Author: Defenceline Webdesk

Paula Allen, The Strategist (ASPI) The West’s strategy to contain China behind island chains risks being bypassed ­- China could gain free access to the Pacific by recovering… Source link

Four years after security forces opened fire on largely peaceful demonstrators in Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan, the truth about one of Central Asia’s deadliest episodes of political violence remains obscured. The Uzbek government’s investigative commission has never published its findings, and the identities of those killed have not been officially disclosed.  As a result, independent verification of the death toll remains impossible. Families continue to wait for answers, while the international community still lacks a complete account of what happened during the July 2022 crackdown in Karakalpakstan. Yet Washington is preparing to deepen its economic relationship with Uzbekistan.  Uzbekistan…

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is arriving in New Delhi on Wednesday evening for her three-day official visit to India from 1 to 3 July, marking her first official trip to the country since assuming office. The visit will centre on her participation in the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, a key mechanism for advancing bilateral cooperation.According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Takaichi’s visit is expected to significantly boost investment and innovation opportunities, while strengthening economic ties between the two nations.A major focus will be on building resilient supply chains in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and critical minerals, areas…

Ahmedabad-based PierSight has secured a significant contract, likely from the Indian Army, for the supply of its indigenous Vidura Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system.This marks a major step in India’s push for advanced tactical surveillance capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.PierSight, a space technology startup headquartered in Ahmedabad, has developed Vidura as a next-generation airborne SAR payload.The system is designed to penetrate dense forest cover, cloud layers, and darkness, enabling defence operators to detect concealed movement and structures that optical systems cannot identify.This makes Vidura particularly valuable for counter-insurgency, border surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in challenging terrains such as the…

India’s semiconductor ambitions have received a major boost with the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) under the finance ministry approving a spending proposal of about ₹1.20 lakh crore for the second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission, news agencies reported.This proposal will now be placed before the Union Cabinet for final approval, marking a significant escalation in the country’s drive to establish a robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem.The proposed allocation under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 is substantially higher than the ₹76,000 crore sanctioned for the first phase. This sharp increase signals the government’s determination to deepen semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance…

China’s deployment of more than 200 missile launchers opposite India has transformed the strategic equation along the Line of Actual Control. For decades, the Himalayas were regarded as India’s greatest natural defence, but modern warfare has eroded that advantage.Defence experts caution that any future conflict may not begin with troops crossing the frontier but with a massive missile barrage targeting Indian airbases, military installations and critical infrastructure deep inside the country.Military analysts confirm that China has adopted a missile‑centric doctrine designed to paralyse an adversary before ground operations commence. The presence of conventional ballistic, cruise and hypersonic systems gives Beijing…

Punjab-based Astra Drones has unveiled a high-speed interceptor drone designed to secure India’s borders and neutralise airborne threats, marking a decisive step in countering modern aerial smuggling and cross-border incursions.This development strengthens India’s rapidly expanding indigenous counter-drone ecosystem, which now includes interceptor systems, integrated defence shields, and advanced VTOL surveillance platforms.Astra Drones’ interceptor drone has been engineered for rapid response against airborne threats, particularly those linked to cross-border smuggling operations that increasingly employ satellite-guided drones and heavy payload UAVs. Its high-speed interception capability is tailored to neutralise drones attempting to breach border defences, thereby enhancing India’s layered aerial security architecture.Start-Ups…

US Ambassador Sergio Gor has dismissed the controversy over the renaming of the Indo-Pacific Command, stressing that the strength of the US-India partnership lies in substance, not titles.He underscored that India conducts more military exercises with the United States than with any other country, and reaffirmed that bilateral ties remain robust across defence, trade, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.The United States Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, addressed the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit in Washington, where he directly tackled the debate surrounding the reversion of the Indo-Pacific Command to its original designation, the Pacific Command. He emphasised that the focus…

Chennai-based ePlane Company has confirmed plans to begin commercial production of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in 2028, with an initial manufacturing capacity of 80 units per year.The company is focusing first on air ambulance variants, supported by a $1 billion order from ICATT, before expanding into air taxi and cargo operations.The ePlane Company, incubated at IIT-Madras, has already completed its first full-scale prototype of the e200X and is conducting ground tests, with flight trials scheduled between July and August. Certification of the aircraft is targeted for late 2027, a crucial milestone before mass production begins. The company…

Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) take stock of U.S. Asia policy at the midpoint of 2026, discussing the recent renaming of INDOPACOM and last month’s Shangri-La Dialogue. What are the perception of U.S. Asia policy among regional players amid recurrent distractions caused by conflicts in the Middle East and the uncertain future of China-U.S. relations? You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube. Source link