to develop into a three carrier fleet. Brewster cites huge costs (acquisition, maintenance and operational) and vulnerability issues attached with the Carrier Task Force (CTFs) in support of his assertion and, as an alternative, advocates the use of ‘unsinkable’ island bases as cheaper and more effective options. Dismissing flat-tops as vulnerable status symbols for India, the author recommends the deferment of INS Vishal and instead, use the freed-up capital in shoring up India’s military capabilities in the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) and Lakshadweep island chains. India currently operates only one carrier, INS Vikramaditya (erstwhile Admiral Gorshkov of the Soviet/ Russian Navy). Whilst India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant (IAC-I) is being built by Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and is likely to be commissioned in end 20202, India has already embarked on its follow-on induction3, likely to be named as INS Vishal (IAC-II), and expected to be much larger and more potent. A three-carrier force would allow the Indian Navy to operate one CTF on each of its seaboard at all times, with the third carrier involved in refit or maintenance. Bang for Buck – Misplaced Example of Great Britain The Royal Navy currently operates4 only one Aircraft Carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth (commissioned in December 2017).
    [Show full text]
  • BEL Preparedness Is the TAKING to the HIGH SEAS Best Deterrent: Jaitley
    IMDEX ASIA SUPPLEMENT www.aeromag.in n May 2017 | Vol 11 | Issue 3 BEL Preparedness is the TAKING TO THE HIGH SEAS Best Deterrent: Jaitley and Towed Array Sonar for ships, Short-range, Medium- range and Long-Range Gun Fire Control Systems, Naval Communication Systems for intra-ship, ship-ship, ship- shore communications and Anti-Submarine Warfare System for launch of torpedoes, rockets and decoys. BEL’s journey in the field of Sonars (Sound Navigation and Ranging) commenced in 1977 when in collaboration with DRDO lab NPOL, Kochi, it manufactured the first indigenous Sonar for the Indian Navy called APSOH. Till date, BEL has produced more than 60 Sonars covering the range of underwater applications for surface ships and submarines. Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley with Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff Some of the major contributions by BEL in the field of Sonars for Surface Ship projects include Hull A four-day Naval Commanders’ Mounted Sonar/Bow Mounted Sonar, Towed Array Conference was held in New Delhi from The Defence Minister lauded the Sonar and Fire Control Systems. BEL has also exported May 2. Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley efforts of Indian Navy in indigenisation three Hull Mounted Sonar Systems. It is noteworthy that addressed the Naval Commanders and and urged the Commanders to focus during the execution of this project, BEL, along with interacted with them along with Minister on furtherance of Domestic Expertise NPOL and industry partners, indigenised the Directing of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre, building up. Gear and the Sonar Dome which were imported until Defence Secretary and other senior then.
    [Show full text]
  • 0218-DG-Defnews-Asian-Fighter
    ASIA FIGHTER REVIEW Asia Fighter Review Singapore shops for new platforms as part of Air Force transformation BY MIKE YEO ly completed taking delivery of 40 Boeing F-15SG [email protected] Strike Eagle multirole fighters, which serve alongside other aircraft and helicopters such as MELBOURNE, Australia — The Republic of Sin- Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52/52+ Fighting gapore Air Force celebrates its 50th anniversary Falcons and Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopter this year as it continues its transformation into gunships. a modern fighting force, with the service due to The Air Force will also start taking delivery of take delivery of new platforms this year amid a the first of six Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker number of ongoing procurement programs. Transports, which will replace four ex-U.S. Air The Southeast Asian island nation — which Force KC-135 Stratotankers acquired in the late measures roughly one-third the size of the U.S. 1990s along with five Lockheed Martin KC-130B/H state of Rhode Island in terms of land area and Hercules tankers/transports, which have now is strategically located at the southern end of the gone back to serve as airlifters in Singapore’s Air Straits of Malacca, through which a significant Force alongside five C-130Hs. portion of the world’s maritime trade passes — The service is also expected to receive two is a security cooperation partner of the United Lockheed Martin S-70B Seahawk anti-submarine States and operates one of the most advanced helicopters this year, bringing its fleet to eight.
