India is on the cusp of developing its defence industrial base thus the lead article on the subject focuses on building of the Defence Industrial Base and how the corporate sector can assist in it. The author argues that as the Corporate sector plays a vital role in the economic development of a country, to the extent that the economy of the nation depends largely on the achievements of corporate sector thus it can play a major role in leveraging the capacity building of India’s defence industrial base. ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government, coupled with opening up of defence industrial corridors, has changed the narrative for achieving indigenisation and self-reliance. In the last two decades, the private sector in defence has expanded immensely with even the Defence PSUs outsourcing more than 30 per cent and Ordnance Factories outsourcing approximately 60 per cent of their production. Defence Industries are doing direct investment in large and hi-tech projects through strategic partnerships, ‘Make’ projects and innovative developments in defence technology. Globally, defence technologies have always contributed immensely in driving the technologies for the civil sector. The author then stresses that as part of corporate professional responsibility (CPR instead of CSR), Private Industry could support defence forces in capability development, absorbing new technologies and promote selfreliance in defence technologies. He ends by stating that CPR will prove to be the corner stone of Industry - Defence synergy.

There has been an endless quest for first shot kill accuracy by the defence forces for small arms, tanks, artillery, air defence artillery, air force and the navy. First shot kill accuracy prevents the enemy from taking cover/evasive actions and also results in economy of ammunition. Thus the article on Target Precision Solutions is on direct shooting infantry weapons and how high accuracy is being achieved in day, night and all weather conditions. The author adds that a Precision-Guided firearm is a comprehensive, tailor made weapon system that uses the same tracking and fire-control technology found in advanced fighter jets or a predator drone.

Night vision is the technology what every soldier, sailor, airman and law enforcing personnel needs to operate in all weather conditions by day and night. Thus in an article on Technologies of Image Intensifiers has been included. The advance developments in technology leads to ‘Sensor Fusion’ where the respective strengths of image intensifier and thermal imaging technologies are combined into one device. This type of sensor fusion has led to the development of new night-vision technologies and devices like the enhanced night-vision goggle (ENVG) that combines a thermal imager with an image intensifier.

The last article in the triad on all weather, day and night sighting and surveillance systems, explores some of the programmes which are under progress in this field. As usual the global leader is US and the US Army where they have given the development charter to four leading companies in the world to develop the best sighting and surveillance systems in the world.

The article on Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) gives an overview of such systems and what India has developed. DRDO’s Pinaka MLRS is in service with the Indian Artillery. Pinaka MkI has a range of 40 km and MkII a range of 75 km. It can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. Pinaka was successfully employed during Kargil operations. India also has Smerch and BM-21, both of Russian origin. Anybody who has been under the fire of MLRS can explain the type of terror effect its full salvo creates.

As usual this issue ends with the News Digest. Wish you all discerning readers ‘Happy Reading’ and a favourable budget.