Keywords: Indian Ocean, PLAN submarines, PLAN IOR Fleet, Indian Navy

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Keywords: USA, Defence Budget, Nuclear, Ukraine, Indo-Pacific, NATO, China, Russia, BMD, Hypersonic

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The post US Defence Budget FY2022 – Inferences appeared first on CAPSS India.

Keywords: Air Power, 1971 Indo-Pak War, Tangail Airdrop, Meghna Operations, Indian Air Force, Rajpath.

The year 2022 is technically the year of various milestones. It is the 75th year of independence, the 50th year of liberation of Bangladesh, the merger of the eternal flame at the National War Memorial and the 90th year of the Air Force in India. Incidentally, the Republic Day Parade this year witnessed the might of all these in some form. The Republic Day parade is always keenly awaited for seeing the mighty strength of the country’s military. The earth digging march past on the tunes of rhythmic military bands instills a sense of nationalism, patriotism and enthusiasm in millions of hearts. However, nothing can beat the much-awaited flypast by the aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The culmination of the flypast with high ‘g’ Vertical Charlie manoeuvre is always a heartbeat skipping thrill and has motivated innumerable youngsters to join the armed forces and serve the nation. This time the recently inducted Rafale aircraft will carry out thrilling manoeuvres.

Air Power of the Nation

The 73rd Republic Day parade was commemorated with the largest, grandest, and mightiest fly past ever with 75 aircraft showcasing the airpower capability of the nation. On this occasion, other constituents of airpower i.e. the Indian Navy and the Indian Army, also joined in contributing to the overall might of airpower. Vintage and current modern aircraft like Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar, Mi-17V5, Sarang, Apache and Dakota displayed various formations.[1] Indian Navy’s MiG-29K and the P-8i surveillance aircraft flew in the Varuna formation showcasing the presence of maritime airpower on the Rajpath. The highlight of the flypast was the Tangail formation by vintage Dakota aircraft along with two Dornier 228 aircraft and Meghna formation by CH-47F Chinook helicopter and four Mi-171V depicting the turning point events of the 14-day war of 1971, the historic Tangail airdrop of paratroopers by Dakota aircraft and the Heli bridging over Meghna river by M-4 helicopter respectively. It brought back the memories of the 1971 war, showcasing the might of airpower roaring over the Rajpath. The decisive blow to the enemy’s will in the 1971 war was bombing the Government House at Dhaka, which was also showcased through the tableau depicting MiG-21 aircraft firing rockets over the target.[2] Seventeen Jaguar fighter aircraft flying in the figure of `75` with a picturesque view from the cockpit view cameras to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav reminded us of the milestone we all live through.

                                    Fig 1: IAF Tableau at RD Parade 2022

                                          Source: Republic world[3]

Air Power during 1971 Indo-Pak War

It is relevant to recall these turning points to revisit how Air Power orchestrated the military might of the nation towards meeting the sole objective of the liberation of Bangladesh and forcing the surrender of 93000 Pakistani soldiers, the highest ever in military history the world over.

Operation Meghna.  During the war, the retreating Pakistani soldiers had destroyed the bridges on the Meghna River. So, the IAF created a Heli bridge by M-4 helicopters troops crossing the riverine and marshy areas from Brahmanbaria to Raipura in Narsingdi over the Meghna river, bypassing the destroyed Meghna Bridge and Pakistani defences in Ashuganj without a single accident or loss to enemy fire. This Heli bridging was a masterstroke that led to the concentration of forces towards its final objective of Dhaka.

Sqn Ldr Pushp Vaid VrC, the Flt Cdr of helicopter unit recalls the daring Heli bridging operation as “The Meghna operation was about a few helicopters, pilots and technical personnel of IAF, who rose to the occasion to help the soldiers of IV Corps of Indian Army, with embedded Mitro Bahini, to leap over the riverine and marshy areas quickly in four Special Heli Borne Operations (SHBO), with no precedent or doctrine, learning on the run. In my view, the helicopter operation shortened the war and contributed to the quick victory, thus saving lives and the agony of long war”.[4]

The exemplary conduct of Meghna operation did a massive tactical airlift and augmentation of 6000 plus soldiers, nearly 202 plus tons of miscellaneous equipment, small arms ammo, water, kerosene, rations and Artillery with its heavy ammo, right into the battlefields, even across the mighty (over 5 km wide) Meghna river, nonstop, day and night, as well as evacuated hundreds of casualties of both friend and foe on the return leg.[5]  The helicopters of IAF maintained the pace of advance of ground troops throughout keeping the best operational values of the service.

                                      Fig 2: SHBO in 1971 War

                                   Source: Indian Defence Review[6]

Tangail Airdrop.      The Tangail airdrop was one of the most successful and the biggest airborne operation by the rugged and reliable Dakota aircraft of the Indian Air Force. On 11 December 1971, around 750 para commandos of the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment were para dropped at the general location of Tangail town 70 km north of Dhaka. They were tasked to capture Poongli Bridge on the Jamuna River which would cut off the Pakistani 93rd Brigade that was retreating from Mymensingh in the north to defend Dhaka.[7]

This paradrop was the Airborne assault intended to transport troops for immediate operations to achieve a considerable shock effect on the enemy and produce results out of proportion to their numerical strength and firepower. The daring day drop of the battalion was feasible because almost total ‘control of the air’ was achieved by the IAF[8], and Pakistan air opposition was virtually negligible. The effective joint planning between the Army and Air Force resulted in a well-orchestrated airborne assault in its entirety. The well-knit integrated planning helped execute a day drop with the help of 22 Dakota, 20 Packet and six An-12 transport aircraft of IAF. As a result, the paratroopers defeated a force that was three times numerically superior and shattered the will of the Pakistani army to defend Dhaka. The successful airborne assault led to the collapse of Dhaka’s defences and a speedy end to the war.

