In Our Defence

In this episode, veteran defence journalist Sandeep Unnithan joins host Dev Goswami to decode Operation Sindoor — India's response to Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Sandeep and Dev dive deep into how India’s layered air defence network, including the IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System), played a pivotal role in thwarting Pakistani aerial threats. What was the X factor that gave India the edge? Was the much-talked-about S-400 system deployed? What was sitaution like in the commmand and control centre?

The two also explore the escalation ladder — a concept from military theory — and how India used it both during the days of fighting of Operation Sindoor and more broadly to counter Pakistan’s nuclear posturing. Why is this theory studied so deeply in strategic circles? And how does it play out in real-time decision-making?

Sandeep and Dev also look at the Indian Navy's posturing during the conflict as well as the roles played by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. And as a final thought, the two discuss Pakistan's Kirana Hills and the speculation that the nuclear weapons storage site may have been hit during the operation.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

In this gripping episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami sits down with Major LS Chaudhary (Retd.) to explore the reality of counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir, and the rigorous training life at the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA). From close-quarters combat against Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists to the psychological toll of surviving a life-altering injury, Major Chaudhary gives a rare, first-person account of what it truly means to serve in a conflict zone.

The episode also focuses on the reality of counter-terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, and what people usually get wrong about such operations.

Finally, the episode dives deep into the discipline, myths, and unfiltered truths of military training—the relationship between cadets and drill ustaads, the secret rule-breaking, iconic NDA/IMA moments, and the real story of actor Hrithik Roshan being corrected on set by a drill instructor during the filming of Lakshya.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Aman Pal

In this episode of 'In Our Defence', Dev Goswami talks to Major Manik M Jolly about his time in military intelligence, how to gather information after a major terrorist attack like Pahalgam, and how accurate is the "intelligence failure" question that is being asked.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

In the latest episode of In Our Defence, Commander Naveen Pandita (Retd.) joins host Dev Goswami for a deeply personal and inspiring conversation that spans the valleys of Kashmir to the decks of warships and the skies above the sea.

Born in the Kashmir Valley, Commander Pandita reflects on his early childhood battling a life-threatening illness, the harrowing memory of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus of 1990, his journey through the prestigious RIMC and NDA, and finally life in the Indian Navy. As a Naval Aviator and warship commander, he shares rare insights into life in uniform - from flying reconnaissance missions in the Dornier 228 and the iconic IL-38 Sea Dragon to leading air squadrons and captaining INS Agray.

Commander Pandita recounts tales from NDA, close calls while flying, and leadership lessons learned over 15 transfers in 21 years. Tune in!

What does it take to lead soldiers in the world's harshest battlefield? In this episode of In Our Defence, Major General Sudhakar Jee (Retd.) shares powerful lessons in leadership drawn from his deployments in Siachen and along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) against China.

Through gripping personal anecdotes, General Jee takes host Dev Goswami through what it means to command troops in freezing altitudes, under constant threat, and in terrain that tests not just physical endurance but mental clarity. We explore the burden of leadership in high-stakes environments, how officers manage their men in the face of danger, and what India's military posture along the LAC reveals about evolving strategic priorities with respect to the border standoff with China. Tune in!

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Aman Pal

On this episode of In Our Defence, Major General Sanjay Soi (retired) joins host Dev Goswami as he recounts his time serving in Jammu and Kashmir. From his first posting and the experience of facing enemy fire to counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley, Maj Gen Soi shares several anecdotes and insights from his experience serving in the state. The retired officers also shares his perspective on the recent developments in the Jammu and Kashmir, especially the rise in violence seen in the Jammu region and the funnelling in of weapons that the United States left behind during its withdrawal from Afghanistan. This and more on the latest episode of In Our Defence. Tune in!

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami sits down with Major Manik M Jolly, a former Indian Army officer who served in the Gorkha regiment before moving to Military Intelligence. From humorous anecdotes about cultural misunderstandings to deeply emotional experiences of delivering the body of a fallen soldier, Major Jolly shares his journey of leadership, courage, and cultural integration within the Indian Army. Tune in to hear fascinating insights about what makes the Gorkhas such legendary soldiers and the realities of commanding men in combat.

Tune in!

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

With deliveries of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet delayed by nearly a year, big questions remains on what it will take to plug the Indian Air Force's fighter jet shortfall. What will it take for the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to get the Tejas production line up and running at the speed that the Indian Air Force requires? Is the entry of the private sector to help boost the production of the indigenous fighter jet all but a given now? Also, is there serious thought being put to figuring a roadmap to ensure that the Air Force is never faced with such a capability and technology gap?

Host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor discuss and analyse these questions as they bring the second season of In Our Defence to a close. The two talk about how the Tejas project is just right on the horizon but not quite there yet and how this is going to be the proverbial do-or-die moment of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The two also look at some of the tough decisions that military planners in the government will be faced with as they attempt to figure out a roadmap for the Indian Air Force's future fighter jet inductions.

Tune in as Dev and Shiv break down a topic that became the top focus over the courwse of In Our Defence's Season 2.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Rohan Bharti

The deadly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease afflicts one out of three Indians. Top liver specialist, Dr. S.K. Sarin on how to protect yourself

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Rohan Bharti

This episode delves into the bittersweet story of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's efforts to develop and build an intermediate trainer jet for the Indian Air Force. This is a project that faced multiple delays, technical issues and questions over safety. It is a project that was nearly written off and considered by many to have been shelved.

However, the determined team at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had other plans. On this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor explore the story of Project Sitara, which given a grand showcase at the recent Aero India show in its new avatar - Hindustan Trainer Jet Yashas.

Also featured in the discussion between the two is another moment from Aero India, which coincidently took place right in the cockpit of the HAL Yashas placed on display at the show. This is the Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh's sharp remarks for HAL officials over the delay in the deliveries of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet.

What was behind the IAF chief's public outburst? Dev and Shiv explore and this and more on the latest episode of In Our Defence.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Rohan Bharti