Category Archives: Indian Ocean

US boat on elint mission?

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

The US boat, SV Seaman Guard Ohio, had apparently multiple missions. The arms drop to some nefarious Indian customers was discussed in the last blog. The other possibility, according to some experts who picked up the radio transmission of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian geopolitics, China, China military, Defence Industry, DRDO, Geopolitics, Great Power imperatives, India's strategic thinking and policy, Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Indian Politics, Internal Security, Missiles, Terrorism, Weapons | 2 Comments

Hank-panky by US ship?

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

The case of the US ship ‘SV Seaman Guard Ohio’gets curious and curiouser. Irrefutable facts: This ship has been loitering in India’s proximal waters for, God knows, how long. It has a crew of 10, with a Korean member among … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian geopolitics, guerilla warfare, Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Indian Politics, South East Asia, Terrorism, Weapons | 1 Comment

Nuclear effects of Agni-V

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

The Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, along with the other project in mission-mode, Advanced Technology Vehicle (the nuclear-powered ballistic missile-firing Arihant submarine, SSBN), are the two jewels in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) crown. Under high-class chiefs R … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian geopolitics, China, China military, Defence Industry, DRDO, Geopolitics, Great Power imperatives, India's China Policy, India's strategic thinking and policy, Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Military Acquisitions, Missiles, nonproliferation, Nuclear Policy & Strategy, Nuclear Weapons, Pakistan, Pakistan nuclear forces, South Asia, Strategic Forces Command | Leave a comment

Thumbs up for A-5

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

Agni-5 IRBM is expected to be fired a second time tomorrow from Wheeler on a depressed trajectory into the Indian Ocean. There are some important issues to consider about this missile. While it’ll eventually be an all-composite (kevlar) system, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian geopolitics, Defence Industry, DRDO, Great Power imperatives, Indian Ocean, Military Acquisitions, Missiles, Nuclear Policy & Strategy, Nuclear Weapons, South Asia | 10 Comments

Ex-CNS Admiral Arun Prakash’s view on Sub production

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

Another valuable reaction to my sub production piece, with a quite different perspective, from the former Navy chief, Admiral Arun Prakash ____________ Timely piece, but a couple of points for consideration. One of the problems with the Russians is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian geopolitics, Defence Industry, DRDO, Europe, Geopolitics, India's strategic thinking and policy, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Military Acquisitions, Missiles, Relations with Russia, Russia, russian assistance, russian military, South Asia, Strategic Relations with the US & West, Technology transfer, Weapons | 6 Comments

VADM RN Ganesh’s reaction to “India’s submarine production”

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

Reproduced below is the reaction of Vice Admiral RN Ganesh (Retd) to my op/ed — “India’s submarine production”, published in the web version of the ‘New Indian Express’, Aug 23, 2013: ————— A very perceptive article that highlights the dire … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian geopolitics, Defence Industry, Geopolitics, Great Power imperatives, India's strategic thinking and policy, Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Military Acquisitions, Nuclear Policy & Strategy, Nuclear Weapons, Relations with Russia, Russia, russian assistance, russian military, South Asia, Technology transfer | Leave a comment

Shkval on Offer

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

As a correspondent, Philip Fowler, has pointed out, the correct name of the Russian super-cavitating torpedo on offer for the Akulas is the Shkval (Squall) — not Shtil (a shipborne surface-to-air missile). Sorry for the mistake in the previous piece … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian geopolitics, Defence Industry, Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Military Acquisitions, Missiles, Russia, russian assistance, russian military, South Asia | Leave a comment

India’s submarine production

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

The Sindhurakshak tragedy raises many issues, among them, the danger of close-berthing of warships and submarines in the crowded Mumbai docks and the need urgently to commission the Karwar base to host most of the Western Fleet and take the … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian geopolitics, civil-military relations, Defence Industry, DRDO, Geopolitics, Great Power imperatives, India's strategic thinking and policy, Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Indian Politics, Military Acquisitions, Missiles, Nuclear Policy & Strategy, Relations with Russia, Russia, russian assistance, russian military, South Asia, Strategic Relations with the US & West, Technology transfer, Weapons, Western militaries | 17 Comments

VADM KN Sushil (Retd) on Sindhurakshak incident

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

Reproduced below are some thoughts of importance on the Sindhurakshak incident emailed me by a veteran submariner, VADM KN Sushil, who retired as Flag-Officer-Commanding-in-C, Southern Naval Command: 1 On the night of 13/14 just before midnight two explosions rocked the … Continue reading →

Posted in Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Military Acquisitions, Missiles, South Asia, Technology transfer, Terrorism, Weapons | Tagged | 6 Comments

Some developments re: Sindhurakshak

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Bharat Karnad

Despite the CNS ADM DK Joshi’s rejecting the possibility of sabotage, stories are swirling around about just such possibility as the cause for the sinking of Sindhurakshak early morning Aug 14. For such stories to bear out necessarily presumes one … Continue reading →

Posted in Indian Navy, Indian Ocean, Military Acquisitions, Russia, russian assistance, russian military, South Asia | 2 Comments