                                   Fig 3: Tangail Airdrop

                                    Source: Reddit.com[9]

Attack Over Governor’s House.   The Air Force played a pivotal role in the 14 days long war in East Pakistan. The Indian Army kept on achieving the objectives with its well-crafted manoeuvre warfare. But this would not have been feasible if the Air Force had not pressed its assets into the service. The Air Force met the prime objective of the liberation of Bangladesh, despite two fronts opened for it. The Vice Chief of Air Staff received accurate intelligence input from the head of the Intelligence agency. Interestingly, the IAF came to know about this meeting barely 45 minutes before the scheduled time.[10] A go-ahead was given to the commander in the field to hit the enemy’s Centres of Gravity (COG). The pilots were briefed on a hurriedly procured tourist map of Dhaka. As they were taxing out, new intelligence input pointed to the changed location of the conference venue to the Governor’s House. Formation of four MiG 21 aircraft loaded with rockets got airborne and successfully identified the Governor’s house showcasing the exceptional situational awareness of the aircrew and attacked the central leadership with pinpoint accuracy. It created such a strategic effect that the East Pakistani cabinet resigned even though around 93,000 troops were available for the defence of Dhaka.[11] The IAF played a crucial role in achieving the war objectives, which prevented a significant loss of territory in the desert sector in the western front and ensured total command of air in the eastern front. IAF carried out more than 4000 sorties and provided vital air cover to the rapidly advancing Indian Army.

                    Fig 4: Bombing over Government House at Dhaka

                                        Source: agefotostock[12]

The landmark year of 2022 will get enshrined in history as significant in showcasing the Air Power of the nation.  Exercise Vayu Shakti demonstrating the firepower potential of the IAF both in offensive and defensive capabilities to deal with contemporary threats of the modern battlefield is soon to follow in the near future These events always act as a morale booster for the military and the general public as it allows practical assessment of operational readiness of the service.[13]

                                                                          *****************************************

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NOTES

[1]. Press Release of MoD. “Republic Day Parade 2022 all set to showcase India’s military might & cultural diversity in a grand parade at Rajpath as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’”. Posted On: 25 JAN 2022 1:09PM by PIB Delhi. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1792437 Accessed on January 25, 2022.

[2]. Rahul Singh. “Republic Day flypast to recall 1971 war glory”. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/republic-day-flypast-to-recall-1971-war-glory-101642420418473.html Accessed on January 25, 2022.

[3]. Republic Day 2022 To Witness Glorious Flypast Of 75 Aircraft Including 5 Rafale Jets. https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/republic-day-2022-to-witness-glorious-flypast-of-75-aircraft-including-5-rafale-jets-articleshow.html Accessed on January 25, 2022.

[4]. Personal Memoir of Sqn Ldr Pushp Vaid, VrC “Special Heli Borne Operations (SHBOs) by Mi-4 In 1971 Liberation War”. Accessed on December 25, 2021.

[5]. Ibid Pushp Vaid.

[6]. 1971 Air War: Battle for Air Supremacyhttp://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/1971-air-war-battle-for-air-supremacy/2/ Accessed on January 25, 2022.

[7]. Tangail and Meghna formations: How Republic Day parade will honour the 1971 war. https://www.firstpost.com/india/tangail-and-meghna-formations-how-2022s-republic-day-parade-will-honour-the-1971-war-10295951.html Accessed on January 25, 2022.

[8]. AK Tiwary. “Indo-Pakistan war of 1971” Indian Air Force in Wars. p190. Accessed on January 25, 2022.

[9]. A pic from Tangail Airdrop on 11 Dec, 1971, during the course of 1971 Indo-Pak War. A bit late to post, but worth remembering. https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaSpeaks/comments/eawrw1/a_pic_from_tangail_airdrop_on_11_dec_1971_during/ Accessed on January 25, 2022.

[10]. http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/1971-air-war-battle-for-air-supremacy/2/ Accessed on January 26, 2022.

[11].  Basic Doctrine of the Indian Air Force. IAP 2000-07 Chapter II, Section- I, Genesis of Doctrine. p21 Accessed on January 25, 2022.

[12]. https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/darbar-hall-of-governor-house-now-banga-bhaban-after-allied-bombing-on-december-14-1971-while-an-important-meeting-was-taking-place-among-dr-malek/MWO-MW012608 Accessed on January 26, 2022.

[13]. Risabh. “Indian Air Force ramps up preparation for Vayu Shakti 2022”. http://frontiervedette.com/indian-air-force-ramps-up-preparation-for-vayu-shakti-2022/ Accessed on January 26, 2022.

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Keywords: AI, Cyber, Connectivity, Digital, China, USA, Russia, Warfare, Technology.

With connectivity technologies allowing the Internet of Things (IoT) and networking of “smart” devices that communicate seamlessly, the way the world does economic and commercial transactions, and the battlefields of the future wars are fast getting transformed.  For long, the USA had dominated the Internet and high-end digital technologies, but China is today challenging the tech supremacy. While all major countries continue to invest heavily in physical war-fighting weapons and technologies, a non-kinetic, but perhaps even more lethal digital cold[1] war is now beginning to unfold. Clearly, the one who dominates the digital economy, the cyber and electronic warfare, and the information space will be the global leader.

China’s Digital Leap

To catch up with the USA, China is unfolding its “Made in China” plan to achieve capabilities in most digital technologies by 2025[2]. These would include smart manufacturing, automation, robotics, nanotechnology, and chip-making. China has also given a digital direction to its defence industry. Its military engaged in a major transformation[3] the C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence), which includes secure digital communications using fibre-optics, satellite, microwave, and encrypted radios. It is a result of major R&D funding and is closely coordinated with China’s flourishing commercial information-technology firms. A 2021 US Department of Défense’s annual report on China’s military made repeat mentions of “artificial intelligence[4]” and how the People’s Liberation Army is heavily funding on secure networks and automation for “intelligentised warfare”, in the process changing nature of warfare.

        AI is an area of acute competition between the two nations. Indications are that China is on the way to becoming an AI superpower. China is also filing for largest digital technology patents. AI will support decision making, intelligence analysis, autonomous vehicles, automated warfare, and electronic warfare and cyber operations.  Beijing has also announced a digital economy plan with targets for core industries to achieve 10 per cent of gross domestic product by 2025 from current 7.8 per cent. Chinese labs are already working on 6G mobile transmission technology. Beijing wants to become independent in digital capabilities, and have ability to set standards. China is also using data for military advantage. By combining space, electronic warfare and cyber under a single agency, the People’s Liberation Army’s Strategic Support Force, they have synergised the three[5]. China is also making huge investments in space which is the ultimate enabler for digital communications.

