Ctrl + Alt + Defence

A deeply personal conversation on the life, legacy and enduring spirit of Captain Vikram Batra, PVC, one of India's most celebrated war heroes.

On this special episode of Ctrl Alt Defence, Vishnu Som speaks with Vishal Batra, Captain Vikram Batra's identical twin brother, about the man behind the legend-from their childhood and shared dream of serving the nation to the defining moments of the Kargil War that made "Yeh Dil Maange More" a battle cry etched into India's military history.

The discussion explores Vishal Batra's new book, Yeh Dil Maange More, which draws on Captain Vikram Batra's personal letters, family memories and untold stories to paint an intimate portrait of the Param Vir Chakra awardee beyond the battlefield. The book traces his journey from a young boy inspired by the Army to the officer who led from the front at Point 5140 and Point 4875 during the Kargil War.

Episode 47
Watch now: https://youtu.be/yXCV8ifggk4

China's expanding footprint along the India-China border comes under the spotlight on this week's #CtrlAltDefence with Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor.

NDTV's world-exclusive satellite investigation reveals new Chinese villages, roads and infrastructure in a part of Arunachal Pradesh occupied by China since 1959.  The podcast raises fresh questions about Beijing's long-term border strategy.

Episode 46
Watch now: https://youtu.be/lxs0KDTKTPI

NDTV's exclusive satellite images reveal China's construction activities in a remote part of Arunachal Pradesh that it has encroached upon since 1959.
New border villages, roads and military-linked infrastructure explained
Why these developments matter despite diplomatic engagement between India and China
From Ladakh to Arunachal: How Beijing is changing facts on the ground
India's border infrastructure push and the race to match China's build-up
The McMahon Line, LAC and why the boundary dispute remains unresolved
China's military advantage, India's response and the strategic balance along the frontier
Can diplomacy with Beijing succeed without stronger military deterrence?

A detailed discussion on China's border strategy, India's military preparedness and what NDTV's exclusive investigation reveals about the future of the India-China frontier.

A deep dive into India's biggest defence technology challenge on this week's #CtrlAltDefence with Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor.

We discuss why fighter jet engines remain India's weakest strategic link.

Episode 45 
Watch now: https://youtu.be/URhJzZI19OM

AMCA faces fresh uncertainty amid reports of a GE engine pricing dispute
Why India's frontline fighter programmes still depend on foreign engines
Tejas Mk2, AMCA and the long-running F414 negotiations explained
The Kaveri engine story: where India's indigenous programme fell short
Safran vs Rolls-Royce: who could power India's next-generation fighter?
How China built a world-class fighter engine ecosystem while India fell behind
Why jet engines-not stealth or missiles-remain India's biggest defence technology gap

A candid discussion on what India must do to achieve true aerospace self-reliance. 
Watch now.

A fiercely debated episode of #CtrlAltDefence as Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som tackle one of India's biggest defence dilemmas - should India join France's futuristic FCAS fighter programme, or double down on an indigenous solution?

Episode 44 of the podcast
Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FrVFtWQWAA

Should India join the French-led FCAS sixth-generation fighter programme?
AMCA vs FCAS: Can India afford two parallel fighter projects?
Lessons from the FGFA/Su-57 partnership with Russia
China's sixth-generation aircraft and the growing airpower gap
Can India realistically develop next-generation fighter technology alone?
Engines, stealth, sensors and the technology India still lacks
Is FCAS a strategic partnership or simply a very expensive necessity?

This episode is a deep dive in the hard choices facing Indian defence planners in an increasingly contested world.
 

A high-intensity episode of #CtrlAltDefence as Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som unpack the crisis, delays and big questions surrounding HAL, Tejas and India's future airpower ambitions - just as HAL gets a new chief at a critical moment.

Episode 43 of the podcast
Watch now: https://youtu.be/L6bK3cscsF8

Tejas Mk1A delays: What's really holding back deliveries?
New HAL Chairman Ravi K takes charge amid mounting pressure
Dhruv helicopter setbacks and HAL's credibility challenge
Tejas Mk2, AMCA & India's struggle to keep pace with China
AI warfare, drone swarms & the future of unmanned combat
Can HAL reinvent itself and shed its old PSU culture?
Why India may need private players to reshape defence aviation

From fighter jet integration issues to sixth-generation warfare, this episode dives deep into the realities, risks and future of India's military aerospace ecosystem.
 

A power-packed episode of #CtrlAltDefence as Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som break down India's rapid missile advancements, hypersonic ambitions, MIRV capability, and the future of strategic deterrence.

