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An interview with Avinash Chander, an eminent Missile Scientist and the new Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister in India is presented. He mentions that there are several initiatives that would add to the defence strengths of the country and they aim that Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) should develop the cutting edge capabilities. He discusses the major challenges encounter by Indian defence industries. He adds that DRDO will grow to much higher level.

An interview with Yedidia Yaari, chief executive officer at advanced defense systems developer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., is presented. He talks about the sale of Spike tactical missile to India. Yaari discusses the opportunity he anticipates with India's proposal replacement of integrated radio communications with software defined radio systems, offers an overview of the company's partnership with Bharat Dynamics, and explains his stance on India's defence offsets policy.

The article discusses the growth of Israeli defense contractors' operations in India. Topics covered include Israel's openness to India's technology transfer goals, enhanced cooperation between the two nations regarding counterterrorism, and bilateral programs involving acquisitions by both militaries. Also mentioned are Israeli companies supplying defense and military systems to India including Rafael and Elbit Systems.

An interview with Dennis Swanson, vice president of Boeing Defense, Space & Security in India, is presented. He talks about the status of the C-17 and P-81 aircrafts deliveries to the Indian Air Force and Navy. Swanson discusses the opportunities he purses in India, tackles his company's industrial engagements in India, and shares his thoughts about India's defence procurement procedures and offset policies.

The author explores his views on the proposal of Justice Verma to dilute India's Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Without consulting the stake-holders and studying the ground-situation, the proposal is criticized as a hasty decision. The fixed mindset regarding the armed forces is illustrated by the proposal. Dilution of time-tested AFSPA should not even be considered as an option, says the article.

The article reports that the Indian weapons development is clearly tilted towards the Russians, despite a U.S. offer of the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and the F/A-18s. During his last visit to India, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, had signed several weapons deals, including an agreement to jointly develop the Sukhoi Su-35, a fifth-generation fighter. India is also jointly developing a supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos, and is buying and building the Su-30.

The article discusses how India's independence day celebrations on August 15th provoked mixed feelings throughout Kashmir and other parts of India. In the north-east of the country, seven states linked to the rest of India by a narrow "chicken's neck" skirting Bangladesh, secessionist movements are rife. A gruesome reminder of this was a bomb explosion in Assam on the day itself. Most of the 18 dead were school children. The United Liberation Front of Asom has claimed responsibility. Unfortunately for the Indian government, however, ULFA is just one of dozens of militant outfits sparring with its forces across the region. Closest to outright revolt is the small state of Manipur, sandwiched between Assam and Myanmar, with a population of about 2.5m and a patchwork of ethnic rivalries. The spark was the death last month of a 32-year-old woman. The authorities say she was a member of the armed underground, and was shot trying to escape. This, protestors say, is typical of the human-rights abuses to which they have been subject for decades. The immediate demand is for the lifting of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives the army in Manipur and much of the rest of the north-east sweeping powers to search, detain and shoot. The state government, which like its federal master in Delhi is a coalition led by the Congress party, has taken Imphal, the state capital, out of the act's scope. This has not satisfied protesters, but it has irritated the central government. So far, it has not given any sign of knowing what to do, beyond waiting and seeing. Pradeep Panjuvam, a journalist in Imphal, says people are wearying of the agitation, and its leaders are now under pressure to reach a negotiated settlement rather than watch it fizzle out.

In this article the authors discusses the opportunities open to U.S. defense industry from the international defense markets. It is expected that foreign military sales could reach 50 billion dollars in fiscal year 2011. Among the countries that has bought substantial arms from the U.S. are India and Saudi Arabia. Asia, Latin America and the Middle East is expected to be the major markets of arms and the U.S. defense industry should focus on the opportunities in the international market while avoiding the pitfalls.

The article reports that Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. has pulled out of the Indian military market after choosing against taking part in $750 million competition for 197 light utility helicopters. The company had planned to offer a development of its Bell 407, but says India's stringent 50% offset rules meant it was not possible to submit a bid. Bell's withdrawal comes after it also decided against participating in India's international contest for the direct purchase of 22 attack helicopters.

The article reports that Indian aircraft companies are reaping rewards from the country's military modernization program, with the private sector increasingly competing with established players like Hindustan Aeronautics for lucrative contracts. Foreign companies must reinvest 30 to 50% of the value of the contracts in India, and air force deals alone could result in an estimated $15-20 billion in offsets over the next decade.

The article reports on the decision of India to terminate a $600 million deal with Eurocopter following allegations of irregularities in the selection process. The decision came seven years after beginning the process to choose 197 helicopters for its army. It is stated that the Indian army is the biggest loser because it urgently needs the helicopters to replace its Cheetak and Cheetah fleets.

Reports on the decision of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush to open prospects for U.S. fighter sales in India and Pakistan in 2005. Significance of the decision to aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Lockheed Martin; Number of fighter planes to be ordered by Pakistan; Incentives offered by the U.S. government to Pakistan for the purchase of fighter planes; Types of fighter planes offered by the U.S. to both countries.