USA Unfolds Response

To counter China, the U.S. administration has adopted what is called the “small yard, high fence[6]” strategy” which is essentially meant to decouple from China in high technology areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, bioscience, 5G, etc. which the USA considers has security implications. This is being achieved through export restrictions on items like semi-conductors, tightening spying by employees of Chinese origin. President Biden has proposed an “Alliance for the Future of the Internet[7]” which is meant to promote secure internet connectivity among countries that are open, have democratic values, and respect for human rights, and exclude authoritarian powers who promote disinformation. Effectively it would mean excluding Russia and China for a certain degree of digital access. This has also stemmed from Russian interference in American internal affairs and China’s stealing technology through unfair means. The proposal is planned to be discussed with nearly a 100 countries in a special meeting. Russia and China are not included, interestingly Taiwan is included. Clearly the aim is to link digital economic connectivity to ideology, human rights, and geopolitics. The USA will increase engagement with Asian countries to reduce their dependence on China.

       Free from its pre-occupations in West Asia, the U.S. military has now looking at Indo-Pacific[8]. It has also begun making major investments in the military, and specifically digital technologies.   They are also marshalling the resources, technology and political will to take on China, with the aim to maintain technology lead.

Disinformation and Misinformation

With wider internet connectivity, many countries are using the same to peddle, ideology, as part of moulding minds, and pushing misinformation. Many countries have started questioning digital giants like Facebook, Google and other social media companies for allowing questionable or inflammatory content as news feed, and are re-examining their access to local populations. Google controls 86.6 percent of the search engine market. Facebook has 2.6 billion monthly active users, with 290 million in India alone[9]. Considerable access to personal data is another serious issue engaging the world.  There is a demand for giving greater control to users for what they may see.  Russia had reportedly used social media to spread false information to meddle in the 2016 US election. In recent times even governments and political parties are using social media to influence both domestic and international public opinion. China’s state-controlled Global Times and Pakistan’s DG ISPR are known for the same in the Indian sub-continent. China is also planting disinformation and exaggerated own capabilities on internet for propaganda and Psychological Ops. China also used disinformation to try to influence elections in Taiwan, and to discredit protestors in Hong Kong, and hide the origins of Covid-19. Clearly, propaganda is more diffuse and indiscriminate. The cost and technical skills required for online disinformation campaign are relatively low. The number of players and quantum of malicious content is on the rise. Often disgruntled domestic entities are in the fray and can cause greater damage.

Large Technology Companies

As per 2021 global list of large technology companies, Western companies like Apple, Samsung, Alphabet, Foxconn, and Microsoft are in the lead. China’s Huawei comes at sixth position, and Tencent and Lenevo are at 13 and 15^th position. USA, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan dominate. There is no Russian company. Among the ten largest internet companies, there are five each from USA and China, with Amazon and Alphabet in the lead by market capitalisation. China is thus catching up.

Future Warfare will Be Digital

Despite Russian forces being massed on Ukraine’s borders, and China making threatening forays into Taiwanese airspace, most countries are making greater defence investments in digital technology, artificial intelligence, space and cyber. There will be equivalent cuts in traditional hardware. Alongside the Army, Air Force and Navy, digital is now a vital domain for confronting a nation’s enemies. While hypersonic weapons are being tested by all advanced nations, and they are carrying out missile tests to attack targets in space, the number of daily cyber-attacks are simultaneously increasing exponentially. These are part of the no-war no-peace scenario prevailing all the time. Disruptive cyber-attacks are being used to shape adversary populations’ minds, and steal sensitive data. The world has to prepare for both a defensive and offensive cyber-warfare. Future war will begin with a massive cyber-strike to block communications, blind satellites, and jam sensors. They would also incapacitate utilities like water and electricity grids, create havoc in logistic supply chains, to destroy the will of the people. The target will be to disrupt decision making chains. The targets will be whole societies and not just the military. In all this, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play an important role[10]. AI will support unmanned systems and man-machine teaming.  That is where digital capabilities become important, and the race for digital dominance. On some of these counts, China is investing much more and tending to pull ahead.

Way Ahead

Warfare of future will be more technology-driven. It is time for all to re-focus on emerging digital technological capabilities which will have huge operational impact. Combating disinformation would need coordination between the government agencies and the private organisations. Countries are criminalising disinformation and promoting media literacy[11]. Technology companies would have to understand the sensitivities related to fake news and deep-fakes and introduce checks and balance, lest countries are forced to curb their operations through regulations. Like minded countries would have to apply minds together and take a collaborative approach. It is time to plan and prepare for multi-domain operations. Digitisation of the militaries will be important. In digital world it will have to be an all-country approach. The digital scientist is now a combatant. The boundary between conflict and non-conflict is blurring. Machine learning, quantum computing, and block-chain will have to be mastered and applied. Events will unfold much faster, and decision making will have to be quicker supported by AI. Digital and AI will support situational awareness. They will also be required for autonomous weapons. There are many countries of the free world that have advanced digital technologies. These include European, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. India has great potential and needs to invest more. Digital is where the actions is, and the Digital Cold War is already beginning between the free world and close controlled autocracies.

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NOTES:-

[1] Orange Wang, China must brace for ‘digital cold war’ with US as battle for tech supremacy heats up, South China Morning Post, January 23, 2022, https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3164367/china-must-brace-digital-cold-war-us-battle-tech-supremacy Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[2] Anjani Trivedi, The Made in China plan is back, and its better, The Economic Times, January 07, 2022, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/trade/exports/insights/the-made-in-china-plan-is-back-and-its-better/articleshow/88702912.cms Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[3] Evan S. Medeiros, Roger Cliff, Keith Crane and James C. Mulvenon, A New Direction for China’s Defense Industry, Rand Corporation, Chapter 5, Page 205, https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/10.7249/mg334af.12.pdf Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[4] Ryan Fedasiuk, We Spent a Year Investigating What the Chinese Army Is Buying. Here’s What We Learned., Politico, November 10, 2021, https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/11/10/chinese-army-ai-defense-contracts-520445 Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[5] Frank Gardner, What does future warfare look like? It’s here already, BBC, December 30, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59755100 Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[6] Wang Dong, Reluctant Rival: Beijing’s Approach to US-China Competition, Global Asia, December 2021 (Vol.16 No.4), https://www.globalasia.org/v16no4/cover/reluctant-rival-beijings-approach-to-us-china-competition_wang-dong#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSmall%20yard%2C%20high%20fence%E2%80%9D,to%20protect%20its%20technological%20competitiveness. Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[7] Thomas Macaulay, What we know about Biden’s Alliance for the Future of the Internet, The Next Web (TNW), December 30, 2021, https://thenextweb.com/news/what-is-alliance-for-the-future-of-internet-joe-biden-web-plans Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[8] ROBERT BURNS, Pentagon rattled by Chinese military push on multiple fronts, Associated Press, November 1, 2021 https://apnews.com/article/technology-china-asia-united-states-beijing-aea288656fab23253ee0397dc21ba68a Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[9] Leading countries based on Facebook audience size as of January 2021, Statista, December 13, 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/268136/top-15-countries-based-on-number-of-facebook-users/#:~:text=Facebook%20%E2%80%93%20the%20most%20used%20social,revenue%20is%20generated%20through%20advertising. Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[10] James Lawrence, A vision for the digital future of warfare, Global Intelligence for Digital Leaders, January 2021, https://www.i-cio.com/strategy/digitalization/item/a-vision-for-the-digital-future-of-warfare Accessed on 23 January 2022.

