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The Print
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
A letter to Defence Minister, with lessons from American fighter pilot John Boyd: Jaithirth Rao
This writer is being a tad presumptuous in penning this letter. But knowing of your sobriety, open-mindedness, and willingness to take courageous decisions, this privilege is being boldly exercised. 1. Addressed a longstanding grievance of service personnel regarding pensions. 2. Moved assertively towards creating a younger and more agile human capital base in our armed forces through the imaginative Agnipath Yojana. 3. Started re-equipping our forces with vigour after a decade-long hiatus. In doing so, you even had to approach the Supreme Court to clearly establish your bona fides. This was really well done. The nation is grateful. 4. Encouraged much-maligned state sector entities, which have risen to the challenge. HAL, for instance, has shown fresh vigour after years of apathy. DRDO, of course, has proved its mettle not just on paper but on the battlefield. 5. You have converted bureaucratic ordnance factories into companies ensuring greater transparency and accountability. You have pushed this overdue reform despite considerable and misplaced opposition. The hope is that you will soon list these companies. About 50 years ago, this writer had the privilege of being taught by the brilliant Professor Suresh Kuchhal, who argued that many of the gains of privatisation could be achieved simply by listing PSUs. Ordnance factories would benefit from the scrutiny and visibility that listing would bring. 6. You have opened up the defence industrial complex to the private sector. With one stroke, you have done away with 80 years of self-inflicted wounds rooted in mistrust of Indian businesses. Other countries (e.g. Japan, Korea) viewed their companies and conglomerates as national assets. We have finally come around to this view. Thank you, sir. 7. You have encouraged nimble, entrepreneurial start-ups to become partners in India's defence journey. This is a source of great national benefit both in the immediate and medium term. 8. You have promoted the export of Indian defence equipment. This is a stroke of genius. The purpose is not to encourage war but to deter it. Well-equipped countries are less likely to go to war. More importantly, this move forces Indian suppliers to make products that are world-class and globally competitive. 9. You have created a solid, mutually synergistic relationship between the Defence Ministry and the Department of Space and ISRO, at a time when the Department of Space has imaginatively opened this exciting domain to India's private sector and to start-ups. The benefits will undoubtedly be magnified. Also read: It doesn't end here. India must prepare for mightier neighbours John Boyd, the great American fighter pilot Now, with considerable humility, and in the hope that you are open to constructive inputs, this writer would like to offer an unusual suggestion: please read the book Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram. In fact, I would go so far as to recommend that all officers in the services and civil servants in your ministry read it. This book is about a brilliant American fighter pilot, John Boyd. He started as one of the most successful servicemen in his line and went on to identify the theoretical foundations of what had until then been attributed to the 'intuitive skills' of pilots. He developed a manual that ended up being used not only by American fighter pilots but by their counterparts across the world. The US Air Force allowed him to fulfil his desire to go back to university. Boyd often told his friends that he didn't want to 'become' someone through promotions as ends in themselves. Instead, he wanted to 'do' something, regardless of whether he was promoted. He studied Industrial Engineering at Georgia Tech, which enabled him to pivot toward equipment design and project management. Boyd plunged into aircraft design, defying bureaucratic norms that did not assign him this task. He argued for a simple, lean design focussed on functionality. He was not in favour of adding bells and whistles like fancy equipment and even a second engine. His vision was a nimble, singularly focussed weapon: a fighter plane. He did not win all his battles. Officers who loved bigger, more expensive (and therefore, in their opinion, better) planes opposed him. So did equipment manufacturers who wanted to keep palming off earlier designs with redundant additions for better profit margins. But Boyd managed to win most of his battles. The F-16 emerged as a 'good' plane, though Boyd himself argued it could have been 'great'. As an aside, India may find that developing uni-focussed equipment for specific terrains such as deserts and mountains may be more effective and economical than relying on multipurpose platforms. Such equipment might also be easier to export to countries with similar geography. Also read: Ministry of Defence has lofty reform plans for 