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

Source- Internet Image Source- Want China Times China has revealed an image of its new twin-fuselage turbofan-powered unmanned aerial vehicle on the internet for the first time, US expert of Chinese military development Richard Fisher wrote for the UK-based IHS Jane's Defence Weekly on May 29. Known as "Project 973" or "Shen Diao," the drone is understood to have been designed by the 601 Institute of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Earlier concept art of the drone showed a leading-edge mounted canard-wing configuration, apparently designed as a high-altitude near space vehicle to carry out surveillance, cuing and communication missions. However, the first actual photo of the drone from the Chinese website showed that the drone has two bulbous-nosed fuselages while the canard wing is mounted between them but not at the leading edge. Meanwhile, it is fitted with a much longer high-aspect ratio wing mounted aft. An apparent high-bypass turbofan

Cuban President Raul Castro ( Image source- Wikimedia Commons / Author- Presidente de Cuba) Source- Eurasia review Author- Maria Jose Febre/ Coha The U.S. State Department announced Friday that Cuba is no longer considered a state sponsor of terrorism (SST). This marks the end of a 45-day long review period, following President Obama’s request for Cuba’s status review in December, when a joint resolution in the House and the Senate could have been passed to block the lifting of economic sanctions associated with SST status. Thankfully, the U.S. Congress did not derail this historical initiative. Cuba was first added to the list in 1982; and has remained there even after the end of the Cold War. According to the U.S. Government, this has been in part due to allegations of Cuba’s cooperation with, and protection of, Basque separatist forces (ETA) and members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). A recent revision of political attitudes towards the Basque

Russian T-14 Armata MBT ( Image source- You Tube/ Internet image) Source- The National Interest Author- Robert Farley Russia has a new tank… maybe.  Several National Interest articles have followed the development of the Armata family of armored vehicles, a system that breaks with long-term Russian tradition in construction, design, and (probably) means of employment. How much should the United States worry about the Armata, and where should that concern lie?  The impressive nature of the tank notwithstanding, the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps are unlikely to encounter it directly on the battlefield.  The bigger questions involve how the Armata might change the global market for armored vehicles, and how the tank might become part of the arsenals of Russian proxies. What it can do The Armata represents a family of armored vehicles that share a common chassis.  As with the Israeli Merkava, this maximizes the flexibility of the platform, hopefully saving produ

Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ Vlsergey Source- The National interest Author- Zachary Keck Russia may help India build nuclear submarines and stealth warships, according to Indian media reports. Last week India’s Economic Times reported that the Indian conglomerate Reliance Infrastructure—which owns stakes in numerous Indian defense companies—is seeking Russian assistance for programs to locally produce nuclear submarines and other stealth warships. According to the report, top Reliance executives were in Moscow last week to meet with Russian defense officials about finding a partner for a joint venture between a Russian defense company and Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering, India’s largest defense shipyard, which Reliance has an 18 percent stake in. Specifically, Reliance is looking for a Russian partner with the “requisite technology expertise for manufacturing warships in India.” As the Economic Times points out, the meetings come on the heels o

Image credits- Flickr / PMO Official gallery Source- The Diplomat Author- Rohan Joshi In his first year in office as prime minister of India, Narendra Modi has infused vitality into India’s engagement with the rest of the world. He has worked to correct the faltering trajectory of India’s relationship with the United States and has attempted to expand economic ties with China while being forthright in his appraisal about challenges in the relationship.  He has also attempted to re-engage the smaller states in India’s immediate neighborhood and has reached out to the democracies of East Asia and the West. As of May 19, 2015 Modi has visited 18 countries in an official capacity, unprecedented for any Indian Prime Minister in so short a time.  For some, it may seem surprising that Modi, whose electoral campaign focused heavily on the economy and government corruption, has dedicated as much time as he has on foreign policy matters. In reality, Modi, like previous Indi

Image source- Wikimedia Commons Source- The Diplomat Author- Muhammad Daim Fazil A month ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping was in Islamabad, where he unveiled a $46 billion infrastructure spending blueprint for Pakistan, to serve as a linchpin of Beijing’s drive to open new trade and transport routes across Asia and challenge the U.S. as the dominant regional power. Pakistani officials hailed the visit as a landmark and game changer. Despite decades of mismanagement and a feeble socioeconomic infrastructure, Pakistan does enjoy a strategic location. Among its neighbors, the only one with which Pakistan has maintained cordial ties since independence is China. Enjoying genial relations with a neighbor that is also a major power is clearly a boon for an otherwise diplomatically isolated Pakistan. For China, which has begun to build a presence in multiple regions, Pakistan is a gateway to the Gulf States and Middle East, where China seeks to showcase its soft power, a