Military Affairs

About Centre

The Centre for Military Affairs comprises of a mix of serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces and civilian experts. The Centre adopts an inter-disciplinary approach to various issues that impinge upon India’s national security in general and the armed forces in particular. Its research focus is on issues that impact upon national security and capacity-building of the Indian armed forces. Specific areas of focus include: emerging contemporary challenges in warfare, jointness, defence co-operation, maritime security, and military training needs. In addition, the Centre also addresses China- and Pakistan-related issues with a bearing on their interface with Indian security. The Centre closely interacts with military establishments in India and abroad and contributes to policy making by conducting research in areas of significance for the armed forces.

Pulwama Attack: Time to Get the Messaging Right

Pakistan’s hybrid war is a reality. India’s efforts need to be oriented towards countering such a war.

Vivek Chadha
February 20, 2019
Policy Brief

75 Years Later, Are Lessons From the Bari Incident Still Relevant?

While planning and executing kinetic operations, it is essential to look at various facets of force application including the possibilities of accidents or surprise attacks by the adversary.

Kishore Kumar Khera
November 08, 2018
Issue Brief

India’s First Step Towards Regulating Drones

The Civilian Aviation Requirements for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, though fairly well drafted, constitute only a stop gap measure for regulating drone operations in the civil sector.

Atul Pant
October 31, 2018
IDSA Comments

Decoding the Expansion Plans of the United States Air Force

How different will the USAF look after the proposed restructuring with 74 additional squadrons? Will there be a trade-off between quality and quantity?

Kishore Kumar Khera
September 28, 2018
IDSA Comments

India’s Quest for Recognition

India’s quest for being recognized even as a regional power, let alone a global power, requires a balanced and simultaneous growth of its economic and military capabilities.

Unpacking UK Combat Air Strategy

The UK Combat Air Strategy unveiled on July 16, 2018 can actually be termed as the Combat Aircraft Industry Strategy. India, with a nearly non-existing aircraft industry, can benefit by understanding the key rationales underpinning the CAS.

Unmanned Trans-Atlantic Journey – A New Beginning

Will the first-ever trans-Atlantic flight of a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle change the course of aviation and tilt the balance in favour of unmanned aircraft?

India’s Defence and Security Priorities

This Brief offers an overview of India’s long established as well as more recent external defence and security priorities, and delineates the three options available to the Defence Planning Committee under the extant economic and geopolitical circumstances.

External Balancing in India’s China Policy

External balancing is re-emerging as an element of policy driven by the yawning power asymmetry between India and China and China’s turn towards assertive behaviour and territorial claims.

S. Kalyanaraman
March 28, 2018
Issue Brief

Return the Favour with a Thousand Cuts: India’s Pakistan Policy

The current policy is premised on the understanding that unless India hurts the principal architect of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy, that is, the Army, terrorism would continue unabated.