2025. First, establish Theatre Commands Boyd succeeded despite sabotage by bureaucracy Boyd's associate and protégé, Pierre Sprey, fought another battle. In the US Air Force, large, complex bombers were seen as 'upper class', fighters as 'middle class', and ground support aircraft as 'low class'. These distinctions allowed Sprey to get himself almost surreptitiously appointed as chief designer of a ground support aircraft, which eventually became the US Air Force's A10 — affectionately or disdainfully known as the 'Ground Hog'. Sprey designed with vim and gusto. But he too lost some bureaucratic battles. The A10 was bigger and had exotic additions that it did not need. Once again, what emerged was a 'good' aircraft rather than a 'great' one. This aircraft was dismissed as cheap and ugly, but it emerged as a winner in the first Gulf War. The A10 was loved by pilots and feared by the enemy. Despite support from imaginative seniors up to the level of Defence Secretaries, Boyd was denied promotions. The middle bureaucracy sabotaged his career. Boyd left the service. As it turned out, this became a blessing in disguise. He then developed his intellectual pursuits in unexpected directions. He delved deep into military history, and explored the roots of knowledge, perception and reality as these matters change in a kaleidoscopic manner. While these are fascinating, they are not germane to the purpose of this letter. In the field of military strategy, US Services accepted Boyd's ideas grudgingly. The one unit that responded enthusiastically was the Marine Corps, the smallest of the armed services, which embraced his theoretical idea of 'getting into the adversary's decision cycle'. The Marine Corps' spectacular success in the first Gulf War vindicated Boyd. The US Army, which only partially adopted his ideas and reverted to its time-honoured traditions, saw more limited success, though this fact was covered up by their PR. Reading Boyd's biography can be of enormous value not just for serving officers and defence designers but also for political leadership. By his own standards, Boyd failed — sabotaged by a bureaucracy that always wanted to go for the exotic, the costly, and the profitable over the efficient and effective. Safety, efficacy, and simplicity took a back seat. The system likes to fall back on 'tried and tested,' despite evidence of failure or limited success at best. It is interesting to note that even Boyd and his team could only manage 'good' designs — not 'great' ones. Yet partial success matters and must be lauded. So, dear Raksha Mantri, when you feel frustrated by the slowness, the tediousness, and the obstreperousness of the 'system,' you may take comfort in the fact that strong American personalities — like James Schlesinger, Caspar Weinberger, and Colin Powell — faced similar hurdles and found ways to work around them. Also read: Gaza, Ukraine being fought on techno-battlefields. Indian military is 3 decades behind Proposal for govt: A new ministry, please In the spirit of John Boyd, and running the risk of appearing impertinent, this writer offers the following suggestions. 1. Please create a Ministry of State position for 'Defence Design, Development, Production, and Procurement'. This should supersede the current setup focussed only on production. 2. Move the Minister of State to Visakhapatnam. Not every department needs to be based in Delhi. Space and Atomic Energy are based in Bengaluru and Mumbai. Incidentally, there will be some brownie points gained with your political partner, N Chandrababu Naidu. The Defence Ministry already has land in Visakhapatnam. Accommodating a lean department should not be a problem. Avoiding Delhi's miasmal winds will automatically provide impetus to the new ministry. 3. Some civil servants may be reluctant to move out of Delhi. There is no need to force them. This new ministry should comprise only willing personnel. The officers can be transferred to other ministries or to a central pool ensuring that they remain in Delhi as per their desire. 4. Junior and mid-level officers from all services should be deputed to Visakhapatnam. This group must be asked to read Coram's book and model themselves on Boyd's team. 5. Defence attachés in Kyiv, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Teheran should be assigned to this ministry after their term ends. Those from Beijing, Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, and Paris should also be considered. They can bring fresh global ideas. 6. National private sector companies should be encouraged to engage with the new ministry. Stern warnings should be given to them that this engagement is for the benefit of the country and its defence. While they will certainly make profits, their role should not be that of short-term vultures. 