In Our Defence

A single line in the White House readout of President Donald Trump's call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised eyebrows-the President emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment. But why was this message made so explicit? What exactly is Trump pushing India to buy, and where is this pressure coming from?

In this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor dive into the evolution of India-US defense ties, from past sanctions to multi-billion-dollar deals, and examine the key American defense platforms India has already acquired. The two also discuss potential purchases that could be on the table under Trump's push, including fighter jets, drones, and missile defense systems. Finally, the two explore India's strategic options -- how can New Delhi balance growing ties with Washington while maintaining its commitment to self-reliance and Make in India?

Produced by Garvit Srivastava

Sound Mix by Rohan Bharti

In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor dive into the remarkable success story of the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system—an outlier in India's indigenous weapons development journey. Despite challenges that have plagued many homegrown defense projects, Pinaka stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when the armed forces, scientists, and private industry come together with a shared vision.

The two explore how the Indian Army’s unwavering support for the system, from its inception in the late 1980s to its present-day deployments, played a pivotal role in its success. Unlike other indigenous projects that struggled for acceptance, the Army threw its weight behind Pinaka from day one, ensuring the project’s progress with consistent orders and operational confidence.

The episode also shines a light on the groundbreaking public-private partnership that powers the Pinaka system. The collaboration between DRDO, Tata Advanced Systems, and Larsen & Toubro has delivered a system that rivals international counterparts, offering rapid-fire capabilities, versatility in terrain, and a range of cutting-edge features.

Produced by Garvit Srivastava

Sound Mix by Suraj Singh

Have you ever wondered why it took India nearly two decades to start exporting the excellent BrahMos missile system, despite its induction into the Indian military in the mid-2000s? What were the reasons behind this delay, and how has India now finally started to capitalize on the export potential of this advanced missile system?

The BrahMos missile is a game-changer in the world of defense technology, with its medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile capabilities making it an attractive option for countries looking to enhance their defense systems. But what makes it so special, and why are countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam lining up to get their hands on it?

Host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor discuss this and more as they uncover the ugly truths of India’s efforts to export the BrahMos.

Produced by Garvit Srivastava

Sound Mix by Nitin Rawat

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited - India's premier aerospace manufacturing company - is in focus this week due to factors some argue are beyond its control. A fatal crash of a Dhruv Mk III Advanced Light Helicopter has led to a fleet wide grounding across all the services that operate it. And, in an unrelated development, the Indian Air Force expressed frustration with the delays in the deliveries of the Tejas fighter jet. Both the machines in question are the crown jewels of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's efforts design, develop and build indigenous aircraft for India's military.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited plays an outsized role in India's military aviation and the two developments have once again put the spotlight on the government-owned behemoth's ability to deliver quality on time. And so, on this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor take a close look at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and all that's wrong - and also what's right - with the organisation.

The two explore what the HAL needs to do to in order to shrug off its bureaucratic past and move into the competitive future where its position as India's sole supplier of military aviation equipment is at threat.

Dev and Shiv also take a particular close look as Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh's recent lament of not getting the Tejas fighter jets on time. The Air Force chief unusually strong comments raised a few eyebrows. What's behind the sentiment?

Tune in for this and more to the latest episode of In Our Defence.

Tune in to our previous episode on HAL here: https://indiatoday.link/NKw4

Produced by Garvit Srivastava

Sound Mix by Nitin Rawat

A video showcasing a new Chinese stealth fighter jet, suspected to be a 6th-generation machine, has taken social media by storm.

The timing couldn’t be more striking. As this footage goes viral, India grapples with a stark contrast. The country has yet to field a stealth fighter jet, and the Defence Ministry has just formed a high-level committee to address critical gaps, including a severe shortage of fighter jets, weapons, and equipment, in the Indian Air Force’s arsenal, TOI reported.

The video went viral shortly after this episode’s recording.

The committee, featuring DRDO chief Samir V Kamat, defence production secretary Sanjeev Kumar, and IAF deputy chief Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, aims to chart a path forward.

But is this the game-changer the IAF desperately needs? Can the committee offer immediate solutions to the fighter jet shortage? Will it deliver a long-term roadmap for the IAF’s capability development, or is this another bureaucratic exercise with no tangible outcomes?

With just 36 Rafale jets inducted so far and a 110-jet acquisition proposal still unresolved, how will the IAF bridge its glaring “capability voids”? And what role will indigenous production play in addressing these gaps?

Host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor address these pressing questions.

Tune in!

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Nitin Rawat

What fifth-generation fighter jet should India invest in—the Russian Su-57 or the American F-35? This question has taken centre stage following a calculated pitch by Russian state media, spearheaded by Sputnik, touting the Su-57 as a ‘superior option’ for India. But is this merely a tactical move, or does it hold real strategic merit?

The timing of Russia's push is quite interesting too. President Vladimir Putin is slated to visit New Delhi in early 2025 for the 23rd annual India-Russia bilateral summit. Against this backdrop, the Sputnik India tweets have reignited debate over India’s potential acquisition of a fifth-generation fighter jet. It presented the Su-57 as an attractive alternative to the F-35 and an essential complement to India’s "Make in India" initiative. But is this a sincere offer or a cleverly crafted gambit?

The pitch also comes when India is grappling with delays in its domestic fighter programs, such as the Tejas Mark 1A and the ambitious AMCA, which remain in the prototype stage. These setbacks create a fertile ground for foreign lobbying, but should India let its long-term vision for indigenous defence manufacturing take a backseat?

On this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor analyse Russia’s ‘googly’ pitch for the Su-57. How would acquiring this jet impact India’s indigenous AMCA project? Given its current defense strategy, how realistic is the prospect of India considering the Su-57—or even the F-35?

