Journal of Defence Studies

India is a classic case of a ‘quasi-federal’ country. There is a plethora of literature available separately on the Indian armed forces and Indian federalism. However, the deployment of India’s Central Armed Forces in its federal units (States) is one of the most understudied and unexplained areas of research. To avert any grave disorder in the country, the Centre constitutionally enjoys power regarding the deployment of its armed forces in the federal units. However, in practice, there are various factors that come into play during the deployment.

• N. Manoharan , Niharika Singh Rana |
• January-March 2023 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

An unusual, multi-dimensional conflict is underway in Europe. One dimension of this conflict is that Ukraine and Russia are engaged in seemingly endless conventional military battles on the ground in Ukraine. The other dimension is that United States (US) led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance is arming and funding Ukraine for these battles. The alliance is also pursuing an all-out economic war against Russia through trade and financial sanctions against Russia, and Russians.

• Rajan Katoch |
• January-March 2023 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

Traditionally, Kautilya or Vishnugupta, is considered the author of Arthashastra. He is also known as Chanakya, the scholar and chief minister who ‘destroyed the power of the Nandas and placed Chandragupta Maurya on the throne of Magadha’ in the 4th century bc. By the name of Chanakya, he had also authored a text known as Chanakya Niti. However, there is no proper understanding in the general public about the seminal work authored by Kautilya such as the Arthashastra and Chanakya Niti.

• P. K. Gautam |
• January-March 2023 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

The history of mankind is replete with devastating wars since the beginning of civilisation. The Indian history also witnessed many wars. The earliest wars in India appear to have been fought by the people of the Indus Valley civilisation. Their expertise in building forts to defend themselves confirms this theory. Subsequently, the Aryans waged wars against the natives of the land (p. 18). The battles depicted in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata further provide valuable information about the warfare mechanism of the ancient period.

• Narender Yadav |
• January-March 2023 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

Drones, often referred to as ‘dull, dirty and dangerous’, are fast becoming crucial to militaries around the world as a force multiplier

• Kritika Roy |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

When Tesla and SpaceX Founder Elon Musk, in a room full of US Air Force personnel, asserted that autonomous drone warfare is the future and will replace fighter jets, it sparked a controversial but crucial debate.1 The decade post 9/11 saw the proliferation of drones in the military domain. Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been used extensively to disable conventional weapon systems in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Ukraine. Hence comes the conundrum of replaceability and disruptiveness of conventional warfare vis-à-vis drone warfare.

• Krutika Patil |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

The history of war is replete with instances where a nation that has effectively, and innovatively harnessed technology has been victorious. From innovations stem revolutions in military warfare, and the current world order is witnessing a very profound and rapid revolution through the employment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), be it in conventional conflicts such as Nagorno–Karabakh (Azerbaijan–Armenia), the current Russia–Ukraine conflict or the unconventional ‘Global War on Terror’ in Afghanistan.

• Apratim Sharma |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

In his autobiography Hawkeye, Israeli fighter ace Giora Even-Epstein recalls flying the Fighting Falcon F-16, and comments that “Flying an F-16 was different than any other plane I’d ever flown. It felt like it was the computer more than the pilot that was flying the plane.”

• Bulbul Prakash |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

India’s commercial drone industry is growing and the drone market is expected to become a multi-billion-dollar industry over the next decade. In this drone era, the smaller drone systems, that is, small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) are also gaining traction in Indian armed forces for use in Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and as armed sUAS for kamikaze role.

• A. Karunakaran |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

Combat drones or Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems/Vehicles (UCAVs) refer to automated aerial vehicles, equipped with the capacity to carry and deploy lethal weapons such as missiles or bombs. They are characterised by their maximum take-off weight (less than 150 kgs, 150–600 kgs, and more than 600 kgs) or flight features (High Altitude Long Endurance, and Medium Altitude Long Endurance). Enabled by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the use of these drones has become increasingly popular in combat and counter-terrorist missions.

