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India's ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme is at a critical juncture, with nearly two decades of development behind it and the country's first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter still awaiting its prototype. As delays, procurement hurdles and questions over accountability continue to shape the programme, can India accelerate its stealth fighter ambitions and emerge as a credible player in advanced combat aviation? On Episode 64 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som speak to former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) RKS Bhadauria, about India's fifth-generation fighter programme, the delays surrounding the AMCA, the role of private industry and the urgent need to strengthen India's indigenous military aviation capabilities. Episode 64 Watch now: https://youtu.be/XXm0An3QVG4 This episode examines the technological, industrial and strategic challenges shaping India's future air power. With China advancing its stealth fighter capabilities and India's AMCA programme facing a crucial test, does the country have the national will, institutional efficiency and industrial commitment to build its next generation of combat aircraft?

As artificial intelligence accelerates the speed, scale and sophistication of cyber threats, state-sponsored hackers and criminal networks are increasingly targeting India's government institutions, research centres, businesses and critical infrastructure. With AI-powered attacks now capable of exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining unauthorised access in under three hours, how prepared is India for a new era of cyber warfare? On Episode 63 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som speak to Nicholas Butts, Director of AI and Cybersecurity Policy at Microsoft, about the growing cyber threats facing India, the role of AI in modern cyber warfare, and the vulnerabilities that could have serious implications for national security.

India has built a credible nuclear submarine capability, but its conventional submarine fleet is ageing, its numbers are falling short, and its next major acquisition is still years away. With 17 diesel-electric submarines in service, only six of them considered contemporary, how did India's submarine programme lose decades, and can the long-delayed Project 75(I) bridge the capability gap with Pakistan and China? On Episode 62 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som discuss the state of India's conventional submarine fleet, the delays that have held back modernisation, and the critical decisions that will shape the future of underwater warfare. Episode 62 Watch now: https://youtu.be/ct7gvhuz7JI India's conventional submarine fleet: Why 17 boats do not tell the full story The Scorpene programme: Delays, missing capabilities, torpedo integration and the proposed DRDO-developed AIP retrofit Pakistan's Hangor-class submarines: How air-independent propulsion could change the underwater balance Project 75(I): The proposed ₹1 lakh crore deal for six advanced submarines with TKMS and Mazagon Dock Two lost decades, a lost quarter-century: How delays and idle production lines weakened India's submarine-building capacity The Kilo and HDW legacy: Why upgrades cannot replace ageing submarine hulls India's indigenous sonar capabilities: Where domestic defence technology has made significant progress Why India can build nuclear submarines and advanced warships, but still struggles to develop its own conventional submarine design From the collapse of submarine-building momentum to the long road ahead for Project 75(I), this episode examines the decisions, delays and capability gaps shaping India's underwater warfare preparedness. Can India rebuild its conventional submarine fleet before the next generation of threats arrives?  

India has been discussing the F-35 for nearly two decades. With six American stealth fighters recently participating in Tarang Shakti exercise in India and the US ambassador signalling the importance of the relationship, is the F-35 a serious option for the Indian Air Force, or is the deal still a non-starter? On Episode 61 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som examine the long history of American fighter jet offers to India, why successive proposals have failed to translate into acquisitions, and the strategic and operational hurdles that continue to stand in the way of the F-35. Episode 61 Watch now: https://youtu.be/bOmKBGsb96Y Why six F-35s in India send a message, and what their participation in Tarang Shakti means The 20-year history of F-35 engagement with India, from early briefings to renewed US interest Why the F-35 remains a difficult proposition for India, despite repeated American overtures The S-400 question: why India's Russian air defence system complicates a potential F-35 deal Why the F-16, F/A-18 and other American fighter aircraft have failed to secure major Indian orders Can the F-35 integrate with India's existing fighters, AWACS platforms and air command-and-control networks? Where does Russia's Su-57 fit into India's search for a fifth-generation fighter? From the F-35's long history with India to the future of stealth warfare, this episode examines why a fighter that has repeatedly featured in discussions with Washington remains far from an Indian acquisition. What would it take for the F-35 to become a viable option, and should India even want it? Watch now.

What does it take to build an Indian light tank for the world's highest battlefields, and why is the Zorawar's induction facing challenges? On Episode 60 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som speak to Lieutenant General Karanbir Singh Brar (Retd.) about the origins of India's Zorawar light tank, the operational lessons from the 2020 India-China standoff in Ladakh, and the challenges of developing and inducting indigenous armoured platforms. Episode 60 Watch now: https://youtu.be/4ci6SYVAyKk How the 2020 Ladakh standoff triggered the push for a light tank Why the Zorawar was designed for high-altitude warfare The thinking behind its 25-tonne weight, mobility and amphibious capability The debate over armour protection and the proposed induction of 59 tanks Make in India: Why the Zorawar is a milestone for indigenous tank development What went wrong with the Arjun tank programme, and the lessons for future projects Drones, AI and network-centric warfare: How modern battlefields are changing Why tanks remain critical to capturing and holding territory Watch Episode 60 of #CtrlAltDefence.