7. These companies should be invited to second some of their best engineers and project managers for short-term assignments. These individuals should be clearly told that they will have to forego their present salaries and accept salaries on par with their government counterparts. If this is not acceptable, then they need not come. There is no compulsion. The new ministry wants only willing, enthusiastic, hungry people. These individuals will have to publicly take an oath that they will not be swayed by conflicts of interest and work indirectly for their employer's benefit. Their commitment for the next few years will only be to the country's defence. 8. A close liaison with the Department of Space and ISRO should be institutionalised. For external parties, both should appear seamlessly integrated. 9. Start-ups should be encouraged to pitch ideas to the new ministry. 10. The Raksha Mantri should visit Visakhapatnam every month for two days to review progress and assess start-up pitches. 11. The aim of the new ministry should be simple: within five years, India must have world class, state-of-the art defence equipment in multiple fields. While cutting-edge technology is important, effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and scalability should be the overarching themes. Risks will be taken in a calibrated manner. Risk-taking will not be punished. The focus will be on learning lessons and moving forward. 12. The Prime Minister should inaugurate the new ministry and visit it at least twice a year for the next five years. It is this writer's ardent hope that our country learns from John Boyd's ideas — fully and substantially, not just partially as has been the case with America. The time is now for us to build on the amazing foundation your government has laid in recent years. The next five can be really exciting. Jaithirth 'Jerry' Rao is a retired entrepreneur who lives in Lonavala. He has published three books: 'Notes from an Indian Conservative', 'The Indian Conservative', and 'Economist Gandhi'. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
News18
14-07-2025
- Science
- News18
Shubhanshu Shukla Set To Return: Why His Space Trip Marks A Historic Milestone for India
Last Updated: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to return after 18 days at the ISS, marking a milestone for India's Gaganyaan program with unique experiments benefiting global science. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is now on his return journey to Earth, marking the completion of his significant 18-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS). This mission is a monumental achievement for India, as Shukla becomes only the second Indian to embark on a space journey. Shukla and three others, Axiom 4 (Ax-4) crew Commander Peggy Whitson, and Mission Specialists Slawosz 'Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu embarked on the space odyssey on June 25 from Florida and docked at the ISS on June 26. Why Shubhanshu Shukla's Mission Is Historic For India The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) views Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's space trip as a crucial milestone towards its ambitious Gaganyaan programme, India's first planned crewed mission set for 2027. The term 'Gaganyaan" itself means 'sky craft" in Sanskrit, symbolising India's aspirations in human spaceflight. During his 18 days in space, Shukla experienced 16 sunrises and sunsets daily, as the ISS orbits approximately 400 km above Earth at an impressive speed of 28,000 km per hour. This hands-on experience on the ISS is invaluable for ISRO's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, for which ISRO reportedly incurred an approximate cost of Rs 550 crore for Shukla's travel. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla himself emphasised that his missions hold 'far-reaching implications beyond science." Indian-Origin Experiments Conducted On the ISS 'Indigenous kits, indigenous experiments, done by indigenous people, which will benefit and be used by other countries of the world," the minister stated, underscoring the groundbreaking nature of this mission. He added, 'All the experiments were never imagined to date. On India's initiative, Shubhanshu has done this for the whole world… For the first time, experiments of Indian origin have been done by an Indian person for the world." During an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shubhanshu Shukla revealed that seven unique, Indian-designed experiments were brought by him to the ISS. Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, has also stressed the importance of meticulously documenting all experiments and activities post-Shukla's return, as these will yield vital insights for the Gaganyaan program's development. Scientific Contributions & Future Implications Of Shukla's Mission A comprehensive suite of Indian scientific experiments was successfully conducted onboard the International Space Station as part of this mission, marking a significant contribution from India's research community to microgravity science. These groundbreaking experiments, designed by leading Indian institutions and coordinated by ISRO, covered diverse areas: Ax-04 Mission Specific Experiment Areas Investigations into the impact of microgravity and ISS