Manoj Ambat's Blog dealing with Defence, Foreign Affairs, Strategic Affairs and Politics

F-22 Raptor ( Image credits-Wikimedia commons) A  fifth-generation jet fighter  is a  fighter aircraft  classification used in the United States and elsewhere encompassing the most advanced  jet fighter generation  as of 2014 . Fifth-generation aircraft are designed to incorporate numerous technological advances over the  fourth generation jet fighter . The exact characteristics of fifth generation jet fighters are controversial and vague, with  Lockheed Martin  defining them as having all-aspect  stealth even when armed,  Low Probability of Intercept Radar  (LPIR), high-performance air frames, advanced  avionics  features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the theatre of war for  situational awareness . [1]  The only currently combat-ready fifth-generation fighters are the  Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor , which entered service with the  U.S. Air Force  in 2005  and the  Sukhoi PAK FA   being developed for the  Russian Air Force

Liaoning (16), Chinese Aircraft carrier ( Credits in the image) According to a June 5 report in the  Strait Times   ( and a timely tweet by @RobertCObrien ) the People’s Republic of China will allegedly add some major firepower to its armed forces. While we have seen many of these reports over the last several years, one thing should seem quite obvious by now — take it with a grain of salt, Flashpoints readers. According to the report , China is “preparing to deploy three new carrier battle groups (CBG) in the world’s oceans, with the first expected just three years from now.” The Singapore-based newspaper seems to have sourced the information from the latest GI Zhou newsletter. The newsletter is published in Australia and “specializes in forensic analysis of China’s defense-related publications and news sources.” The People’s Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, already maintains one refurbished aircraft carrier, the  Liaoning , which was commissioned in November 2012 after a mu

Image credits- The China Military.Net For the second time in as many weeks, Chinese fighter jets have conducted  dangerous flybys  over the East China Sea, approaching within 100 feet of Japanese surveillance planes. This is only the most recent in a string of dangerous incidents in the waters and skies on China’s periphery. Last December, a Chinese warship nearly  collided with the USS  Cowpens , cutting off the American cruiser in international waters in the South China Sea. In recent years, Chinese ships have periodically harassed unarmed U.S. naval vessels in seas off the Chinese coastline, but this was the first incident involving two armed warships. Earlier in 2013, Chinese ships used fire control radars to “ lock on ” to a Japanese destroyer and a Japanese helicopter. It is difficult to imagine a more aggressive act short of opening fire. In all of these cases, potentially deadly accidents were avoided due to the forbearance of those on the receiving end of Chinese a

INS Vikramaditya (Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/Indian Navy) The modern navy around the world prefer to have aircraft carriers. They substantially increase the range of operation. The Indian Navy and People's Liberation Army Navy is no exception.  A brief comparision is presented to you : = INS Vikramaditya = Origin : Soviet Union (Russia) Class & type : Modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier Displacement : 45,400 tons of loaded displacement Length : 283.5 metres (930 ft) (overall) Installed power : 6 turbo alternators and 6 diesel alternators which generate 18 MWe Propulsion : 8 turbopressurized boilers, 4 shafts, 4 geared steam turbines, generating 180,000 horsepower (134,226 kW) Speed : > 30 knots (56 km/h) Range : 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) 13,500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h) Endurance : 45 days Complement : 110 officers and 1500 sailors Armament : AK-630 CIWS Barak 8 (LRSAM) Aircraft carried : M

Malabar Naval Exercises ( Image Credits- Wikimedia Commons/United States Navy) India, the United States, and Japan are gearing up for the next iteration of the  Malabar series of naval exercises . The exercise this year will take place in the northern Pacific and will involve naval assets from all three countries. The exercise is seen as a symbol of growing trilateral security cooperation between these three democracies. The Malabar exercise will precede India’s “Yudh Abhyas” counter-terror exercise in Uttarakhand, which is scheduled to take place in September with U.S. forces, according to a  Times of India  report . Both Malabar and Yudh Abhyas represent the two most significant military exercises that the Indian armed forces have been involved in since Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) electoral victory. According to the  Times of India , the Indian navy will be sending four to five ships, including a  Rajput -class destroyer and a  Shivalik -class s

Image credits-AFP/East News During the election campaign in India, there were active debates about the country’s future foreign policy strategy. From the perspective of an international observer, there was a lack of certainty about what was meant in these debates, and for good reason. For starters, there were the blurred lines between the ideological platforms of the respective parties. Moreover, candidates turned to populism and slogans throughout the campaign to make their point. As a result, there were the obvious questions after the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its frontrunner, Narendra Modi. What position will the new prime minister take toward the U.S. – the same country that rejected a visa to him? What policy will come from the BJP government that has reliable ties with the U.S.? Should we expect any changes in India-Russia relations? Will the recent news about Moscow-Beijing bilateral contracts and  Russia’s decision to sell weapons to Islamabad  

INS Satpura ( Image Credits- Wikimedia commons/United States Navy) India is gearing up for the next round of military exercises with the US, with the top-notch "Malabar" naval war games in the Pacific and the intensive "Yudh Abhyas" counter-terror drills in Uttarakhand, in the first such maneuvres after the Modi government came to power last month.  Just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Japan to meet his counterpart Shinzo Abe on July 3 and 4, India will dispatch four to five warships, including a Rajput-class destroyer and a Shivalik-class stealth frigate, on the long-range overseas deployment.  "The warships will first head for the 'Indra' exercise with Russia off Vladivostok and then reach the North Pacific towards end-July for the Malabar exercises, which apart from India and US will include Japan," said an official.  India had invited Japan to participate in this year's Malabar war games, which have ruffled the feathers

Vietnamese soldiers ( Image credits-Wikimedia commons/Author)  “We are enraged. We are very angry.” With words as firm as these, the  ‪#‎ Vietnamese‬  ambassador denounced China's “dream” of a 9-dash line, the demarcation mark that  ‪#‎ China‬  uses to claim virtually the entire  ‪#‎ South‬  #China  ‪#‎ Sea‬ . “We don't fear anything,” Vietnamese Ambassador to the #Philippines Truong Trieu Duong told Rappler. ‪#‎ Vietnam‬ , after all, has a long tradition of ejecting its conquerors – including #China, in 938 AD – throughout its 2,000-year history. Duong sat down for a wide-ranging interview on May 29, which covered Vietnam's thoughts on #China as well as the United States, their country's next possible moves, and its views on the #Philippines in the South China Sea dispute. The following stories on Rappler covered two main points from the interview: #Vietnam to #Philippines: United, we will win Philippines, Vietnam can share disputed sea – envoy Be