On September 17, hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies exploded simultaneously across Lebanon and parts of Syria, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. Was this another meticulously planned Mossad operation, echoing their history of high-stakes missions? In the 40th episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor delve into these recent coordinated explosions, dissecting how such an elaborate attack could have been planned and executed. What multiple failures in Hezbollah's security led ...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 5 min
The Indian Navy is set to finalise the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets by the end of this financial year. Indian Navy plans to equip the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant with these planes and develop a vital capability for the force on the maritime front. Host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor explore the evolution of naval fighter jets in the Indian Navy—a subject that might seem niche but is crucial to India’s defence. The hosts walk through the history of India's n...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 3 min
In this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor explore the future of India's armoured capabilities in light of the government's recent approval of ₹1,44,716 crore for capital acquisitions. This includes modernising the Indian Army's tank fleet through the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) program. The new tank FRCV aims to replace around 2,500 four-decade-old Soviet-origin T-72 tanks first acquired in 1982. Why is the FRCV project necessary, and how does it address the shortcom...
Sep 05, 2024•53 min
India, a nation that has landed on the moon and built fighter jets, still imports basic infantry rifles. Why? The Ministry of Defence has recently signed a repeat order for 73,000 SIG716 rifles from the U.S., with delivery expected by the end of 2025. This follows an earlier procurement of 72,400 rifles in 2019. The move has sparked controversy, highlighting India's continued reliance on foreign arms despite its advanced defence capabilities. In this episode of "In Our Defence," host Dev Goswami...
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 1 min
In the world of special operations, India is home to three elite forces: the Garud (Air Force), MARCOS (Navy), and Para SF (Army). Each unit has its own specialisation—Para SF excels in high-altitude, counter-insurgency, and surgical strikes; MARCOS are maritime experts; and Garud Commandos focus on airfield protection and counter-hijacking. In response to popular demand from our listeners, this episode delves into the Para SF, offering insights into their vital role in national security. Ever w...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr
What exactly is air defence? At its core, it intercepts incoming aerial threats such as aircraft, drones, or missiles. But, achieving this requires sophisticated technology and coordination. So, why do you need a wide range of air missile systems? What different air defence systems do we have, and is the Russian-made S-400 system, hailed for its advanced capabilities and 450-kilometer range, our best? Host Dev Goswami and Shiv Aroor explain the concept, with Shiv elaborating on the country's mul...
Aug 15, 2024•57 min
The skies over Sulur came alive with the launch of Exercise Tarang Shakti, India’s first multinational air exercise, on August 6 in Tamil Nadu. This significant event, the largest of its kind in India, is taking place in two phases: the first in Sulur from August 6 to 14 and the second in Jodhpur from August 29 to September 14. Ten countries, including Australia, France, Germany, and the USA, are participating with their aircraft, while 18 others are observing. But what exactly is an air exercis...
Aug 08, 2024•54 min
It’s been 25 years since the Kargil war. We delve into the factors behind India's victory and the major intelligence failures that caused the conflict. The critical lapse was the intelligence oversight that allowed Pakistani forces to occupy high positions unchallenged, particularly due to inadequate surveillance during winter months. We address pertinent questions: What major intelligence failures led to the Kargil War? How did young officers contribute to India's victory? What were the key rec...
Aug 01, 2024•58 min
The Indian Navy’s INS Brahmaputra warship, docked at the Mumbai Dockyard for refitting, was overturned earlier this week under mysterious circumstances. What started with a fire on Sunday has led to significant damage and the disappearance of a sailor. With a Rear Admiral now probing the incident, what are the implications for the ship's future usability and the broader safety and maintenance of Indian naval vessels? Salvaging the Brahmaputra is a challenging and costly endeavour. But such incid...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 1 min
83 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft are awaiting American F404 engines, causing a 9-month delay and uncertainty over the indigenous fighter aircraft program. With rising concerns over delays, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) aims to deliver the first aircraft by August 15. Tejas Mark 1A program is a pivotal project for the IAF. But why the delay? Who is to blame? Host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor explain how these delays stem from production bottlenecks, certification issues, and a U.S. angl...
Jul 18, 2024•43 min
PM Modi was in Moscow this week, marking his first visit to Russia since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022. The hug between Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin caused a global stir, drawing particular ire from Western nations and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor delve into the relationship between India and Russia, analysing how it has evolved over various Indian administrations. Looking at it more militarily, the defence duo answers...
Jul 11, 2024•54 min
India and France are negotiating a Rs 50,000-crore deal for 26 Rafale Marine (Rafale M) fighter jets. If finalised, these aircraft will be deployed on the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. Why the Rafale M? The French Rafale M emerged as the frontrunner against its competitor, the American Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. Why does the Navy need a new fighter jet? The Indian Navy’s current fleet, primarily composed of ageing Sukhoi jets, is becoming obsolete. This decl...
Jul 04, 2024•48 min
India and the United States are progressing in their discussions to collaboratively produce the latest generation of Stryker armoured infantry combat vehicles (ICVs). Initially, the project will involve a limited off-the-shelf acquisition of Strykers through the US Foreign Military Sales program. Subsequent phases will include joint production in India, culminating in the co-development of future versions. Host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor discuss the American Stryker combat vehicle...
Jun 27, 2024•49 min
This week, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited announced a significant development: the Defence Ministry has issued a Request for Proposal for 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) as part of the government's push to boost defence indigenisation. Of these, 90 will be allocated to the Indian Army and 66 to the Indian Air Force (IAF). Currently, 15 Prachands are in service with the IAF and 5 with the Indian Army. The LCH was formally named Prachand in October 2022. What Makes the Prachand Special? The Pra...
Jun 20, 2024•49 min
In just three days, Jammu & Kashmir has been struck by four terror attacks. A tragic incident in the Reasi district saw a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra targeted, resulting in nine deaths and 41 injuries. The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility. Further terror struck Doda and Kathua, where an attack claimed the life of a CRPF jawan and injured six security personnel. Another operation in Saida Sukhal village, Kathua, led to a civilian injury and the death...
Jun 13, 2024•52 min
Recent months have seen Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace firm, embroiled in multiple safety concerns, accidents, and reputational crises. Why is Boeing under intense scrutiny? What critical issues is it facing? In this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor delve into these pressing issues on their show, questioning the apparent decline of this once-revered company. What has led to Boeing's reputation plummeting to such lows? A series of incidents have spotlighted Boeing's ...
May 23, 2024•56 min
The election season in India is heating up, and the rhetoric around Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is becoming increasingly prominent among politicians. No surprises there! Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently addressed opposition allegations of constitutional changes by emphasising the government's focus on integrating PoK into India. Echoing this sentiment, Union Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed that PoK is "part of India", highlighting that people across the border in PoK are ca...
May 16, 2024•47 min
Where is the conflict in Gaza heading? After seven months of the Israel-Hamas war, are we witnessing the beginning of the end, or is it a war with no foreseeable conclusion? Why does Netanyahu persist in his stance despite mounting international pressure? Is his stubbornness a response to the intelligence lapse exposed by the October 7 Hamas attack, or is it part of a calculated strategy aimed at achieving Israel's "objectives"? What comes after Israel fulfils its current objectives? Host Dev Go...
May 09, 2024•59 min
In this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor delve into India's nuclear submarine program, discussing its limited fleet despite a vast coastline of 6700 km. Why does a country with such a significant maritime border suffer from "sea blindness"? The Indian Navy, the smallest among the three armed forces, seems disproportionally under-equipped given the strategic importance of its maritime domain. So, what factors contributed to this stagnation? India currently boasts only two n...
May 02, 2024•53 min
In this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence enthusiast Shiv Aroor delve into the cutting-edge advancements in India's missile programs and the coveted missile technology programs at large. They examine two significant tests: the successful launch of the indigenous Nirbhay cruise missile and a new variant of the Medium-Range Ballistic Missile, both of which showcase India's technological prowess. Why is the Nirbhay test off Odisha's coast a monumental achievement for India? Why is exporting hom...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr
The Indian Air Force is preparing for a significant upgrade with the upcoming test of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)'s Astra Mark 2 air-to-air missile. This missile, capable of hitting targets up to 130 km away, is a game-changer for India's air combat capabilities. The DRDO has been developing these missiles since 2001 to engage distant targets effectively. In this episode, Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor discuss the importance of long-range missiles like Ast...
Apr 18, 2024•51 min
In the heat of election season, a recent report from The Guardian has sparked controversy. It claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office ordered assassinations in Pakistan, as revealed by Indian and Pakistani intelligence sources. According to the report, the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), an agency that PM Modi's office directly controls, had undertaken the strategy to "eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil". However, the report contained many glaring errors, not only grammati...
Apr 11, 2024•51 min
This week, China released a fresh list of 'renamed' places in Arunachal Pradesh. This was yet another attempt by Beijing to assert its claim over the north-eastern Indian state that for long China has claimed to be its "integral part". India called China's move to rename the places "senseless", saying, "Assigning invented names will not alter the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. The development brings into focus the fact t...
Apr 04, 2024•59 min
Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, former chief of Air Staff, recently made headlines by joining the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, former Army Chief, General VK Singh, had also joined the party before the Lok Sabha elections. He had cited the BJP as the "only party" in India embodying nationalism, and not only did he join the party but he also clinched a ministerial role. In this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor discuss the trend of ex-military chiefs ente...
Mar 28, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Ever wondered what a high-tech futuristic modern war would look like, especially with Artifical Intelligence coming in? Where might conflicts arise, and who will be involved? How will these wars unfold, and what technologies will shape them? On this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor try to visualise the multifaceted nature of future warfare, from economic tactics to space militarisation and beyond. Shiv suggests that the current India-China standoff is just a glimpse of fut...
Mar 21, 2024•56 min
From an ambitious fighter jet project to a landmark missile test, the last few days marked important milestones for the nation’s defence. India test-launched the nuclear capable Agni-V missile in a ‘multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle’, or MIRV, avatar. Just days before, the government gave the all-clear for the development of the AMCA, or Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, a fifth-generation fighter jet that will feature cutting-edge technology. On this episode of In Our Defence, ho...
Mar 14, 2024•1 hr
This week, the Indian Navy made significant moves. They officially launched the first squadron of MH 60R Seahawk helicopters, boosting their surveillance and combat abilities at sea. The commissioning ceremony for the INAS 334 'Seahawks' naval air squadron took place at INS Garuda in Kochi. In addition, India opened a new naval base on Minicoy Island in the Indian Ocean, near the Maldives, amidst strained relations. This base, INS Jatayu, is strategically important, being India's furthest wester...
Mar 07, 2024•57 min
This week, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor delve into the harrowing events of November 26, 2008, when 10 Pakistani terrorists infiltrated south Mumbai via the sea, launching a series of devastating attacks. Recounting the gruesome assault orchestrated by the Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which claimed 166 lives and left over 300 injured, Shiv shares his firsthand experience of being present outside the Trident-Oberoi on Marine Drive that fateful evening. The duo...
Feb 29, 2024•49 min
This week, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor talk about India's nuclear setup. They dive into why India decided to go nuclear back in the 1980s and 1990s, explaining the concept of the nuclear triad. What does it mean, and why has it been so challenging to complete the submarine part of this triad? And why do we need submarines like the INS Arihant or INS Arighat to finish the triad? What exactly can India do with its nuclear weapons? And why is there so much secrecy surrounding the...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min
In January 2020, General Bipin Rawat became the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces. However, his tenure was tragically cut short by a helicopter crash in December 2021. The position remained vacant for almost nine months until General Anil Chauhan took over. Why did it take so long to fill the CDS position after General Rawat's passing? Was there genuine effort to reach political consensus earlier? There were also concerns whether the CDS post was created solely for Ge...
Feb 15, 2024•54 min
