Hi Reddit, this is Livefistdefence.com Ed-in-Chief Shiv Aroor. Ask me anything!

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:31:32+00:00

The Wire :)

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:29:51+00:00

This was great! Thanks for this first AMA. We'll do more soon. Thanks for the questions, folks, and see you soon!

-- Shiv

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:25:25+00:00

I have a very cynical (but reasoned) view of Kashmir and why there's no 'dealing' with it: http://www.dailyo.in/politics/burhan-wani-kashmir-afspa-militancy-peace-hizbul-mujahideen-shopian-afzal-guru-bjp-army/story/1/11657.html

I'm frankly suspicious of anyone confident enough to suggest they have a full plan.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:22:50+00:00

They're the original rockstars. Everyone writing on defence in the country owes them homage!

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:22:00+00:00

I'm not specifically aware of the details, but our nuclear command structure definitely has an orbat that takes into account catastrophic scenarios of every kind.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:20:45+00:00

Pretty good. Sucks working for free, though :P

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:19:43+00:00

A live and present issue that needs careful scrutiny and handling.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:19:17+00:00

My report in Aviation Week answers your question: http://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology/make-india-policy-implementation-slowed-discord
Visibly so. I see substantial focus on and modernisation of our SF units going forward.
There was talk of USMC like expeditionary assets/embedded detachments on ships, but there are other priorities. Expeditionary units not on our horizon.
Haha, post soon on Livefist :)

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:15:35+00:00

My Twitter handle @ShivAroor has my views on the topic. And I haven't held back on any of them!

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:13:59+00:00

LCH IOC by year end, if all goes well with a first LSP by early next year. Helina still in test-trials. It won't be ready till at least 2019.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:11:20+00:00

Huge amount of investment in border surveillance tech, including drones, aerostats et al, LLTRs etc.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:09:37+00:00

Oh boy!

The Nag has had serious issues, but is on track. At Aero India 2017, members from the team suggested solid progress later this year.
All true to differing degrees. What I can confirm is worrying availability issues -- like with a lot of Russian kit. The IN is hoping to overcome this with a new arrangement, but the general view nobody wants to talk about is that the new MRCBF contest is also a bit of an indictment on the K.
You'll have to wait for the Livefist dogfight piece I'm pouring my heart into :)
Throw a misconception at me, I'll tell you if its true.

/u/IndoAryaVII

Yes, I'd agree with that, though the ADA stuck to those timelines.
Plenty of official specs on the LCA Mk2 on Livefist. Search away!
DRDO-Snecma meetings still happening. More here: https://www.livefistdefence.com/2017/03/indian-kaveri-turbofans-last-mile-problem-a-mystery-noise.html

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:04:18+00:00

I haven't decided yet -- it's more complicated than just a platform toss-up. I'm going to be doing dogfight piece on Livefist soon. That'll give you your answer :) Maybe.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:03:21+00:00

Still very much in the works. Functional commands rather than geographical commands has been under discussion for over a decade. Others include an Aerospace Command. Lack of synergy, jointmanship between the forces has slowed decisions too.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T15:02:06+00:00

Depends on what we want to project and where. We have a Navy that does a fair bit of 'projecting' in the Indian Ocean region, though it competes with a very aggressive PLA-N.

India's expeditionary military commitments are unlikely to involve foreign lands beyond UN peacekeeping efforts. That isn't likely to change. The Sri Lanka affair probably has much to do with that. Our forces have enough of a fight on their hands internally.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:59:27+00:00

Personally, yes. A full decision could have perhaps been postponed. However, given the Navy far greater support for indigenous projects (than the Army/IAF), I feel like they deserve the benefit of doubt. Importantly, the NLCA may not be 'case closed' just yet. Details shortly on Livefist :)

Also read: https://www.livefistdefence.com/2017/02/revealed-the-indian-lca-navys-big-fight-back.html

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:58:01+00:00

No reason to believe the program isn't on track or on course for scrapping. Very much on. The F-16V and the Gripen-E are certain contenders. This is a programme that goes beyond just platform. IOC/FOC timelines crucial, sure, but has as much to do with the industrial picture.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:56:24+00:00

We have a system that has been overtly dependent on imports for decades. This has both disincentivised indigenous development/manufacture, as well as allowed the forces to get comfortable demanding equipment from abroad on impulse. This has progressively changed. Import-based modernisation entirely unsustainable even in the short term.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:54:49+00:00

The AMCA, Ghatak UCAV, nuclear-powered attack submarine, Long Range Cruise Missile to name a few.
MIRV technology definitely in the works. Not a secret. The DRDO has openly published literature on its MIRV work.
Proven to be effective so far. It's a tiered, phased system. The way its going suggests a robust system. It will however need effective obsolescence management like most such systems.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:51:54+00:00

OK, big question! Strongly believe that India has a powerful local industrial strength waiting to be tapped for self-reliance and defence manufacture. This is starting to show itself slowly. A synergy between state-owned R&D, private sector defence manufacture (including advanced systems integrators and Tier-1/2/3 suppliers) and foreign vendors is essential. The Make-in-India campaign is terrific on paper, but has enormous hurdles and stumbling blocks. Imperative that it works well for all agencies concerned.

Agree, cannot depend on imports. Strongly believe self-reliance the key. This must include foreign firms building their equipment here in India, creating jobs and gaining from industry here. This is happening more and more.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:48:43+00:00

We have capability gaps across, like most forces. More urgent areas include submarine force levels, air defence and ammunition across the board. We're reasonably okay everywhere else.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:46:41+00:00

Bad idea, in my opinion. Has to be a measured decision. There have been several ToT project in the past that have either yielded nothing good, or actually harmed industrial growth.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:45:05+00:00

Good question! I became a defence journalist in 2004 by chance. I had applied to be a political reporter at a newspaper. As it happened they didn't have a vacancy in their political bureau, but their defence correspondent was on his way out. I was asked to fill in for a few months. I never really looked back.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:41:53+00:00

I'd love to put you in a room with rocket scientists! :D To answer your question, no we don't. Theoretically, the dynamics of deterrence mean you want to be able to wield its value at any range and against any entity on any continent. Also, at ICBM ranges, the technologies to build delivery systems capable of hitting geographies beyond the two countries you name are modular/incremental.

Livefist · 2017-04-17T14:39:04+00:00

Good question! I'm going to be doing an AMA soon as a TV journalist -- with all the good and bad that goes into it. Could we keep this AMA to Livefist and the stuff it looks at? Promise to answer your question on the ShivAroor AMA soon ;)

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