Amit's Blog

India's SMART Torpedo: Revolutionizing Anti-Submarine Warfare in the Indo-Pacific India’s Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) is a groundbreaking anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). With a 650 km range, SMART combines a supersonic missile with a lightweight torpedo to engage submarines far beyond conventional limits, redefining naval strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Launched from ships or coastal batteries, it integrates real-time ISR from P-8I aircraft and satellites, offering unmatched standoff capability. Successfully tested (2020-2025), SMART is poised for induction by 2026-2027, enhancing India’s deterrence against Chinese and Pakistani submarine threats. While not rendering submarines obsolete, it forces adversaries to rethink underwater tactics. This essay explores SMART’s technical prowess, strategic significance, global comparisons, and limitations, supported by expert insig...

The Great Game Redux: Is the West’s Aid Surge to Pakistan an Attempted Checkmate Against China’s BRI? The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have intensified financial support to Pakistan, raising eyebrows about a Western counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). While Pakistan grapples with debt and economic woes, China’s BRI offers strategic infrastructure with no governance strings, fueling its regional clout. Western aid, laden with reform demands, may aim to dilute this influence, but is it containment or economic pragmatism? This article dissects the geopolitical chessboard, exploring how Pakistan’s economic distress becomes a battleground for global powers, with irony as the West plays catch-up. Geopolitical Tug-of-War in Pakistan’s Backyard Picture this: Pakistan, a nation perpetually teetering on the edge of economic collapse, finds itself courted by two...

Pakistan’s Air Defense Fiasco: Lessons from Operation Sindoor and India’s Path Ahead Pakistan’s air defense network, a hodgepodge of Chinese knock-offs, aging Western relics, and half-baked indigenous systems, crumbled spectacularly during India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Interoperability issues, born of mismatched Chinese and Western tech, left Pakistan’s skies wide open to India’s stealthy SCALP missiles and Harop drones. Financial woes—$340 billion GDP, $7–8 billion defense budget, and a $30 billion Chinese debt—forced reliance on downgraded systems like the HQ-9P, while India’s $80–90 billion war chest powered a seamless Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). China’s export strategy, keeping Pakistan on a tight leash, and inadequate training sealed the deal. This blog dissects Pakistan’s air defense debacle, contrasts it with India’s diversified prowess, and dives deep into what India must watch to stay ahead. With expert insights and a dash of irony, it’s a tal...