[11] Research Briefs, Disinformation That Kills: The Expanding Battlefield of Digital Warfare, CB Insights, October 21, 2020, https://www.cbinsights.com/research/future-of-information-warfare/ Accessed on 23 January 2022.

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Keywords: 5G, Networks, Interference, Spectrum, Airfields, Connectivity

Many airlines in the USA have warned that 5G could ground planes and wreak havoc at airports[1]. AT&T and Verizon were getting all set to roll out the 5G service on some airports. Many CEOs of major carriers have written to the Biden administration to review the introduction of 5G services as these could interfere with sensitive instruments, especially the approach aids. It is feared that this impact could actually be catastrophic. Such fears had been expressed earlier also by some experts. Yet, in this high-speed data-centric world the 5G will also bring many advantages. There is thus a need to understand the advantages and challenges of 5G to aviation.

What is 5G?

5G is the 5th generation global wireless mobile network standard, services of which began being launched in 2019[2]. It supports faster connectivity between individuals, machines, objects, and devices, for the Internet of Things (IoT). It delivers higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, has ultra-low latency, and higher reliability. 5G services cover low (600–900 MHz), mid (2.3–4.7 GHz) and high-band frequencies up to 24-54 GHz and in the process expand spectrum usage. Modulating the digital signal across several different channels to reduce interference. The 4G wavelengths had a range of about 15 kilometres as such the cell towers could be at larger distances. In the case of 5G, a reliable signal, would be only till 1,000 feet[3]. The towers would perhaps have to be at even lesser distances. This would mean the need for a much larger number of cell towers. For using the three separate frequency bands, each will require a specific antenna.

       Interestingly, 1G standard was set in the 1980s. The 3G brought mobile data in the 2000s. 4G in the 2010s introduced mobile broadband. 5G will support all types of industrial operations, it will greatly accelerate the global economy. For aviation per se, data rates up to 20 Gbps, it will support faster communication between sensors and other on-board systems, artificial intelligence (AI) applications for quicker and autonomous decision making, and greater authority to uninhabited systems, especially as required in autonomous drones and autonomous cars. It will support mission-critical communications. Because of the larger bandwidth, the networks may not just be for cell phones, but will also be used by internet service providers (ISP) services to laptops and desktop computer users. This would mean competition for cable ISPs. Over 1.7 billion subscribers are expected to ride on 5G networks globally by 2025.  Meanwhile the Chinese are already testing 6G technology, which will be 10-20 times faster than 5G, in their labs.

Airfield Navigation Aids

All airfields have many radio navigation aids. Non-directional Radio Beacon (NDB) operates between 190 and 1750 kHz[4]. VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR) uses 108.0 to 117.95 MHz. TACAN operates in Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band (300 MHz to 3 GHz). Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) from 960 MHz to 1215 MHz. Instrument Landing System (ILS) localizer in 108.10 to 111.95 MHz, and Glide Path 329.15 MHz, to 335.00 MHz. All GPS satellites broadcast on at least two carrier frequencies: L1, at 1575.42 MHz, and L2, at 1227.6 MHz (newer satellites also broadcast on L5 at 1176 MHz)[5]. The aircraft radio altimeters operate in the 4200-4400 MHz band. The C-Band[6] covers 4.0 to 8.0 GHz, and is used for many satellite communications transmissions, some Wi-Fi devices, and some surveillance and weather radar systems. C-Band is also used for satellite TV since many years. Some 5G providers, including Verizon and AT&T of USA are going to use C-Band.

5G Aviation Safety Concerns

It can be seen that certain navigation aids could have interference in the wide spectrum coverage of 5G. The FAA has warned that potential interference could affect sensitive instruments such as altimeters and affect low-visibility operations[7]. The level of interference in the proposed 5G operations would depend on exact frequencies, power levels, and tower proximity to flight operations, among others. Experts feel that the interference will be much more on a certain type of radio altimeter antennae. This could have flight safety implications. The choice now would be between grounding the aircraft with certain radio altimeter antennae, or to move the towers away, or reducing their power output near the airport. The 5G roll-out is important and cannot be stopped. The issue is who between the two, airlines and the 5G operators will have to make major amends. Till the aircraft bare upgraded, the low visibility approaches will not be allowed. Such airports and heliports are being identified where C-band 5G is being activated. Major radio altimeter producers like Honeywell Industries, have been asked to study and comment. If concerns are genuine, it could mean spending huge sums and man-hours to redesign, procure and install new radar altimeters across the military and civil fleets.

     Interference with GPS signals could be serious at low-levels or terminal approaches. For military, night, or bad weather missions at low-level or even helicopter missions at low level could be affected. Imagine an autonomous UAV landing on a ship deck or even on a runway. Knowing whether your system is suffering from interference will be important, else it could catastrophic. The military airborne platforms will have to replace their radar altimeters. Changing an altimeter on a stealth-coated aircraft would be a costly exercise. Terrain Avoidance and Warning Systems (TAWS) also use GPS. Unmanned future urban air mobility would also have to factor in safety related to 5G. The radio altimeter transition could take many years. The 5G spectrum is quite near that of passive remote sensing satellites used for weather and earth observation[8]. Especially those that monitor water vapour. Interference could impact numerical weather prediction. Some are predicting up to a 30 per cent reduction in the weather forecast reliability. Perhaps a larger frequency buffer zone may prevent this. The issue is under discussion between various agencies.

