Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Security Pact: Nukes, Money, and India's Dilemma | S3 | Ep 25
A fresh jolt in West Asia: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement. Is it just a formalisation of a decades-old security relationship or the birth of an 'Islamic NATO'? On the latest episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan unpack what's real, what's posturing and why the announcement landed just as Israel struck targets in Qatar, a US ally, trying to mediate with Hamas. The episode especially explores what the agreement means for India. The two discuss: -Trace the Pak-Saudi security history and what's actually "new" in this pact -Decode India's response and how New Delhi should read Riyadh's move -Ask the uncomfortable bit: money flows to military to militants? -Explore the nuclear chatter: Pakistani umbrella for Saudi? -Revisit the long-running theory of US contingency plans around Pakistan's nukes -Game out an "Op Sindoor 2.0" scenario: where does Saudi sit if India-Pakistan tensions flare? Tune in! Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound Mixed by Aman Pal
--------
48:31
--------
48:31
MiG-21 Retires: How the Iconic Jet Shaped the Indian Air Force | S3 | Ep 24
The Indian Air Force has retired the MiG-21 – the iconic Soviet-era fighter aircraft—that became the most produced supersonic jet in history and the backbone of the IAF. The Mig-21 trained generations of Indian Air Force pilots and defended India’s skies for six decades. Recorded around Mig-21’s farewell at Air Force Station, Chandigarh, this special episode of In Our Defence with national security expert Sandeep Unnithan dives into the jet’s history, upgrades, combat stories, the debate over safety, and its legacy. Host Dev Goswami and Sandeep unpack how a 1960s Soviet interceptor became India’s backbone, why it attracted the “flying coffin” label, what the Bison upgrade really changed, and how the MiG-21’s dominance shaped IAF training and doctrine. Tune in! Image of the first women IAF fighter pilots- Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound Mix by Aman Pal
--------
1:03:34
--------
1:03:34
India's Missing Kamikaze Drone Army | S3 | Ep 23
Kamikaze drones, or loitering munitions, have been everywhere in recent conflicts, from the Russia-Ukraine war to battles in the Middle East. They're cheap, deadly, and changing how militaries think about strikes and defence. In this episode, host Dev Goswami sits down with defence journalist Sandeep Unnithan to trace the idea back to its WWII origins and ask why India, despite having a buzzing drone startup scene, still doesn't have its own kamikaze drones. The two break down: - What kamikaze meant in WWII and how the idea evolved into unmanned drones. - How these drones are being used in Ukraine and what lessons India should take. - Why India relied on Israeli Harop drones in Operation Sindoor. - Procurement and development blind spots that explain India's slow adoption. - Why India urgently needs to build and maintain a credible kamikaze drone force. Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound Mix by Suraj Singh
--------
59:58
--------
59:58
Great Nicobar Explained: Project That Could Change Everything for India |S3 | Ep 22
India is betting big on the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island, a decades-long project to build a massive transshipment port, a new airport, a power plant, a township, and associated military build-up at the doorstep of the Strait of Malacca, the world’s busiest shipping lane.The project had been flying under the radar until this month when concerns of ecological damage and impact on tribal population put the spotlight on this venture.On this episode, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan dive deep into this project and explore why this could be India’s most significant infrastructure project in history.What makes the Malacca Strait the most crucial chokepoint in global trade?And how does Great Nicobar give India a leg up in its long-running maritime rivalry with China?The two decode the geopolitics of the Indian Ocean, the ecological and tribal concerns around the project, and why the next big global contest may not be on land, but at sea.Produced by Taniya DuttaSound Mix by Rohan Bharti
In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan unpack the debate over theaterisation -- the buzzword that has divided India's armed forces for years. Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh's recent comments about India not needing theaterisation right now have once again opened a debate that was meant to have been settled with the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff. On this episode, Dev and Sandeep go from the origins of theatre commands in World War II, to India's 17 separate service commands, to the Air Force's worries -- and the famous committees (Kargil Review, GoM, Naresh Chandra, Shekatkar) that studied this reform to death. The two explore: - What is theaterisation and why does it matter? - Why is the Indian Air Force pushing back? - Did General Bipin Rawat's death stall the project? - What role do decades of committees and bureaucratic delays play? - And most importantly, does India actually need theatre commands for future wars? Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound Mix by Rohan Bharti
In Our Defence is a weekly podcast that breaks down wars, weapons, and the world of military power with clarity, curiosity, and zero jargon. Hosted by journalist Dev Goswami, each episode features sharp, story-rich conversations with leading defence experts, offering distinct perspectives and nuances on how nations prepare, fight, and defend. From battlefield strategy and military tech to geopolitics, intelligence, and national security -- In Our Defence focuses on conversations that are grounded, engaging, and made for curious minds. No fluff. No noise. Just a clear line of sight into the world of conflict.
Deutschland