Military Affairs

About Centre

The Centre for Military Affairs comprises of a mix of serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces and civilian experts. The Centre adopts an inter-disciplinary approach to various issues that impinge upon India’s national security in general and the armed forces in particular. Its research focus is on issues that impact upon national security and capacity-building of the Indian armed forces. Specific areas of focus include: emerging contemporary challenges in warfare, jointness, defence co-operation, maritime security, and military training needs. In addition, the Centre also addresses China- and Pakistan-related issues with a bearing on their interface with Indian security. The Centre closely interacts with military establishments in India and abroad and contributes to policy making by conducting research in areas of significance for the armed forces.

Capital Acquisition Budget: Factors Affecting its Utilization

It is almost customary to blame underutilization of the capital acquisition budget on defective planning, apathy of the civilian bureaucracy and procedural complexities. This view, however, does not take into account several factors that are external to the Ministry of Defence.

Amit Cowshish
December 26, 2012
IDSA Comments

Chinese Aerial Patrols Over Senkaku Islands

China’s escalation of the Senkaku ownership dispute by commencing air patrols over the islands by OSA aircraft has the potential to trigger a war between China and Japan.

Vivek Kapur
December 24, 2012
Issue Brief

Ballistic Missile Proliferation: Implications for India

To counter the consequences flowing from growing ballistic missile proliferation in its neighbourhood, India must expand its BMD programme to include boost phase and mid-course phase intercept capability.

Vivek Kapur
December 19, 2012
IDSA Comments

Trespassers will be Prosecuted: China’s latest Billboard in the South China Sea

The issuance of these ordinances will not only add to the growing tensions in the disputed areas, specifically the South China Sea, but also add to the growing suspicions about Chinese intent.

Officers’ Promotion Policy in the Army

It is desirable that policies are not tinkered with after every change of command and are allowed to stabilise over a period of 5 to 10 years before they are reviewed for their efficacy.

Rumel Dahiya , Vivek Chadha
November 30, 2012
Issue Brief

DF-41: China’s answer to the US BMD efforts

US efforts to improve and expand its BMD system would degrade Chinese nuclear retaliatory capability thus forcing China to go for a qualitative and quantitative improvement of its nuclear force by deploying more ballistic missiles with MIRV and MARV capability and penetration aids.

Chinese Aircraft Industry’s New J-31 Stealth Fighter: Implications for India

Instead of inducting another fourth generation aircraft under the MMRCA programme, it may be better to replace the MMRCA with a mix of F-35s and increased numbers of Su-30MKI and LCAs.

Vivek Kapur
November 09, 2012
IDSA Comments

A Siachen Resolution: Why Now?

India should put Pakistan on parole and watch its behaviour for 20 years before even beginning to think of any concessions in Siachen or elsewhere.

Ramesh Phadke
November 08, 2012
IDSA Comments

The Likely Composition of the Central Military Commission of the 18th Party Congress of China

There are major changes in the CMC, with eight out of 12 members likely to bow out of office. The cascading effect on the change of guard in the General Departments and the operational units will keep the PLA unsettled for some time

Mandip Singh
October 31, 2012
Issue Brief

Indian Army: Internal Challenges In Capability Building And Retention

The Army, being the largest service and fielding the largest array of equipment, needs to improve its own processes by carrying out an internal analysis and taking effective steps to speed up the procurement process.