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

Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Author- J. DeRoo) Source- Eurasia Review Author- N. S. Venkataraman In recent times, North Korea has been in the international news for all wrong reasons. The recent launching of the missiles by North Korea and the suspicion that North Korea could be developing nuclear capabilities have created huge anxiety amongst the governments, particularly in western Europe and U S A. As U S government appears to be thinking that it is the policeman of the world and imagining that it has the responsibility and perhaps even assuming that it has the authority to control North Korea from indulging in any nuclear adventure, whether real or imaginary, it has imposed sanctions on North Korea, over and above the various types of restriction already placed on North Korea. During the recent Nuclear Security summit meet , U S President Obama particularly focused his criticism on North Korea and painted the country as the real threat to world peace.

INS Sindhukirti S-61 on trial at HSL ( Image credits- Hindustan Shipyards Ltd, Government of India) Source- Russia & India Report Author- Tass Russia’s defence shipyard, the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Centre (Severodvinsk), has repaired, refitted and modernized the ‘INS Sindhukirti’, the Indian Navy’s diesel-electric submarine, at the Vishakhapatnam shipyard, a press release stated. The exercise, which took 10 years to complete, was the first time that such a feat has been accomplished successfully. The shipyard’s press release noted that the repairs to the ‘Sindhukirti’ were the first experience of a capital overhaul and modernization of a Russian-built submarine in an Indian shipyard. The works lasted almost 10 years. In the end, the ship was re-equipped with a Club-S modern missile system, becoming a full-fledged multi-purpose submarine, able to strike surface targets from the water. The Indian submarine has also been provided with the latest motion control sys

Image credits- VOA Source- The National Interest Author-  Joseph A. Bosco Former Pacific Commander and former Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair has rendered yet another valuable public service, this time as head of Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA (SPF). The organization has produced a comprehensive report assessing China’s evolving strategic posture and presenting alternative scenarios for the U.S.-Japan alliance response to the ensuing threats and opportunities. While the paper is dispassionate and clear-eyed about the risks and openings presented by China's rise, the implications are ominous. The paper posits four possible outcomes for a future China: a powerful and benevolent state; a powerful and aggressive state; a weak and inward-looking state, or a weak and aggressive state. The study offers a caveat, however: “It is dangerous to base an Alliance strategy on a single future for the China of 2030 It will not fall neatly into any of the four alte

Lockheed Martin F-35 ( Image credits- VOA) Source- The National Interest Author-  Nicholas Butts , Jared McKinney A Taiwanese fighter jet on a routine patrol collides with a Chinese drone and crashes into the South China Sea; the pilot is killed. In response, the Republic of China Air Force, which for some time has been asking for upgraded planes, presses for a new arms package from America. Despite promising to maintain peace and stability in cross-Strait relations a little over a year ago in her victory speech, Tsai Ing-Wen, Taiwan’s president, is faced with growing pressure to respond strongly. A concerned Legislative Yuan authorizes major defense budget increases (overcoming budget difficulties) aimed at acquiring the F-35. Eager to signal that the rebalance she spearheaded in the Obama administration is returning in full force, newly elected president Hillary Clinton (following the advice of hawkish media commentators) directs the Defense Department to sell Taipei fi

INS Arihant ( Image credits- Indian Navy) Source- The Diplomat Author- Saurav Jha In February this year, it was reported that India’s first ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), the indigenously built INS Arihant had successfully completed sea trials, including several weapon release tests. The Arihant is expected to be formally commissioned soon, and is likely to serve in a training and force development role as well as providing a limited deterrence, especially once a new intermediate range submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) becomes operational. Three more ships of the Arihant class with enhanced features are planned, with two already under construction even as a new generation SSBN design is being readied. If the move to create back-up systems such as long-range communication facilities, dedicated hardened bases and support vessels is taken into account, it is clear that India is committed to achieving a nuclear triad, which would be in accordance with it

Moke up of Qaher-313 fighter ( Image credits- Iranian Media) Source- The National Interest Author- Dave Majumdar Several years back,  Iran rolled out its Qaher F-313 ‘stealth fighter’ in front of then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Within hours it was met with near universal derision from defense and aerospace experts around the world. While almost everyone outside Iran saw the project for the farce that it was, Tehran insisted that the project was real and that it was already flying. Further, the Iranian government insisted that the bizarre-looking aircraft—which was allegedly superior to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—would become operational in the very near future. But since then the project has disappeared. So, whatever happened to Iran’s impressive plans for the Qaher F-313 stealth fighter? The answer is nothing—as with much of Iran’s bluster—the Qaher F-313 was a ham-handed hoax. Even at the time when Iran first showed of