Satellite Operations

U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are working closely to look at satellite communications and data clashing with 5G in C-Band. The satellite operators use 3.7-3.98 GHz. When they release this spectrum band for 5G, they will get compensated for the proceeds. They will then be able to move to another zone. The same compensation will not be available to airlines.

Impact is Global

The Boeing 787 and Boeing 737-800 are known to be affected, among many others, and there are thousands of these two types themselves flying worldwide. Both Boeing and Airbus are concerned about the negative impact on the aviation industry because of the need to modify aircraft and the grounding time business loss. The modifications themselves could be long drawn as they will require analysing and testing. 5G has already been rolled out in some countries without similar checks or concerns. These include major airline operators like the UK, France, Japan, Australia, and China. Some of them may not yet be using the C-Band extensively. All these countries would have to take a fresh look at safety issues. Meanwhile any disruption in aviation operations, which are already at a low due to the coronavirus, would have serious economic implications for all airlines and countries. It will not only disrupt passenger travel, but also the logistic operations, which include corona related medical supplies.

Measures to Reduce Interference

Clearly lower power levels near airports, shifting antenna position downwards and away from flight path, and selecting frequencies that do not clash with aircraft equipment are some of the ways. Till then, landing weather minima would have to be raised. This will affect a large number of flights affected by winter fog or round the year rain. Aviation is expanding, and 5G has to come in, so compromise solutions have to be found for the time being. Later long-term solutions like redesigning the radio altimeters or moving 5G out of this narrow frequency band would have to be decided. Till then, the only way is to create some low power buffer zones around the airports. Airlines are seeking around 2 miles (3.2km) from the airport runways.

5G Applications at Airports

There are many airports activities that will be supported by 5G. These include virtual engine inspections and diagnostic checks that engineers of a maintenance agency will be able to do at customer locations. Even technicians training will be possible using 5G network streamed high-definition video. 5G networks will allow tethered mobility for luggage. 5G will support faster check-in and boarding processes. 5G will ease the task of air traffic and radar control. It will also support the ground movement of aircraft and vehicles. “Leveraging 5G for speed and data density will enable better monitoring and analysis of assets in and around the airport,” says SITA vice president of communication and data exchange Gilles Bloch-Morhange[9].

5G Hardware Security Issues

China is one of the major manufacturer of 5G hardware, both for networks and handsets. The world has been concerned about Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE for embedding snooping espionage devices in the hardware. ZTE has Chinese government participation, and Huawei was founded by a former Deputy Regimental Head in the People’s Liberation Army. China claims to have 70% of global 5G stations[10]. There are other 5G equipment manufacturers like Samsung, Nokia, LG, Qualcomm, AT&T, Cisco and Ericsson, among others, albeit their equipment is expensive. Clearly, the equipment that move the largest data traffic would be open to larger snooping or attack. Higher speed and much larger connected systems make security more complex. Though the Chinese have denied it, many countries have banned Chinese hardware.

5G Health Concerns

Since the 5G towers are required to be much closer, the numbers will have to be large. That would mean higher continuous exposure to radio-frequency (RF) radiation to a much larger population all the time. This combined with transmissions coming down from many more satellites could pose radiation hazards. Yet the scientific consensus is that 5G technology is as safe as the 4G, and fears of cancer, infertility, autism, tumours and Alzheimer’s disease have no scientific medical backing.

5G in India

South Korea, China, and the United States are the leading countries in the 5G roll-out. As of October 2021, Commercial 5G was available in 1.336 cities in 61 countries across the world[11]. According to the Ookla 5G Map, there were 5G deployments in 112 countries as of November 30, 2021[12]. India had taken a wait and watch approach till 5G issues settled down. It had followed a similarly laid-back approach in 3 and 4G. 5G is expected to roll out in India by the end of 2022[13]. DoT has announced the list of 13 cities that would get 5G services this year. The 5G spectrum is likely to be auctioned by mid-2022. India will also have to wait and watch about the security and aviation safety concerns.

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NOTES:-

[1] Shepard Smith, Major U.S. airline CEOs warn 5G could ground some planes, wreak havoc, CNBC, January 17, 2022, https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/17/major-us-airline-ceos-warn-5g-could-ground-some-planes-wreak-havoc-.html Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[2] Everything you need to know about 5G, Qualcomm, https://www.qualcomm.com/5g/what-is-5g Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[3] Michelle Yan, Antonio Villas-Boas, 5G networks will be 10 times faster than 4G LTE, but we shouldn’t get too excited yet, Business Insider, April 30, 2019. https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/5g-networks-will-be-10-times-faster-than-4g-lte-but-we-shouldnt-get-too-excited-yet/articleshow/69105269.cms#:~:text=4G%20wavelengths%20have%20a%20range,cell%20towers%20and%20antennas%20everywhere Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[4] FAA Website, Section 1. Navigation Aids, https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap1_section_1.html accessed on 18 January 2022.

[5] Physical Measurement Laboratory, Time and Frequency from A to Z, G, National Institute of Standards and Technology, US Govt, https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/popular-links/time-frequency-z/time-and-frequency-z-g#:~:text=All%20GPS%20satellites%20broadcast%20on,on%20L5%20at%201176%20MHz). Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[6] Sascha Segan, What Is C-Band, and What Does It Mean for the Future of 5G? PCMag India, https://in.pcmag.com/networking/139968/what-is-c-band-and-what-does-it-mean-for-the-future-of-5g Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[7] Reuters, Major US airlines warn 5G could ground some planes, wreak havoc, Times of India, January 18, 2022, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/88965149.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst, Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[8] Fabian Schmidt, Will 5G mobile networks wreck weather forecasting? DW, February 20, 2020, https://www.dw.com/en/will-5g-mobile-networks-wreck-weather-forecasting/a-52350669 Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[9] Frances Marcellin, Getting connected: how will airports benefit from 5G? November 10, 2020, https://www.airport-technology.com/features/5g-airports/ Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[10] WION Web Team, China claims to have 70% of global 5G stations amid international security concerns, WION, Jul 13, 2021, https://www.wionews.com/technology/china-claims-to-have-70-of-global-5g-stations-amid-international-security-concerns-397786 Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[11] Distribution of 5G in cities and Countries worldwide, Faist Group, October 7, 2021, https://www.faistgroup.com/news/distribution-5g-worldwide/#:~:text=Commercial%205G%20is%20now%20available,cities%20which%20possessed%20this%20technology. Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[12] Isla McKetta, Growing and Slowing: The State of 5G Worldwide in 2021, Speed Test, December 20, 2021, https://www.speedtest.net/insights/blog/state-of-worldwide-5g-2021/ Accessed on 18 January 2022.