• Halima Z. Ansari |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

A new phase of drone warfare has come, involving several actors and the usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has progressed beyond
counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations to full-scale conventional battles. Moreover, as technology advances and is linked to artificial intelligence, a new third era of drone warfare is on the horizon. It is therefore pertinent to analyse the global proliferation of military drones, the indigenisation of military drones in India and to examine where India stands in the context of military drones.

• Pintu Kumar Mahla |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

Sea-based unmanned crafts are increasingly being used by navies across the globe because of their utility and multi-mission capabilities. The future of naval warfare will be driven by unmanned systems thereby reducing the risk to human lives. This article explores the sea-based unmanned crafts that includes a survey of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) for military use. It includes a description of sea-based unmanned crafts, the present doctrines and standards, technology advancements and applications.

• Sanur Sharma |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

The Chemical or Biological Weapons (CBW) of mass destruction and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology both have dual-use potential, and can be manufactured cost-effectively, covertly utilising the same set of equipment, manufacturing unit and manpower, which makes it a deadly combination. The proliferation of CBW technology has always been a global threat. The threat of CBW-weaponised drones from non-state actors has been escalating with increasing covert support to terrorism by state actors.

• Mrinmayee Bhushan |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

Drones are increasingly proving their relevance in a number of areas, including military. These unmanned systems could also have utility for different missions relating to nuclear science and technology. Although drones have demonstrated their usefulness in radiation monitoring in 1940s, yet their role as delivery vehicles is being debated. The weight, range, speed and endurance factors make a nuclear weapon country to prefer missiles and bombers. Technology is progressing very fast, and drones are taking advantage of the rapid developments in new technologies.

• Rajiv Nayan |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

The launch of Drone Policy 2021 has dramatically liberalised the procurement and operation of drones, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), in the Indian skies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal insights into the outreach of technology to the masses is a booster step towards the success of drone industry in India. As part of ‘Atmanirbharta’, the government has rolled out a vision to make India a drone manufacturing hub by 2030.

• Swaim Prakash Singh |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

Policy and technology initiatives are important pillars for building high-value, high-technology industries. Information technology and automobile industries, despite their contribution to Indian economy, have remained relatively low-value industries as maximum profits go to foreign companies. The Indian unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry, led by start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), has the potential to change the trajectory and become intellectual property-led high-value industry.

• Rajiv Kumar Narang |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

The Unmanned Systems, either remotely operated or autonomous to different degrees, have already become a part of defence inventory and are fast becoming a significant part of the combat forces apart from being used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with days of endurance and inter-continental ranges with strike capability are redefining war doctrines and operational tactics. The Naval and Ground Forces are going to be new dominions of Unmanned Systems which was till now dominated by UAVs.

• S. Guruprasad |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

The objective of this commentary is to determine several parameters of the shooting down of slow flying objects.1 If we have some basic information regarding the motion of the drone/helicopter and we also know the velocity with which the bullet will be discharged, then we may evaluate the angle of projection (a) so that the bullet will shoot down the drone/helicopter even if it has manoeuvring effect due to acceleration or retardation. Obviously, the conclusions of the commentary will also hold if any other objects in the air replace the drone/helicopter.

• Neeraj Pant , Satyanarayana Gedela |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or the unmanned aircraft, commonly called ‘drones’, have emerged as the new face of a technologically oriented warfare today. They provide the state with the technological capabilities to strike with utmost accuracy without the risk of endangering human lives of the armed forces. Today, drones have become the strategic weapons of choice for most of the states, including India.

• Manish |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies

Terrorism continues to be a major source of concern to nations as it poses a serious and evolving threat. It also constitutes a direct challenge to the national security and, more importantly, to national unity. India has been in the crosshairs of terrorism for over four decades hence it is imperative that there should be a robust technology driven anti-terror mechanism in place to effectively counter terror. Unmanned aerial vehicles would fit the bill perfectly in India’s fight against terror, especially urban terror.

• AV Chandrasekaran |
• October-December 2022 |
• Journal of Defence Studies