Indian Defense
ISI Chief’s Removal Significant, I Fear For Imran Khan: Adrian Levy At India Today Conclave 2021
Author and journalist Adrian Levy has said that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Faiz Hameed’s removal to appoint him as the Peshawar Corps Commander is a significant move. Adrian Levy called it a consolidation of power by Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2021, Adrian Levy, journalist and co-author of Spy Stories said, “Lots of chess being played across the border; many different people have different views but definitely it is a consolidation of power by Army Chief Bajwa and it’s also really important as he has only until next year before he leaves office and a new army chief is appointed.”
“One of the persons up for that job (of army chief) is the ex-head of the ISI, General Faiz Hameed, and to do that, he needs to have call commands experience. So, moving him to Peshawar, on the one hand, gives him the call command experience, but on the other, he is also the man with the portfolio to begin discussions with the TTP and with the Taliban in Kabul and so the move is strategically significant,” Adrian Levy said.
On the issue of the weakening of the ISI, Adrian Levy said, “It’s also really interesting because it is the weakening of the ISI and whoever they bring in now will be a lesser figure which means the ISI will come more under the control of Bajwa which is interesting.”
Expressing concern for Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in respect to the current developments, Adrian Levy said, “I fear for Imran Khan slightly because the outgoing ISI chief had an understanding with Imran Khan, and by moving him, it will weaken the position of Imran Khan in relation to the military.”
Speaking on the Haqqani network being reinstated in the Taliban government and if it was the plan of the ISI or if Faiz Hameed was moved to take control of something which went out of control for the ISI, Levy said, “It’s a bit of both of those things in a sense that first of all it’s not an ISI victory and its a total misnomer for it to be written that way particularly things that I am seeing coming out of India right now.”
“What you are seeing is a series of cascading failures on behalf of the US which really began with a misfiring war after the tragedy of the 9/11 conspiracies and then a second illegal war in Iraq which and then led to the Sunni-Shia civil war to the creation of the Islamic State and terror all over Europe as a result of that,” he said.
Speaking on the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, he said, “The lack of focus on the US campaign would result in the hollowing out of any kind of nation-building attempts and the creation of rampant corruption and warlordism. And what you were left with was a mirage in Kabul and what happens outside Kabul was that people make calculations and that was to bank on something pragmatic and seemingly real and come to terms with the Taliban.”
He said the situation in Afghanistan was more of an arrangement rather than a Taliban victory. He said, “Rather than what you are seeing as a Taliban victory where they took Kabul by force and war — they did not, an arrangement was made and the arrangements took advantage of the fault lines created by the US.”
Speaking on the current situation in Afghanistan, he said, “The people in power are not technocrats, not politicians and they have no experience with ruling. And the international coalition has people who hate each other. So who will be this person who can pull these rivals together? And it is truly a daunting task and India will watch this with curiosity.”
Speaking on the ISI, he said, “The constitutional setup in the most basic level — democracy, is a tiny thin veneer in Pakistan that has struggled to take hold since 1988 onwards and the ISI has an indomitable position and it is not tethered to the civilian procedure and in fact has always wriggled free of any supervision.”
“Both agencies, the ISI and the RAW are full-spectrum espionage agencies,” he said.
Speaking on India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), he said, “Since its inception in 68, RAW hit the ground running. And intelligence played a very enormous role in the 1971 war and without this, the victory would not have come in the way that it did.”
“Many of India’s successes are subtle, they are about winning the argument internationally, placing itself at the forefront internationally and delivering convincing narratives, making political ties that would develop later, including the states that were hostile to India previously,” he said.
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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