[13] Ankita Garg, Expect in 2022: 5G roll out in India expected by year-end, prices could be similar to 4G, India Today, January 7, 2022, https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/expect-in-2022-5g-roll-out-in-india-expected-by-year-end-prices-could-be-similar-to-4g-1897150-2022-01-07 Accessed on 18 January 2022.

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Keywords: Wind Tunnel, Aviation, Aircraft, Flight Test, Reynolds Number, Bernoulli’s Principle

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The post Nuclear Security Vol 16, No. 06 appeared first on CAPSS India.

Keywords: China, Hypersonic, Weapons, Missile, Nuclear, Defence, Technology, Developing

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Keywords: Nuclear Dangers, Cyber Security, Ballistic Missile, UNSC, CAATSA, Pukkuksong-5, CTR, IAEA

Nuclear dangers are hovering around North East Asia, where Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) or North Korea is indulging in a show of its nuclear strength and strong polemics. On January 05 2022, it fired a ballistic missile[1] into waters off its east coast between South Korea and Japan. Reportedly, the missile flew about 310 miles and landed outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Also, in December 2021, North Korea had lambasted Group of Seven’s (G7) statement for meddling in the internal matters of DPRK. It had stated “rather than fomenting distrust and confrontation, the G7 should focus more on its original mission of addressing their economic issues”[2]. The past year has seen a number of events which included North Korean sabre-rattling, even as the approach of world leaders kept oscillating between the hope of striking a grand bargain and strategic patience.

What are North Korea’s nuclear capabilities?

North Korea remains a poor country but it spends around a quarter of its GDP on its military.  The appropriate size and strength of its nuclear arsenal remains unclear. Many military intelligence communities and strategic experts struggle to assess the characteristics and capabilities of North Korea’s nuclear program[3]. But there are various estimates which put the number of nuclear warheads around 55[4].  Pyongyang supposedly produces enough fissile material for twelve additional weapons every year. Meanwhile, a report[5] by the RAND Corporation has cautioned that it might have 200 nuclear weapons and hundreds of ballistic missiles stockpiled by 2027.

        North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests to date. Interestingly, the nuclear program experienced acceleration when Kim Jong- Un assumed power in 2011.  Kim has directed four nuclear tests. As per one report[6] of Nuclear Threat Initiative, more than 125 missile tests have been conducted, exceeding the number of tests conducted under Kim’s father. North Korea’s guiding philosophical principles remains juche (self-reliance) and songun (military-first politics). Therefore, military plays a central role in political affairs and its position has been steadily elevated through the Kim dynasty. In Pyongyang’s eyes, the only way to guarantee national survival is to develop military capabilities.

North Korea’s nuclear activities in 2021

North Korea mainly hones its nuclear capability[7] through cyber security program[8]. The cybercrimes have provided a lifeline for the Korean economy, which has been hobbled by sanctions. Money from the offensive cyber capabilities represents about 8% of country’s economy. According to a US Cyber security Agency[9], North Korea’s State backed malicious activities targets banks around the world, hijack digitally mined currency, steal defence secrets, extort money through ransom ware and launder ill-gotten gains through crypto currency exchanges.

       December 2021 marked a decade of Kim Jon Un as Supreme Leader. Through the year, new developments continued, in January, Pukkuksong-5, a missile with a range of around 3,000 kilometres[10] which would allow it to strike US’s external territory Guam in the western Pacific was unveiled.

        In August, it was reported by IAEA that North Korea had resumed its five-megawatt reactor, which it has, historically, used to produce plutonium to support its nuclear weapons[11] program. The reactor had remained inactive from December 2018 to July 2021. The information gathered from the satellite imagery and other technical means indicated discharge from the cooling water from the reactor, thus suggesting its resumptions of operations.

          Moreover, on September 11 2021, with a view to prepare for “both dialogue and confrontation” with the US, DPRK tested two nuclear capable missiles which displayed new capabilities[12]. They described them as a “strategic weapon” [13]  that had been developed over two years. One of the missiles flew 1500 kilometres. North Korean state media also reported that “an effective deterrent ensuring the security of our state more firmly and overpowering powerfully the anti-[North Korean] military moves of the hostile forces,” [14]

       On September 15, North Korea conducted the maiden test of a rail-mobile ballistic missile or the Railway Mobile Missile Regiment, a ballistic missile delivery system, which state media reported could travel 800 kilometres[15]. Pyongyang released photos that showed the launch vehicle near a tunnel opening out from a mountain. A North Korean official has mentioned this test to be as “an intensive blow to the menacing forces in many places at the same time.”

       Pyongyang is playing a smart game, but too much of anything could harden position and makes nuclear diplomacy difficult.

Way Forward with a New Nuclear Diplomacy

Since 2006, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted nine major sanctions resolutions on North Korea in response to the country’s nuclear and missile activities. Each resolution condemns its nuclear and ballistic missiles activities and calls on the country to cease the activities which violate previous resolutions.

       USA’s Countering American Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a part of former US president Donald Trump’s maximum pressure campaign has also done significant damage to Pyongyang’s economy. On the 10^th anniversary of Chairman Kim’s exercise of power, he indicated that faltering economy will be the national priority as the country faces a [16] “great life-and-death struggle” This might be an indication that the Supreme Leader is ready to join the negotiating table.

