India’s Ukraine Policy

Fair Observer and USI had organized an interesting discussion on India’s stand on the Ukraine crisis.

Information about the think tank and the panelists is placed at the end of the post.

The link to the video is below:-

https://youtu.be/W743K5ZT2bY

 

For issue-based viewing please click on the links below:-

  1. Introduction by Christopher (00.00 – 01.58).
  2. Question about defence supplies from Ukraine and Russia to Anil Khosla.  Overall perspective, factors, compulsions, mitigating actions. (01.58 – 08.27).
  3. Question about the greater opportunity for the western defence industry to Anil Khosla. (08/27 – 11.27).
  4. Question about why is the western pressure not working for Manu Sharma. (11.27 – 17.12).
  5. Question about why relations with Russia are important for India, to Atul Singh. (17.15 – 28.25).
  6. Question about strategic lessons for India, to Anil Khosla. (28.50 – 34.10).
  7. Question about repercussions of the collapse of the Russian defence industry, to Gen BK Sharma. (34.5 – 41.10).
  8. Question about alternate sources of military equipment and supplies, to Gen BK Sharma. (41.10 – 43.57).
  9. Q & A Session. Questions about does Russia needs India, India’s reverse leverage with Russia, and sharing of technology between western and Indian Defence companies. (43.57 onwards).

 

Fair Observer

 Fair Observer is a US-based, independent, non-profit media organization that engages in citizen journalism and civic education.  Its digital media platform has 2,500 contributors from 90 countries, cutting across borders, backgrounds, and beliefs.

 

Mr Atul Singh

Atul Singh is the founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief of Fair Observer. He has taught political economy at the University of California, Berkeley, and been a visiting professor of humanities and social sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar. Atul studied philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Oxford on the Radhakrishnan Scholarship and did an MBA with a triple major in finance, strategy, and entrepreneurship at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He worked as a corporate lawyer in London and served as an officer in India’s volatile border areas where he had a few near-death experiences. Atul has also been a poet, playwright, sportsman, mountaineer, and founder of many organizations.

  

Mr Manu Sharma

Manu Sharma is a contributing editor at Fair Observer. He is a political analyst with an international footprint. A dynamic, young thought leader in the field of global political research, communications strategy, public policy, and political economy, Manu has served in financial institutions, international organizations, and media bodies across four continents. He brings a formidable mix of technical skills, multicultural experience, and the ability to deliver across several time zones. Manu’s areas of professional expertise include political risk research, psephology surveys, and quantitative research papers on economic issues. He has experience in econometric research, has made media appearances, and serves as an advisory aide to top decision-makers in politics.

 

Major General BK Sharma, AVSM, SM and Bar (Retd)

Maj Gen BK Sharma was commissioned in the SIKHLIGHT Infantry Regiment in 1976 and superannuated in 2012. He is the Director of the United Service Institution of India (USI), India’s oldest think tank established by the British in 1870. He was conferred three military awards by the President of India for rendering exceptional distinguished national service and for displaying courage. Besides, he was conferred the national award for nation-building by the Confederation of Educational Excellence of India in 2017. He has tenanted prestigious assignments in India, including command of a mountain division on the China border and Senior Faculty Member at the National Defence College. He has represented his country at the UN as Military Observer in Central America and has been India’s Defence Attaché in Central Asia. He specializes in Strategic Net Assessment methodology, Scenario Building, and Strategic Gaming. He has visited about 35 countries as a member of international delegations and on educational tours. He has participated in 29 international conferences abroad and several such conferences in India. He has edited about 08 books, contributed more than 60 seminal papers to the Indian / foreign journals and Newspapers, and presented 30 research papers at international conferences. He edits the prestigious USI Strategic Year Book. He has lectured at the prestigious military establishment, policy think tanks, and universities, literature festivals in India and abroad.

 

Christopher Roper Schell

Christopher Roper Schell is a contributing editor at Fair Observer. He is currently a book editor and policy advisor. He studied British literature at Southern Methodist University and law at George Washington University. With over a decade of Capitol Hill experience working for three Members of Congress, Christopher has handled policy issues varying from the financial crisis to healthcare. After a year spent at the Pentagon as a Congressional liaison, he ran for Congress in a 2020 special election.

 

 

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USE OR NON USE OF AIRPOWER IN UKRAINE WAR

 

A comprehensive discussion on the subject

 

 

Issues discussed and links for selective viewing

 

  • Perspective (Upto 05:00).
    • Understanding Air Power
    • Disparity between Russia and Ukraine Air Force
    • Russian Aims and Objectives.
    • Truth as first Casualty: Claims and counter claims.

