HAL Under Fire: Perform Or Perish? | CTRL ALT Defence Ep 34

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1. 

   21 Mar 2026 · 47 min

   Vishnu Som's Operation Sindoor Book Is Here! | CTRL ALT Defence Ep 39

   Vishnu Som's The Sky Warriors: Operation Sindoor Unveiled delivers a riveting, bone-chilling chronicle of the 88-hour air war that permanently altered South Asia's military balance in May 2025. With a career spanning the Kargil heights in 1999 to the Rafale era, Vishnu combines sharp tactical analysis with gripping combat storytelling. Centered on Operation Sindoor—the IAF's crushing "heavy hammer" response to the Pahalgam terror attacks—the book elevates the conflict far beyond a simple border clash, presenting it instead as a masterclass in multi-domain warfare. Vishnu's crisp…

2. 

   14 Mar 2026 · 48 min

   Shahed Drones: Winning Iran The War? | CTRL ALT Defence Ep 38

   A fascinating new episode of #CtrlAltDefence as Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som decode the battlefield impact of Iran's Shahed drone. Episode 38 of our podcast https://youtu.be/e3uZUTfrVMU Iran's Shahed drone often called the "AK-47 of the skies" Estimated cost: $20,000-$25,000 per drone Intercepting it can cost up to $1 million in missiles Cheap UAVs challenging advanced air defence systems Drone swarms could overwhelm missile defences Electronic warfare & jamming key to stopping drones Ukraine emerging as leader in counter-drone tactics What lessons does India need to learn? Modern warfare is…

3. 

   5 Mar 2026 · 43 min

   How Iris Dena Was Sunk | Ctrl Alt Defence Ep 37

   A fantastic episode of #CtrlAltDefence. We are joined by a 4-time Kilo Class submarine commander. Episode 37 of our podcast. Link: https://youtu.be/NFzocTmBPL8 US sub torpedoes Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka

4. 

   28 Feb 2026 · 40 min

   India To Choose Su-57? India To Join FCAS Next? | CTRL ALT Defence Ep 36

   Episode 36 of #CtrlAltDefence is here! LINK: https://youtu.be/CEdu7DK04ck Breaking: India eyes game-changing moves in air power! Potentially acquiring Russia's Su-57 stealth fighters & showing interest in Europe's FCAS 6th-gen program. Here's why this could reshape the skies. Su-57 Acquisition: India may buy 36-40 Su-57E jets in a major deal, including source code access for deep customization. A fast bridge to boost IAF stealth power while AMCA matures! FCAS Interest: With tensions in the Franco-German FCAS project, India signals strong readiness to partner with France on co-developing true…

5. 

   14 Feb 2026 · 38 min

   Rafale vs J-20 Fighter Jets: Who Would Win? | CTRL ALT Defence Ep 35

   In Episode 35 of #CtrlAltDefence, hosts Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor break down how India's induction of the 4.5-generation Dassault Rafale is reshaping the air power equation with China. They compare it head-to-head with Beijing's fifth-generation stealth platform, the Chengdu J-20-examining stealth versus combat experience, long-range missile reach versus real-world operational performance, and what the Meteor-equipped Rafale means for the balance of power in the region.

6. 

   17 Jan 2026 · 44 min

   Is The IAF Getting 114 Rafales? | CTRL ALT Defence Ep 33

   NEW EPISODE ALERT! The second episode of the new year is here! Episode 33 of #CtrlAltDefence with @ShivAroor and @VishnuNDTV has officially dropped! Topic: Is the IAF set to get 114 new Rafales?

7. 

   10 Jan 2026 · 42 hr

   IAF Tanker Quest, 25 Years Of 'Any Day Now' | CTRL ALT Defence Ep 32

   Episode 32 of #CtrlAltDefence Drops! Topic: The IAF's Tanker Woes 2003: First IL-78 arrives 2009-2018: Multiple tenders, multiple cancellations 2025: Finally leases a KC-135 (but only for training, no combat) 2026: Boeing 767 deal 'expected soon' 25 years of 'coming soon' vibes. Fingers crossed!

8. 

   28 Dec 2025 · 41 min

   India's Flying Frigate: The MH-60 'Romeo' | CTRL ALT Defence Ep 31

   Dropping now: Episode 31 of Ctrl Alt Defence. Join Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som as they discuss the commissioning of India's second MH-60R Seahawk helicopter squadron and explain why this platform is increasingly being described as India's new "Flying Frigate." Key highlights from the episode: India has commissioned INAS 335 'Ospreys', the Indian Navy's second MH-60R squadron, at INS Hansa, Goa. The first MH-60R squadron, INAS 334, was commissioned in Kochi in 2024. With INAS 335, the Western Seaboard now gains a major multi-role maritime capability. The MH-60R is referred to as a "Flying…

9. 

   13 Dec 2025 · 44 min

   Pak F-16s Are Now Smarter | F 16 Fighter Jet | F-16 Jet Pakistan | CTRL ALT Defence Episode 30

   Episode 30 of #CtrlAltDefence drops! Link: https://youtu.be/5LPMqtuebGM Focus: America's deep upgrade of Pakistan Air Force F-16s poses problems for the IAF! Key Discussion Points: Link-16 Data-link Transformation: How will the integration of the Link-16 data-link system revolutionize the situational awareness and network-centric warfare capabilities of Pakistan's F-16 fleet? Progressive Upgrades: How have the Pakistan Air Force F-16s been systematically upgraded over time, including previous sustainment packages and MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) programs? Advanced AMRAAM Missiles: What are the…

10. 

    5 Dec 2025 · 36 min

    S-400: India's Pak AWACS Killer | CTRL ALT Defence Episode 29

    On episode 29 of Ctrl Alt Defence, join Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som as they look at India's Pakistani AWACS killer, the S-400 system. We have this podcast at a time when the Russian President Vladimir Putin is here in India and we reflect on its capabilities and its future avatar, the S-500 Prometheus. Listen in.