Episode 42 of the podcast
Watch now: https://youtu.be/Cw9eowMnT7k

India's "Big Boom" moment - major missile tests explained
Agni-5 MIRV test signals a major leap in India's nuclear deterrence
Scramjet breakthrough pushes India closer to hypersonic weapons
Can hypersonic weapons make missile defence obsolete?
BrahMos evolution, naval firepower & India's future war doctrine
Why modern warfare is becoming impossible to intercept

From hypersonic glide vehicles to submarine-launched deterrence, this episode dives deep into the technology shaping India's future battlefield edge.

A high-stakes, future-facing episode of #CtrlAltDefence as Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor sit down with AI Defence Tech Founder building the next generation of warfare systems.

Episode 41 of our podcast
Watch now: https://youtu.be/E2CpesS5jfg

From viral bomber to cutting-edge combat tech — Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder & CEO of Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace, breaks it all down:

India's first unmanned bomber concept

Drone warfare after Operation Sindoor

Loitering munitions, swarm drones & autonomous combat systems

Inside YAMA and next-gen counter-drone tech

Electronic warfare, GPS jamming & why most drones fail in real combat

Why autonomy — not hardware — is the real battlefield advantage

The future of warfare is cheaper, smarter, autonomous — and already here.
Watch now.

A gripping episode of #CtrlAltDefence as Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor cut through the fog of war with hard data and on-ground insight.

*Episode 40 of our podcast
* Watch now: https://youtu.be/yQ_1guQ6lk8

5 weeks into the conflict — numbers tell a very different story
U.S. claims vs battlefield data — what's really happening?
Iran's missile & drone attacks continue despite heavy strikes
Interceptor missiles running low — less than 12 days of buffer in worst-case scenarios
War of attrition: both sides burning through critical resources
Gulf nations taking the biggest hit — not just Israel
Civilian infrastructure increasingly targeted — a dangerous escalation
Data, not noise — decoding who's actually gaining ground
War is messy, complex, and far from over — watch now 

Vishnu Som's The Sky Warriors: Operation Sindoor Unveiled delivers a riveting, bone-chilling chronicle of the 88-hour air war that permanently altered South Asia's military balance in May 2025. With a career spanning the Kargil heights in 1999 to the Rafale era, Vishnu combines sharp tactical analysis with gripping combat storytelling. Centered on Operation Sindoor—the IAF's crushing "heavy hammer" response to the Pahalgam terror attacks—the book elevates the conflict far beyond a simple border clash, presenting it instead as a masterclass in multi-domain warfare. Vishnu's crisp journalistic voice converts complex topics like BVR engagement envelopes and S-400 interception logic into prose that races with the intensity of a low-level fighter sortie. 

Grab your Amazon copy: https://bit.ly/4uGYvsX
Also available at book stores near you! 

A fascinating new episode of #CtrlAltDefence as Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som decode the battlefield impact of Iran's Shahed drone.

Episode 38 of our podcast
https://youtu.be/e3uZUTfrVMU

Iran's Shahed drone often called the "AK-47 of the skies"
Estimated cost: $20,000-$25,000 per drone
Intercepting it can cost up to $1 million in missiles
Cheap UAVs challenging advanced air defence systems
Drone swarms could overwhelm missile defences
Electronic warfare & jamming key to stopping drones
Ukraine emerging as leader in counter-drone tactics
What lessons does India need to learn?

Modern warfare is changing fast - watch now! 

A fantastic episode of #CtrlAltDefence. We are joined by a 4-time Kilo Class submarine commander.
Episode 37 of our podcast.  
Link: https://youtu.be/NFzocTmBPL8
US sub torpedoes Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka

Episode 36 of #CtrlAltDefence is here! 

LINK: https://youtu.be/CEdu7DK04ck

Breaking: India eyes game-changing moves in air power! Potentially acquiring Russia's Su-57 stealth fighters & showing interest in Europe's FCAS 6th-gen program. Here's why this could reshape the skies.

Su-57 Acquisition: India may buy 36-40 Su-57E jets in a major deal, including source code access for deep customization. A fast bridge to boost IAF stealth power while AMCA matures! 

FCAS Interest: With tensions in the Franco-German FCAS project, India signals strong readiness to partner with France on co-developing true 6th-gen fighters. Jumping straight from 4th to next-gen tech! 

Game Changer for IAF: Su-57 delivers 5th-gen muscle against regional rivals, while FCAS opens the door to unmanned, AI-driven future warfare. Squadron strength + leapfrog tech = massive edge!

Tech Boost: Su-57 source codes enable indigenous upgrades & integration. FCAS collaboration could bring cutting-edge aero engines, stealth design & sensor fusion know-how. DRDO gets a huge R&D acceleration!

Global Impact: Playing both Russia & France strengthens India's strategic autonomy in a multipolar world. A bold dual-track strategy that could surprise adversaries and reshape Indo-Pacific air power balance!