“India’s Aerospace Power: The Central Asian Dynamics” authored by Group Captain (Dr) Rajneesh Kumar- an acclaimed researcher on Central Asia traces the historical, military, and strategic linkages that shape India’s engagement with Central Asia, while researching into a hitherto untouched facet of India-Central Asia Relations, i.e. aerospace power. The book starts with mentioning the Mughal legacy of gunpowder warfare and structured military systems and goes on further to the British introduction of modern defence infrastructure and aviation. Post-independence, with Soviet collaboration and the rise of indigenous institutions like HAL, India transitioned from dependence to growing self-reliance and now emerging as a potential exporter of aerospace technology. Central Asia, resource-rich and strategically located, presents both opportunities and challenges for India due to great power play in the region. Besides myriad other possibilities the Central Asian region offers scope also for aviation maintenance, defence cooperation and collaborations in the sphere of space research, despite the fact that it is complicated by connectivity gaps, great power rivalries and regional instabilities. The book examines how India can leverage its aviation expertise in the military & civil aviation domains, defence industry and soft power to build sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships with Central Asia. The book also analyses as to how India can strengthen its own strategic depth in an evolving geopolitical landscape. To achieve the much desired strategic depth, the book strongly advocates a case for re-attainment and re-operationalisation of India’s overseas air bases in Ayni and Farkhor in Tajikistan and comes to conclude the study by talking of a bright scope of India-Central Asia engagement.
Group Captain (Dr) Rajneesh Kumar
Introduction by
Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (Retd)
Dr Rajneesh Kumar is a seasoned professional with a Doctoral degree in India’s Energy Security. He has been an awardee of the Fellowship of University Grants Commission. He earned his first Master’s degree in Political Science & International Relations with Merit position from the University of Allahabad. He earned another Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication besides a Post Graduate Diploma in Materials Management in First Division with Distinction.
He has actively written on contemporary issues in print media from 1986-91. He has special interest and specialisation in issues related to National Security, Energy Security, Regional geo-politics, Aerospace Power and Central Asian Affairs. He has published research papers on various contemporary Strategic topics in journals of national and international repute besides having been a chair at some National Conferences organised by some reputed universities & academic institutions.
He holds the coveted membership of the institutions of national repute that include- Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, United Services Institution of India, Indian Institute of Materials Management, and the Aeronautical Society of India.
Dr Rajneesh has successfully completed a deputation to the Cabinet Secretariat Government of India. He is a certified PhD Supervisor and Subject Expert on the Board of Studies with two national universities which includes one under Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. He is also a qualified Independent Director empanelled with Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
He has functioned as Senior Fellow at Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS) New Delhi, under the Forum for National Security Studies where he was involved in conducting an advanced Research & Analysis of India’s Strategic interests in Central Asia.
He is presently positioned as the Director General of Indian International Trade Development Organisation (IITDO).
Contents
Introduction
Preface
Acknowledgements
Tables and Figures
Abbreviations
1. India-Central Asia Ties: Evolving Dynamics
2. Commonality of Evolving Security Concerns and Threat Perceptions
3. Expanding India’s Aviation Presence Amidst Chinese Military Presence in Central Asia
4. India’s Defence Engagements and Role in Central Asian Civil and Military Aviation
5. Indian Air Power in Afghanistan Amidst Taliban Takeover: Operation Devi Shakti
6. Russia-Ukraine War and Operation Ganga
7. Envisioning India’s Space Activity in Central Asia
8. Vision for India’s Participation in Aviation Engineering in Central Asia
9. Concluding Thoughts
Index
Political Science
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