Ctrl + Alt + Defence

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!

In Episode 35 of #CtrlAltDefence, hosts Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor break down how India's induction of the 4.5-generation Dassault Rafale is reshaping the air power equation with China. They compare it head-to-head with Beijing's fifth-generation stealth platform, the Chengdu 
J-20-examining stealth versus combat experience, long-range missile reach versus real-world operational performance, and what the Meteor-equipped Rafale means for the balance of power in the region.

In Episode 34 of #CtrlAltDefence, hosts Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor tackle HAL's high-stakes moment: Private sector giants shortlisted to build AMCA prototypes, sidelining HAL for India's 5th-gen stealth fighter. Can HAL deliver capable Tejas Mk-1As on schedule amid delays and scrutiny? 

Perform or perish-deep dive now!

Pre-order your copy of The Sky Warriors by Vishnu Som now: https://bit.ly/4qnYIht

NEW EPISODE ALERT! 

The second episode of the new year is here!  

Episode 33 of #CtrlAltDefence with @ShivAroor and @VishnuNDTV has officially dropped! 

Topic: Is the IAF set to get 114 new Rafales?

Episode 32 of #CtrlAltDefence Drops!

Topic: The IAF's Tanker Woes

2003: First IL-78 arrives 
2009-2018: Multiple tenders, multiple cancellations 
2025: Finally leases a KC-135 (but only for training, no combat) 
2026: Boeing 767 deal 'expected soon'   

25 years of 'coming soon' vibes. Fingers crossed! 

Dropping now: Episode 31 of Ctrl Alt Defence.

Join Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som as they discuss the commissioning of India's second MH-60R Seahawk helicopter squadron and explain why this platform is increasingly being described as India's new "Flying Frigate."

Key highlights from the episode:

India has commissioned INAS 335 'Ospreys', the Indian Navy's second MH-60R squadron, at INS Hansa, Goa.

The first MH-60R squadron, INAS 334, was commissioned in Kochi in 2024. With INAS 335, the Western Seaboard now gains a major multi-role maritime capability.

The MH-60R is referred to as a "Flying Frigate" due to its extensive suite of sensors, radar systems and weapons, enabling it to perform roles typically associated with surface warships.

The helicopter is a critical anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform, equipped with dipping sonar and Mk-54 lightweight torpedoes for detecting and engaging submarines across the Indian Ocean Region.

It provides a strong anti-surface warfare capability, armed with Hellfire missiles for precision strikes against hostile vessels.

The MH-60R features advanced multi-mode radar and FLIR systems, allowing effective surveillance and targeting during both day and night operations over vast maritime areas.

Beyond combat roles, the helicopter supports search and rescue, medical evacuation, and vertical replenishment, making it a versatile multi-mission asset.

It is fully compatible with operations from INS Vikrant, INS Vikramaditya, as well as Indian Navy destroyers and frigates.

The induction of the MH-60R enhances India–US defence interoperability, having already demonstrated its utility during major naval exercises and operations such as TROPEX.

The platform significantly strengthens India's maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean at a time of evolving and increasing regional security challenges.

Listen now and share your thoughts.

Episode 30 of #CtrlAltDefence drops! 

Link: https://youtu.be/5LPMqtuebGM

Focus: America's deep upgrade of Pakistan Air Force F-16s poses problems for the IAF!

Key Discussion Points:

Link-16 Data-link Transformation: How will the integration of the Link-16 data-link system revolutionize the situational awareness and network-centric warfare capabilities of Pakistan's F-16 fleet?

Progressive Upgrades: How have the Pakistan Air Force F-16s been systematically upgraded over time, including previous sustainment packages and MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) programs?

Advanced AMRAAM Missiles: What are the strategic implications and potential new combat ranges if the US clears the transfer of advanced AMRAAM missiles (like the AIM-120D) for Pakistan's F-16s?

IAF Datalink Sophistication: In comparison, how sophisticated are the datalink systems and network-centric capabilities currently employed by the India Air Force (IAF), such as the indigenously developed systems?

Listen now for a full breakdown! 

On episode 29 of Ctrl Alt Defence, join Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som as they look at India's Pakistani AWACS killer, the S-400 system. 

We have this podcast at a time when the Russian President Vladimir Putin is here in India and we reflect on its capabilities and its future avatar, the S-500 Prometheus.

Listen in.