Publication

The Geopolitical Trap: War in Ukraine and Strategic Takeaways

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the Ukraine–Russia War began in Europe.Footnote1 The War has lasted for more than three years, resulting in around 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed, 370,000 injured (as of December 2024), and 6.8 million Ukrainians displaced across Europe (as of January 2025), including women, children, and the elderly (Binley and Beale Citation2024; Statista Citation2025). Russia has also suffered significant deaths and casualties in the War, as well as faced economic sanctions from Western powers.

Nihar Kulkarni |
July-August 2025 |
Strategic Analysis

Chinese Air and Missile Power

Air force Built up with Russian aid in the wake of the Korean War in the early fifties, the Chinese Air Force grew up around 1960 to be the third-largest in the world with about 3,000 fighter interceptors (mostly MiG-15s, MiG-17s and a few MiG-19s) and about a thousand light jet bombers (mostly JL-28s) and transport aircraft. There were about 10,000 pilots. Flying schools, training depots and instructional centres were developed under Russian guidance and there was a regular flow of supply and replacement of craft and spares. A division of parachute troops was also in the process of formation during 1959–60 with Russian help. China’s first Air Force Chief Liu Ya-lou spelt out the magnitude of Soviet assistance, when he said in July 1957 that, ‘the Soviet Union has not only given us first-class modern equipment, but also sent here a large number of very learned and experienced experts to teach us aviation science, tactics, superior aviation techniques and air force tactics, and all kinds of advance experience’.

S. K. Ghosh |
July-August 2025 |
Strategic Analysis

AI and Extremist Propaganda: An Assessment

The future wave of violent extremism will be increasingly decentralised, AI-driven, and post-organisational, requiring a new-age counter-violent extremist framework.

The First AI War: The Dilemma of Military Autonomy

The war in West Asia has seen an unprecedented use of Artificial Intelligence and autonomous systems like drones in the military kill chain.

Japan’s Evolving Security Strategy

The Ministry of Defence document, ‘Directions of Change in Defence Capabilities 1’, released on 12 March, offers a glimpse into the evolution of Japan’s security strategy.

Reforms for Atmanirbharta in Indian Naval Aviation

This monograph deliberates on reforms for achieving self-reliance in naval aviation. Indian Navy (IN) is at the cusp of transforming from a ‘buyers navy’ to a ‘builder navy’ in ship and submarine building; however, self-reliance in aviation remains a missing link. IN’s withdrawal from LCA Mk-1 (Navy), LCA Mk-2 (Navy), non-approval of TEDBF and lack of participation of IN in Naval AMCA has brought its Carrier Based Fighter (CBF) program to a stalemate. The incoherences in the self-reliance trajectory of CBF extends to Maritime Reconnaissance (MR), Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. The structures, policies and initiatives need re-orientation/ reforms for naval aviation self-reliance. The proposed apex level structural and execution level policy reforms are aimed at bringing synergy, accountability and expediting decision making. Also, elevating naval aviation self-reliance trajectory from subsystems level to platform and systems level development initiatives can be a stimulant for change. In addition, measures for mitigating aero engine vulnerabilities, scientific mechanism for Indigenous Content (IC) validation, factoring impact of ToT and imports, and spiral development approach are essential prerequisites for Atmanirbharta in Indian Naval Aviation.