         A new nuclear diplomacy may be the need of the hour. At the end of the Cold War, through a  Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) [17] program, the US had helped eliminate weapons of mass destruction in former Soviet states. This program targeted to dismantle strategic assets by providing transport, storage and safeguards for the ultimate disposal of relevant material and facilities. Taking this example, a holistic CTR program with the reinvigoration of the Six Party Talks could be a positive way forward.  A diplomatic engagement in the past has not resulted in denuclearisation[18]. Therefore, to mitigate nuclear risks; the focus should now shift towards resolving the nuclear issue and ironing out the hostility persisting between US and DPRK. To reanimate nuclear diplomacy, a new consensus must also be rebuilt among the contracting parties and DPRK. As the North’s economy is in doldrums, the world leaders could use economic incentives to steadily bring Pyongyang into deliberation and consultation and thereby alleviate the nuclear dangers in North East Asia.

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NOTES:-

[1] Dasl Yoon “North Korea Fires Missile off Its East Coast”, Wall Street Journal, January 05 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-fires-projectile-off-its-east-coast-11641344771, Accessed on January 5 2022

[2] Aparna Shandilya, “North Korea Denounces G7 statement urging abandonment of nuclear weapons”, Republic world, December 19 2021, https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/north-korea-denounces-g7-statement-urging-abandonment-of-nuclear-weapons.html, Accessed on December 29 2021

[3] CFR.org Editors, “North Korea’s Military Capabilities”, Council on foreign relations, December 22 2021,  https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/north-korea-nuclear-weapons-missile-tests-military-capabilities#chapter-title-0-8 , Accessed on December 26 2021.

[4] “North Korea”, Nuclear Threat Initiative, October 21 2021, https://www.nti.org/countries/north-korea/ , Accessed on January 03 2021.

[5] Bruce W. Bennett, Kang Choi, Myong-Hyun Go, Bruce E. Bechtol, Jr., Jiyoung Park, Bruce Klingner, Du-Hyeogn Cha, “Countering the Risks of North Korean Nuclear Weapons” , Rand Corporation,  Year :2021,  https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1015-1.html#download , Accessed on January 01 2022.

[6] “The CNS North Korea Missile Test Database”, Nuclear Threat Initiative, Apr 24, 2017, https://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/cns-north-korea-missile-test-database/ , Accessed on January 01 2022

[7] Jon  Herskovitz  “How Kim Jong Un Keeps Advancing His Nuclear Program” Bloomberg   March  24 2021  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-24/how-kim-jong-un-keeps-advancing-his-nuclear-program-quicktake?sref=XCtcbqbo Accessed on January 03 2022

[8] Jon  Herskovitz and Jeong- Ho Lee “A Growing Army of Hackers Helps Keep Kim Jong Un in Power”, Bloomberg, December 22 2021,  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-21/north-korean-army-of-cybercriminals-props-up-kim-s-nuclear-program-and-economy , Accessed on January 01 2022

[9] US Cyber security and Infrastructure Security Agency “North Korea Cyber Threat Overview and Advisories”, US Department of Homeland Security,   https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/northkorea, Assessed on January 02 2022.

[10] Michael Ellman “North Korea’s newest submarine-launched ballistic missile, Same as the Old One?”, 38^th North January 15 2021,  https://www.38north.org/2021/01/north-koreas-newest-submarine-launched-ballistic-missile-same-as-the-old-one/,  Accessed on January 02 2022

[11]Julia Masterson, “North Korea Ratchets Up Nuclear, Missile Activities”, Arms Control Association, October 2021 https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2021-10/news/north-korea-rachets-up-nuclear-missile-activities, Accessed on January 03 2022.

[12] Sangmi Cha,” N.Korea’s Kim says to prepare for ‘both dialogue and confrontation’ with U.S. –KCNA”, Reuters, June 18 2021,  https://www.reuters.com/world/nkoreas-kim-says-prepare-both-dialogue-confrontation-with-us-kcna-2021-06-18/ , Accessed on January 03 2022

[13] Reuters, “Strategic weapon: North Korea says it test-fired new hypersonic missile”, India Today, 29 September 2021, https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/north-korea-test-fires-new-hypersonic-missile-1858464-2021-09-29 Accessed on 31 December 2021.

[14] Julia Masterson, “North Korea Ratchets Up Nuclear, Missile Activities”, Arms Control Association, October 2021, https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2021-10/news/north-korea-rachets-up-nuclear-missile-activities, Accessed on January 04  2022 .

[15] The Free Press Journal “North Korea test-fires railway-launched missile with range of 800 km”, September 16 2021, https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/north-korea-test-fires-railway-launched-missile-with-range-of-800-km , Accessed on January 01 2022

[16] News Sky, North Korea: Kim Jong Un warns of ‘great life-and-death struggle’ as he marks 10 years in power, January 01 2022,   https://news.sky.com/story/north-korea-kim-jong-un-warns-of-great-life-and-death-struggle-as-he-marks-10-years-in-power-12506997, Accessed on January 01 2022

[17]  The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Cooperative Threat Reduction, United States government program”, Britannica,  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cooperative-Threat-Reduction, Accessed on January 01 2022.

[18]  Maria Ryan,  “Why the US’s 1994 deal with North Korea failed – and what Trump can learn from it”,  The Conversation  https://theconversation.com/why-the-uss-1994-deal-with-north-korea-failed-and-what-trump-can-learn-from-it-80578 , Accessed on January 04 2022,

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Keywords: Indo-Pacific, Japan-Australia, India, Indian Ocean

Australia and Japan signed a security partnership agreement at a virtual summit on Jan 6. The ‘Reciprocal Access Agreement’ is the first ever defence pact signed by the two even though they are US allies and station US troops on their soil.[1] Through the agreement, both countries are committed to “work together in meeting the shared strategic security challenges [they] face and to contribute to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific.” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that “Our cooperation also includes an expanding agenda for the quad with India and the United States, and our shared technology-led approach to reducing carbon emissions.” 

The Pact facilitates defence cooperation

It is beyond the Japan-Australia Security Cooperation signed in 2007 which has institutionalised ‘two+two’ dialogue and closely interacting for the realisation of the Japanese vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). Economically also they are much closer; Japan is the second biggest trading partner and a big investor in Australia.  Australia has recently signed another agreement –AUKUS- with the US and the United Kingdom for constructing nuclear powered attack submarines for Australia. Now US, Japan, and Australia have more institutionalised their defence partnership amid the Chinese provocation over Taiwan.  

