Carnegie India 171d ago

#CarnegieDefenseInsights #DinakarPeri #IndiaDefense #ChinaMilitary #PLA #IndiaChina #ArunachalPradesh #LAC #NuclearDeterrence #IndianNavy #Pinaka #DefenseAcquisitionCouncil #StrategicForces In this episode of Carnegie Insights, host Dinakar Peri unpacks the most consequential developments shaping India’s defense and strategic landscape over the past weeks. The discussion opens with an assessment of the United States Department of Defense’s annual report on China’s military modernization, focusing on its implications for India, including the inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh within China’s stated core principles and the evolving dynamics along the Line of Actual Control. The episode then turns to India’s strategic nuclear program, examining recent submarine-launched ballistic missile tests and progress in strengthening India’s sea-based deterrent. This segment also highlights the launch of INSV Kaundinya , a stitched ship undertaking a historic voyage to retrace ancient maritime routes, linking India’s naval heritage with contemporary maritime awareness. The conversation further reviews recent approvals by the Defense Acquisition Council, with a focus on tactical missile developments such as the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system. These approvals are discussed in the context of enhancing India’s precision strike and area-domination capabilities, expanding missile ranges, countering drones, and incorporating operational lessons from recent military engagements. Together, these developments illustrate how India is recalibrating its defense posture—balancing immediate operational requirements with long-term capability building—amid an increasingly contested regional security environment and intensifying great-power competition. Dinakar Peri is a Fellow in Carnegie India’s Security Studies Program. With nearly a decade of experience as a defense correspondent at The Hindu, and earlier research roles at military-affiliated think tanks, he brings a rare combination of journalistic insight and policy research expertise to discussions on India’s national security and defense strategy. 00:00 – US Department of War’s Annual Report on China 04:56 – India’s Nuclear Doctrine and Submarine Program 09:08 – Tactical Missile Tests and Advancements 14:40 – Defense Acquisition Council Approvals 16:38 – Historical Maritime Journey of INSV Kaundinya