 

 

 

 

  • Air Superiority (32:05 to 40:45).
    • Most misunderstood term.
    • Distorted due to one sided air wars of USA.
    • Air Supremacy / Air Superiority / Favourable Air Situation.
    • Degree depending on area, duration and extent.

 

  • No Fly Zone (40:45 to 47:40)
    • Easier said then done. 
    • Needs where with all and will to implement.
    • Western Reluctance.
    • What if Russia declares NFZ (Specially in Western Ukraine).

 

 

 

  • Lessons related to warfare (01:03:55 to 01:08:10).
    • Clearly defined Aims and Objectives.
    • Importance of Morale, Training and Tactics.
    • Info warfare
    • Importance of Deterrence and Strategic Coercion.
    • Legitimacy and World Opinion.
    • Joint Warfare.
    • Importance of ISR and Int Sharing

 

  • Lessons related to Air Power(01:08:10 Onwards)
    • Offensive Nature.
    • Effect based Operations.
    • All weather day and night capability.
    • No Fly Zones.
    • Importance of Stand off and Precision Capability.
    • Vulnerability of Air borne / Heli Borne  Operations.

 

Random Thoughts

Winner in these wars is the defence Industry.

 

Question

When and how will this war end?

 

Coming Up: Likely End State and Long Term repercussions.

 

 

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References and credits

To all the online news channels.

 

Vayu Shakti (Fire Power Demo)

 

VAYU SHAKTI: CAPABILITY-BASED IAF EXERCISE

 

Exercise Vayu Shakti was to be held on 07 Mar 22 at Pokharan air to ground range near Jaisalmer air force station.

Unfortunately it has been called off.

This exercise is a display of the capabilities of the Indian Air Force.

 

Curtain Raiser

https://youtu.be/G5J2yUDMZDk

 

 Display of IAF Capability. It is a display of IAF’s capability to influence events on the ground (in a war). It showcases   the ability to hit hard, hit fast and hit with precision, hit during the day, hit during night, and hit under adverse weather conditions.

  • Display of capability of full-spectrum operations.
  • Display of ability to destroy targets.
  • Display of ability for punitive action.
  • Display of aerial platforms (Fighters, helicopters, Combat support ac. AWACS and Unmanned platforms.
  • Display of indigenous equipment.
  • Display of a variety of weapons and their effect.
  • Display of precision capability.
  • Display of lethality.
  • Display of ability for quick insertion and extrication of troops & special forces.
  • Display of ground attack and air defence capability.
  • Display of HADR capability.

 

Long Association

I was lucky to have been associated with this exercise, for a long time and at various ranks, while in the IAF. 

  • As a junior officer participated in the firepower demonstration exercises, firing weapons from Mig-21 and Jaguar aircraft.
  • Commanded Air force Station Jaisalmer (2005-06). As Station commander was deeply involved with the conduct of a joint Army and Air Force exercise “Ex Desert Strike”, that took place in Nov 2005.
  • As DGAO was involved with the conduct and review of the exercise Vayu shakti 2016.
  • As VCAS was involved and reviewed exercise Vayu shakti 2019.

 

Vayu Shakti 2019: (Trying and Tiring Times)

Vayu Shakti 2019 was conducted in Feb 2019, during very tense times, post terrorist attack at Pulwama. 40 of our brave hearts were martyred during these attacks. Feeling of sorrow, disgust and anger were prevalent, not only amongst the military but entire nation. On 14 Feb 2019, I (as VCAS) was at Jaisalmer reviewing the progress of preparation for exercise Vayu Shakti. On receiving the news of terrorist attack, I headed back to Delhi. The next few days were depressingly busy, with overseeing the staff coordinating the last journey and last rights of the martyrs.

 

Also the process of decision making for appropriate response to the ghastly incident was also in progress. Use of Air power was chosen for the first time and planning for “Operation Bandar” against the terrorist camp at Balkot commenced.  Decision was also taken that the all planned activities would continue as planned. Even other activities like Aero India air show (20 – 24 Feb 19) and planned inauguration of the War memorial (on 25 Feb 19), with fly past were conducted as planned.  

Op Staff at Air HQ had many a sleepless nights during those two weeks.

In this back drop the exercise Vayu Shakti was conducted and was a great success as expected.

 

Press Conference: Feb 2019

Three years have flown by.
Questions and Answers are still relevant.

 

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