Analysis : Russia’s first combat deployment of its aircraft carrier


INTRODUCTION 'Where's the nearest carrier?' . This is a question associated with the US President, who is said to rely on the US Navy's fleet of nuclear-powered supercarriers to respond to any military crisis that America would face. But would you associate the same question with the Russian president? Ummm, no. We could imagine Putin …

News Digest: New French Frigate Unveiled,USS Zumwalt commissioned, Indo-Russian deals.


In this news digest by Defencyclopedia, we bring you the most recent and relevant happenings in the world of defense. Each report will have our analysis and opinion about it. This series is being revived after multiple requests from our amazing readers.  France unveils new light frigate design, the 'FTI' As a complement for its …

Explained : How Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Works!


INTRODUCTION Ever since submarines become the principal weapon of naval warfare, designers have focused on making them quieter and increasing their underwater endurance. Traditional diesel-electric submarines need to surface frequently to charge their batteries and have an underwater endurance of only a few days. As battery technology improved, the endurance of these submarines increased proportionally. …

Analysis : Importance of Naval Guns on a Modern Warship


  INTRODUCTION From the past several centuries, warships have been armed with a large number of guns for fighting other ships. This continued until the 1950s, when the anti-ship cruise missile entered service on board warships of the Soviet Union. The anti-ship missile (AShM) was a fast, accurate and lethal weapon which had an incredible …

Analysis : India’s Evolving Maritime Security Strategy and Force Posture


INTRODUCTION The Indian Navy’s Maritime Security Strategy document 2015 (titled ‘Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy’) is a precursor of India’s evolving maritime strategic thought and its proposed force posture. Together, they form important spokes in the wheel of New Delhi’s politico-military strategy (or Grand Strategy). Second, the document envisages India adopting a strategy of …

Greatest World War II Weapons : The Fearsome Katyusha Rocket Launcher


INTRODUCTION The word Katyusha brings to mind, images of the deadly rocket launcher used by the Soviets in World War II. These rocket launchers were used extensively throughout the war and were known for the powerful punch they packed. Technically designated as Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), these were available at a fraction of the …

The Japanese Izumo-Class: An Aircraft Carrier in Disguise?


INTRODUCTION On 25 March 2015, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned the JS Izumo (DDH-183), lead ship of her class and the largest surface combatant of the JMSDF. Designated as a helicopter destroyer, the Izumo-class was built as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform. With this new ship reinforcing the Japanese arsenal, the Chinese quickly …

Top 10 Most Powerful Frigates in The World


INTRODUCTION Frigates are an indispensable part of any navy. These ships usually form the numerical bulk of a naval fleet as they are relatively cheaper than large destroyers and cruisers. Every modern navy operates frigates in some or the other form and uses them along with larger surface combatants like destroyers and aircraft carriers. The definition …

Top 10 Most Powerful Weapons of The Russian Military


INTRODUCTION Russia is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of military equipment in the world and their products are widely used. They are the only nation other than the US, to have every possible kind of military equipment from long range bombers to next generation submarines. Their weapons feature in basically every local and …

V-22 Osprey : The Helicopter that flies like an airplane


INTRODUCTION Is it a helicopter ? Is it an airplane ? No, it's both! With the ability to convert into a rotary wing helicopter for takeoff and landing and the ability to turn into a fixed wing aircraft for sustained flight, the V-22 Osprey is definitely the most unique aircraft in service. Since World War …