The Indian Western Fleet Overseas Deployment Program: INS Tarkash Arrives in Sweden

07/21/2019
INS Tarkash as part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet arrived in Sweden on July 2019. According to India Strategic: This marks the first visit of an Indian Naval Ship to Swedish shores after a gap of more than 15 years. During her three day visit, professional interactions, sports and…

The UK and Sweden Agree to Enhance Their Air Combat Collaboration

07/21/2019
In what can only be seen as a logical expression of the current situation in the European defense aerospace landscape, the UK and Sweden have agreed to enhance their collaboration on evolving air combat capabilities. With the uncertainties revolving around Brexit, and past collaboration between SAAB and the UK, including…

China and Strategic Arms Control

07/20/2019
by Richard Weitz From July 8-11, there was a chance to attend and participate in  the Eighth World Peace Forum in Beijing, organized by Tsinghua University in partnership with the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. Wang Qishan, Vice President of the People's Republic of China, delivered the opening keynote,…

The Coming of the Barracuda Attack Submarine to the French Navy

07/19/2019
By Pierre Tran Paris - There will be much national pride and honor when French industry hands over July 12 to the Navy the first nuclear-powered Barracuda attack submarine, a new-generation boat three years late and generating an initial loss in the contract worth €9.1 billion ($10.2 billion)  for six…

Glimpses of RAF Modernization: July 2019

07/19/2019
The RAF is in the throes of a modernization process, which involves becoming fifth generation enabled, with legacy upgrades to its Typhoons, and the return to ASW operations with regard to introducing its new P-8 as well. And recently, it was announced that the RAF would add the unique battle…

Visiting the Paris Air Show, 2019: A Retrospective

07/19/2019
By Robbin Laird The challenge of visiting a large exhibition like the Paris Air Show is a bit like the challenge of visiting the Louvre.  It is so big, and so diverse that unless you focus on some core aspects, the panorama overwhelms you. You come away with a blur…

The Case of Indian Acquisition of Mig-29s: Why Buy a 40-Year Old Aircraft?

07/18/2019
By Lt Gen VK Saxena (Retd) It was reported in the media in Apr 2019 that the Indian Air force (IAF) was in talks with Russia to purchase 21 MiG-29 combat jets which were actually built in late 1980s for the then Soviet Air Force but were never assembled and…