    [Show full text]
  • India's Response to China's Assertiveness Over the Seas
    India’s response to China’s assertiveness over the seas When the Chinese occupied the Paracel Islands in early 1974, attached exchange of letters, it was said that Sri Lanka will the absence of official reaction drew the attention of the not allow any activities on its territory detrimental to India’s French embassy in New Delhi. A diplomat went to interview security, including making ports available for military use by the Head of the China desk at South Block, the Indian minis- any country in a manner prejudicial to India’s interests. Rich- try of External Affairs. The senior officer analyzed that “the ard Armitage, then Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian occupation by force of the Paracel Islands must be interpret- and Pacific Affairs, noted prophetically that it didn’t “make ed as a warning sign of Beijing’s Southern seas strategy aim- sense for the U.S. not to have a congenial relationship with ing at encircling Southeast Asia and at exercising a dominant the largest democracy and the dominant military power in influence over the region, economically, politically and stra- the subcontinent – and with a country that will clearly take tegically”. Besides Beijing was asserting claims to the Sprat- its place on the world stage in the 21st century”2. The rise of ley Islands and adjacent territorial waters, not ruling out the the Indian Navy was nevertheless then in its infancy. use of armed force if necessary. In view of their rapproche- The Indian Maritime Doctrine of 2015 emphasizes the neces- ment with the People’s Republic of China and obsessed with sity to manifest a strong presence of the Navy in the Indian the containment of the Soviet Union, the United States were Ocean Region (IOR), to strengthen the coastal defense, and seen as complacent, willing to allow some kind of Chinese to display a resolve to protect sea lanes of communications.
    [Show full text]
  • 10. International Arms Transfers
    10. International arms transfers SIEMON T. WEZEMAN and MARK BROMLEY* I. Introduction The SIPRI Arms Transfers Project identifies trends in international transfers of major conventional weapons using the SIPRI trend indicator.1 Data for 2004 show an increase in the volume of global arms transfers over 2003. However, using five-year moving averages, the trend is one of decline between 2000 and 2004, after a slight upward trend in the late 1990s (see figure 10.1).2 Section II discusses the three main suppliers and the main recipients of major conventional weapons in 2000–2004. It addresses some of the major arms transfer-related issues that were important for Russia and the United States in 2004. For Russia, this includes concerns about retaining and finding markets. For the USA, relations with European clients and Taiwan and the ‘global war on terrorism’ are highlighted. Section III discusses international arms embargoes, including the European Union (EU) embargo on China. Section IV reports on developments in 2004 in national and international transparency in arms transfers, and section V presents the conclusions. Appen- dix 10A contains tables showing the volume of transfers of major con- ventional weapons, by recipients and suppliers, for 2000–2004. Appendix 10B lists details of the equipment that was delivered and received. Appendix 10C outlines the sources and methods used to compile the arms transfers data. II. The suppliers and recipients There have been few significant changes in the ranking of the major suppliers in the past five years. The biggest change is that Russia is the largest exporter in the period 2000–2004, replacing the USA, which was the largest exporter in 1 SIPRI data on arms transfers refer to actual deliveries of major conventional weapons.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 India Think Tank Forum
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons TTCSP India Summit Reports TTCSP National Summits 8-1-2020 2020 India Think Tank Forum James G. McGann University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/ttcsp_india_reports Part of the International Relations Commons McGann, James G., "2020 India Think Tank Forum" (2020). TTCSP India Summit Reports. 1. https://repository.upenn.edu/ttcsp_india_reports/1 Copyright © August 2019. Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program. Permission is granted for reproduction of this file, with attribution ot the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/ttcsp_india_reports/1 For more information, please contact [email protected]. 2020 India Think Tank Forum Abstract The Fourth Annual India Think Tank Forum (ITFF) took place in New Delhi, India from January 12 to 13, 2020. The forum was co-hosted by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the University of Pennsylvania and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). It brought together think tank scholars and executives from over 50 think tank institutions from South Asia including India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, as well as institutions from France, Poland, Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. This Forum was conducted in a Roundtable Format with panels that were intended to frame the key issues and provide constructively provocative questions to stimulate the discussion that follows each Session. The Forum was conducted in accordance with the Chatham House Rule. Keywords Think Tank, Civil Society, NGO, India Think Tank Summit, Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania Disciplines International Relations Comments Copyright © August 2019.
    [Show full text]