Tune in!

Binge our earlier episodes on fighter jets here:

Military Equipment To Conflicts: How India-Russia Friendship Has Endured Ups & Downs: https://podcasts.indiatoday.in...&-history/in-our-defence/military-equipment-to-conflicts-how-india-russia-friendship-has-endured-ups-downs-in-our-defence-s02-ep-30-1047333-2024-07-11

Why Indian Air Force is in hunt for fighter jets all over again: https://podcasts.indiatoday.in...&-history/in-our-defence/why-indian-air-force-is-in-hunt-for-fighter-jets-all-over-again-in-our-defence-s02-ep-45-1117371-2024-11-08

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Off the coast of Goa, a tragic collision between the Indian Navy submarine INS Karanj and a fishing boat left two fishermen dead, while 11 others survived. The crash caused ₹10 crore worth of damage to the submarine, and the fallout has raised some big questions.

In this episode of In Our Defence, Dev Goswami and Shiv Aroor deeply dive into this incident. They break down how collisions like these happen and why they’re so hard to avoid. The submarine was at periscope depth, recharging its batteries, and visibility was poor—so what went wrong? Why did the Navy file an FIR against the fishing boat's captain? What was so surprising about the FIR’s contents that left Shiv perplexed?

Who should really take the blame? They also discuss what happens after a crash—how investigations work, the immediate steps taken to ensure everyone’s safety, and what this means for avoiding future incidents. Along the way, Shiv and Dev bring in historical examples to help explain how tricky navigation can be at sea.

Tune in!

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Catch our previous episodes on Indian Navy here:

https://podcasts.indiatoday.in/politics-&-history/in-our-defence/deep-dive-on-indias-nuclear-submarines-and-why-ssns-are-need-of-the-hour-in-our-defence-s02-ep-22-997259-2024-05-02

https://podcasts.indiatoday.in/politics-&-history/in-our-defence/nuclear-powered-attack-submarines-cleared-how-these-sharks-will-give-indian-navy-new-teeth-1107759-2024-10-17

A leaked letter from Lieutenant General Rajiv Puri has ignited a debate about women in the Indian Army.

The October 1 letter, based on an “in-house review” of eight colonel-ranked women officers under his command, raises concerns like “ego issues,” “lack of empathy,” and challenges in leadership styles. This has divided opinion — is the letter reflective of ingrained patriarchy in the military or a critique of preparedness for command roles?

This controversy comes against the backdrop of historic steps like granting permanent commissions to women in 2020, following a Supreme Court order, and promoting 108 women officers to colonel rank in February 2023.

But how did an internal letter get leaked? What does it reveal about the military's structural resistance to women in leadership roles? And how does the Indian Army compare with the Navy and Air Force, where women have been flying fighters and serving on warships since 2015?

Join host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor as they unpack the uproar, explore the historical resistance to gender integration in the military, and discuss the slow but inevitable path toward inclusion envisioned by figures like the Late Lt. General Bipin Rawat.

Tune in!

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

On November 12, the DRDO conducted the maiden flight test of the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), successfully meeting all mission objectives. Just days later, on November 16, India achieved another milestone by testing its first long-range hypersonic missile, joining an elite club of nations with this cutting-edge capability.

What makes these tests so special?

In this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor analyse their significance for India’s defence landscape. What do these tests reveal about India's growing missile technology? How do they enhance the country’s strategic position globally?

The LRLACM test was especially significant because it showcased the Manik engine, a homegrown development representing a major advancement in the country’s missile propulsion technology.

Are these breakthroughs sufficient to ensure India’s self-reliance in defence technology?

Looking back at the evolution of missile technology, the duo traces its journey from primitive war implements to sophisticated systems like the BrahMos. How has this technological evolution transformed modern warfare and diplomacy?

Moreover, they revisit the legacy of the BrahMos project as a model of international collaboration and technological growth.

Tune in!

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Binge on the previous episodes here:

How India hit it out of the park with the legendary BrahMos cruise missile: https://podcasts.indiatoday.in/politics-&-history/in-our-defence/how-india-hit-it-out-of-the-park-with-the-legendary-brahmos-cruise-missile-in-our-defence-s02-ep-21-991112-2024-04-25

Hypersonic missiles tested in Iran-Israel conflict: Game-changer in modern warfare? https://podcasts.indiatoday.in/politics-&-history/in-our-defence/hypersonic-missiles-tested-in-iran-israel-conflict-game-changer-in-modern-warfare-in-our-defence-s02-ep-42-1101993-2024-10-04

America to blame for Tejas delay? https://podcasts.indiatoday.in/politics-&-history/in-our-defence/america-to-blame-for-tejas-delay-in-our-defence-s02-ep-31-1052148-2024-07-18

Recent events have put the Indian intelligence establishment under scrutiny, especially after a high-profile incident that raised questions about its effectiveness. An indictment filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on October 18 in a New York court charged Vikash Yadav and his associate Nikhil Gupta with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering. The target was Khalistani separatist and Sikhs For Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York in June 2023.

Yadav, a former Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer, was reportedly working with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) at the time. The incident raises concerns about intelligence oversight.

But what does the intelligence world look like? What does the job of an intelligence officer truly entail? How are covert operations planned and executed, and where do the gaps lie? Does the Pannun incident reveal deeper issues within India’s intelligence framework?

In this episode, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Shiv Aroor examine the intricacies of India’s intelligence agencies, often portrayed in a “Bollywoodised” lens of intrigue and mystery. They break down terms like “intel,” “actionable intelligence,” and “intelligence failure” and look past the sensationalised images to reveal the real challenges and operational dynamics faced by Indian intelligence.

Tune in!

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi