The Indigenous Engine That Could Transform India's Defence | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 50

More from Ctrl + Alt + Defence

1. 

   22 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

   Who's Killing Kaveri & Tejas? | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 53

   India's indigenous fighter programme was meant to transform the country's combat aviation. So why is the Tejas Mk1A still facing delays, and what does that mean for the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA? On Episode 53 of #CtrlAltDefence, Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor speak to independent defence analyst and aviation photographer Angad Singh about the state of India's fighter aircraft programmes, the problems with project management and accountability, and the long road towards an indigenous jet-engine capability. Episode 53 Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9hvPY2Xre4 Why Tejas Mk1A is still delayed…

2. 

   15 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 7 min

   How Bholari Got BRAHMOS'd | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 52

   Operation Sindoor put India's air power to the test. But what happened inside the IAF's command rooms as the strikes unfolded? On Episode 52 of #CtrlAltDefence, Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor speak to Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, former Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force and former Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southwest Air Command, about his first-hand experience of Operation Sindoor and the decisions made during the 88-hour conflict. This episode of Ctrl Alt Defence with Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor was recorded ahead of the release of Declassified: Operation Sindoor, a two-part docuseries on…

3. 

   8 Aug 2026 · 42 min

   Does India Need More Rafales? | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 51

   The Rafale deal is moving forward. But behind the headline number lies a much bigger question: how much of this fighter programme can India truly make its own? On Episode 51 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som discuss France's ₹3.25 lakh crore bid for 114 Rafales, the push to integrate Indian weapons, and the proposed Safran-DRDO engine partnership. Episode 51 Watch now: https://youtu.be/h3cFYeoA12Y France submits its techno-commercial bid for 114 Rafales Why 94 of the fighters are expected to be built in India The push to integrate Astra, BrahMos and other Indian weapons What…

4. 

   26 Jul 2026 · 55 min

   Project Kusha Explained: India's New Air Defence Shield Alongside S-400 | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 49

   India has successfully tested its next-generation indigenous long-range air defence system, Project Kusha (Extended Range Surface-to-Air Missile), marking a major milestone in the country's missile programme. Can this become India's answer to the S-400—and eventually protect against stealth fighters like China's J-20? On this week's #CtrlAltDefence, Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor break down India's biggest indigenous air defence project, why Project Kusha matters, and how it fits into India's layered air defence network.

5. 

   18 Jul 2026 · 43 min

   The Stealth Score: China: 500+, India: 0 | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 48

   A startling new assessment suggests China may already have over 500 operational J-20 stealth fighters-and could field 1,000 by 2030. What does this mean for India's security? On this week's #CtrlAltDefence, Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor examine China's unprecedented military-industrial expansion, the growing air power imbalance, and what India must do to prepare for the future. Episode 48 Watch now: https://youtu.be/d1E1SQMXWpQ China may have over 500 operational J-20 stealth fighters today Why Beijing's fighter production is now outpacing global expectations What China's stealth fleet means for…

6. 

   11 Jul 2026 · 39 min

   Yeh Dil Maange More | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 47

   A deeply personal conversation on the life, legacy and enduring spirit of Captain Vikram Batra, PVC, one of India's most celebrated war heroes. On this special episode of Ctrl Alt Defence, Vishnu Som speaks with Vishal Batra, Captain Vikram Batra's identical twin brother, about the man behind the legend-from their childhood and shared dream of serving the nation to the defining moments of the Kargil War that made "Yeh Dil Maange More" a battle cry etched into India's military history. The discussion explores Vishal Batra's new book, Yeh Dil Maange More, which draws on Captain Vikram Batra's…

7. 

   3 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 18 min

   IAF Foxbats Over Pakistan: The True Story Revealed | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 59

   For nearly 25 years, the Indian Air Force operated one of the world's fastest and most secretive reconnaissance aircraft in near-total secrecy. The MiG-25 Foxbat could climb beyond 65,000 feet, cruise at more than twice the speed of sound and cross sensitive airspace before an adversary could fully react. But what was it actually like to fly this extraordinary machine? On Episode 59 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som speak to Air Marshal Sumit Mukerji and Wing Commander Pradeep Jaswant Thakur, two former MiG-25 pilots who reveal what it was like to fly the Foxbat and carry out…

8. 

   26 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 13 min

   Uri Surgical Strikes: The Truth Nobody Knows | 10th Anniversary | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 58

   What really happened behind India's 2016 surgical strikes across the Line of Control? How was the operation planned, what happened inside the crucial meetings before the mission, and what did it take to bring every soldier back safely? On Episode 58 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som speak to Lieutenant General Satish Dua (retd.), the former Chinar Corps Commander who was at the centre of the planning and execution of the 2016 surgical strikes, in a rare first-hand account of one of India's most significant special forces operations. Ten years after the Uri terror attack and the…

9. 

   19 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

   Greatest IAF Pilot's Last Interview | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 57

   What does it take to face four enemy fighters alone, survive a close-range dogfight and return to base with a damaged aircraft and almost no ammunition? On Episode 57 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som speak to Flt Lt Alfred Tyrone Cooke, Vir Chakra, one of the most remarkable fighter pilots of the 1965 India-Pakistan War, in what became his final interview. Flt Lt Alfred Cooke passed away on September 18, 2026, just three days after recording this conversation. Episode 57 Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfZ6UBjj2Hw The September 7, 1965 mission that made Alfred Cooke a…

10. 

    12 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 27 min

    India's Nuclear Submarine Story, Arihant's 1st Captain Speaks | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 56

    What does it take to build, operate and sustain a nuclear submarine? And after INS Arihant, where does India's undersea warfare capability go from here? On Episode 56 of #CtrlAltDefence, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som speak exclusively to Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru (retd.), the first commanding officer of INS Arihant, India's first homegrown nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. Episode 56 Watch now: https://youtu.be/wxUwPjfiKgI How INS Arihant went from years of preparation to its first sea trials The reactor's first criticality and the journey towards full power How India progressively…

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