            The defence pact doesn’t mention any military hardware, like the AUKUS, as Japan is well ahead of Australia in the case of homemade defence systems. When Canberra invited tenders for its abandoned conventional submarine project, Tokyo had offered its ‘soryu’ class submarine that finally went to France. Japan in collaboration with the US is building a new fighter jet based on homemade design. The pact aims to promote joint exercises and disaster relief operations, and also enhance interoperability and cooperation of defence forces as well as simplify administrative procedures for the entry of troops into each other’s countries.  In September 2020 Japan and India signed  a mutual    access agreement that allows their militaries to access each other’s bases for logistics support. However, the Japan-Australia agreement allows militaries to use each other’s bases during combat operations.

The Chinese threat

Though the defence pact hasn’t mentioned China, its significance at the signing was implicit. China is upping the ante on Taiwan by showing its military might through increasing air incursions into Taiwanese air space and other military activities, and even warned that any attempt to seek independence “means war”. It tests the resolve of the Biden administration as to how far  the US can stand up to the Chinese coercive activities in the Taiwan Strait as well in the East and South China Seas. The US is trying to bolster Taiwan’s defence capabilities by providing arms and training for Taiwanese soldiers in counter-invasion tactics.[2]

      Even as China is the largest trade partner for both Japan and Australia, at times Beijing uses this dominance in trade for strategic purposes. For instance, in 2010, Japan took custody of the captain of a Chinese fishing trawler for territorial violation near the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, China suspended exports of rare earth oxides, salts, and metals to Japan,  key ingredients of the Japanese electronics industry. Similarly, when the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent inquiry in support of the US President Trump against China’s initial mishandling of the Covid pandemic, Beijing imposed a series of trade restrictions on Canberra, which include Australian iron ore, beef, lobster, timber, lamb and warned stopping of Australian coal exports to China.^[3] And in May 2020, Beijing slapped an 80 percent “anti-dumping” tariff on Australian barley, a move that was expected to cost Australia 500 million Australian dollars (USD 350 million) a year. Notwithstanding their economic interdependence, Japan and Australia are now following hedging strategies against China. 

       The security system in the western Pacific has been premised on the US led hub-and-spoke model in which the US is committed to guaranteeing the security of its allies. This is different from the ‘collective security’ principle of NATO, so neither Japan nor Australia is bound to reciprocate in a US led military campaign against China over Taiwan unless their security is in danger. Japan has been shedding its pacifist nature of the security policy and emboldening its defence capabilities, including the ‘possession of so-called enemy-base strike capability’,[4] to meet the challenges as a ‘normal’ military power. It has recently decided to purchase 105 F-35  jets from the US worth $23 billion and another joint development program with the US’s Lockheed Martin  for a new generation fighter jet F-3 replacing the existing F-2 at the cost of $40 billion.[5] Australia has already spent $17 billion to purchase 72 advanced F35A fighter jets and is also mulling to acquire B-21 stealth bombers to counter future challenges. Canberra is expected to spend $270 billion in this decade for defence, including upgrading existing bases and inducting long-range strike capabilities.^[6]

      The US has been pushing the regional allies to take more responsibility for their security and regional stability. This is in consonance with America’s new geopolitical orientation which calls for countries that have until now counted on US protection and support to learn to fend for themselves. Japan and Australia are the two closest allies of the US in the region, so do they formulate policies according to US’ strategic interests in the region. When the AUKUS was signed Tokyo was excluded from it which surprised many as to the ability of Japanese contribution in Biden’s Indo-Pacific strategy. However, Tokyo’s nuclear policy of three no’s – not possessing, not producing, and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons – forced it distancing from the AUKUS pact. The new defence pact would facilitate close coordination with the US forces to meet the challenges posed by China. Australia has already indicated its willingness to provide assistance to the US if China invaded Taiwan.[7] Now Japanese bases are available for Australian forces while participating in the US led operations against China in a Taiwan fiasco. A formal agreement is necessary for using Japanese bases by foreign forces other than the US.

Implications for India

Quad is the pan Indo-Pacific  grouping comprising India, Japan, Australia, and the US, however, as of now security is not a major agenda of the quad,[8] while the US is seeking military commitments from  allies and partners to secure the stability of the Indo-Pacific. As a result, Indo-Pacific security architecture appears to be seen as two types of strategy; a military strategy for the Pacific part in which the US, Japan, and Australia would play active roles, while strategic orientation for the Indian Ocean part where India would be the anchor to facilitate strategic partnerships not only with the quad members but also with countries such as the UK, France, Germany, and Russia. In this regard, India should strategise its position in the larger Indo-Pacific as well as in the Indian Ocean region. 

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Notes:-

[1] The Japan Times, “Japan and Australia sign ‘landmark’ defense treaty amid concern over China”, January 6, 2022. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/01/06/national/japan-australia-landmark-defense-treaty/,, accessed on January 1, 2022.

[2] Gordon Lubold “U.S. Troops Have Been Deployed in Taiwan for at Least a Year” The Wall Street Journal”, October 7, 2021. https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-troops-have-been-deployed-in-taiwan-for-at-least-a-year-11633614043 , accessed on January 7, 2022.

[3] ABC News, “Australia called for a COVID-19 probe. China responded with a trade war,” January 3, 2021, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-03/heres-what-happened-between-china-and-australia-in-2020/13019242, accessed on January 6, 2022.

[4] Shinzo Abe, “Press Conference by the Prime Minister on a Meeting of the National Security Council and Other Matters”, Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet, 19 October 2021. https://japan.kantei.go.jp/100_kishida/statement/202110/_00015.html , , accessed on January 7, 2022.

[5] The Japan Times, “Japan will work with Lockheed Martin on a new fighter jet, Defense Ministry says”, December 18, 2020. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/18/national/lockheed-martin-new-fighter-jet/,, accessed on January 6, 2022.

[6] ABC News, “Australia to spend $270b building larger military to prepare for ‘poorer, more dangerous world and rise of China” July 1, 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-30/australia-unveils-10-year-defence-strategy/12408232 , accessed on January 6, 2022.

[7] Demetri Sevastopulo “Australia vows to help US defend Taiwan from Chinese attacks”, Financial Times, November 13, 2021, https://www.ft.com/content/231df882-6667-4145-bc92-d1a54bccf333, , accessed on January 6, 2022.

[8] The White House, “Joint Statement from Quad Leaders”, September 24, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/24/joint-statement-from-quad-leaders/ ,  accessed on January 7, 2022.

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