radiation on edible microalgae. Research on the sprouting of salad seeds in space and its relevance to crew nutrition. Studies on the survival, revival, reproduction, and transcriptomic analysis of the eutardigrade Paramacrobiotus sp. BLR strain in space. The effect of metabolic supplements on muscle regeneration under microgravity. Examination of human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity. The influence of microgravity on the growth and yield of food crop seeds. The Ax-04 mission has provided invaluable hands-on experience in the intricacies of international crew integration, medical and psychological preparation for space travel, real-time health telemetry, experiment execution, and vital crew–ground coordination. These insights will directly inform and enhance the mission planning, safety validation, and astronaut readiness for India's first indigenous human spaceflight mission, the Gaganyaan program. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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Business Standard
13-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Isro to industry: Tech transfers fueling private sector's orbital lift-off
Isro's tech expertise has found wider uses. Now, IN-SPACe is driving deeper tech transfers to power the private sector's orbital lift-off Shine Jacob Chennai Listen to This Article India's space ambitions are on an upward trajectory, and now private collaborations are propelling them further through transfer of technology. Late last month, the Department of Space, through its nodal agency — the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) — announced the transfer of Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro's) small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV) technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for ₹511 crore. The landmark move was one of the first instances of the Indian space agency fully transferring a launch vehicle technology to an industry player. This signals a strategic shift in India's space programme as it
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Qualified cheer: On Shubhanshu Shukla, Axiom-4 mission
At noon on June 25, 2025 (IST), India's Shubhanshu Shukla lifted off with three other astronauts from NASA's Florida spaceport to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission. This is the first time an Indian has gone to orbital space since Rakesh Sharma in 1984. If the Dragon crew capsule docks successfully with the ISS on June 26, Mr. Shukla will also become the first Indian onboard the ISS. Over the next two weeks, he and the ISS crew will perform a suite of experiments carried by the Axiom-4 mission, including eight from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Mr. Shukla is among the leading candidates to fly in India's maiden human space flight mission, Gaganyaan, currently slated for 2027. For now, the Department of Space has not articulated the reasons for spending ₹548 crore to buy Mr. Shukla's seat on Axiom-4. Against the backdrop of the ₹20,200-crore budget for Gaganyaan, Mr. Shukla's paid flight to the ISS, packaged along with advanced training for him and back-up crewmate Prasanth Nair, will give India considerable insight into human space flight and how it is coordinated ahead of mounting its own astronaut expeditions, regardless of the money spent. However, this does not spare the Department of Space and ISRO from communicating the rationale and extent of these benefits, which has yet to happen. Space flight has changed considerably between Mr. Sharma's and Mr. Shukla's flights: the stakes today are multidimensional and more demanding. Axiom is a private entity contracted with NASA and SpaceX, and which sells seats to commercial missions to the ISS. But uncertainties linger over NASA's future access to the Dragon crew capsules following Elon Musk's spat with U.S. President Donald Trump. The effects of Mr. Trump's tariffs and his willingness to honour predecessor Joe Biden's commitments to India, given the major budget cuts he has proposed for 2026, are also unclear. And the ISS is set to be decommissioned by 2030. In this world, the future of India's own space programme is caught between multiple futures. NASA and private U.S. companies, including Blue Origin, have said they would like to use Gaganyaan technologies in future missions as part of strengthening U.S.-India ties in the space sector. But even as the country balances commercial with public sector needs, it needs to remain a relevant provider of space flight services. The Indian government has signalled that it is willing to take positive steps to bolster the private sector but which, thus far, have been inadequate. Thus, once Mr. Shukla returns, ISRO's to-do list will move to the next big challenge even as public expectations of it, including transparent communication, will soar.
India Today
25-06-2025
- Science
- India Today
Axiom launches Shubhanshu Shukla: India takes center stage in global space alliance
In a historic first, an Indian astronaut is set to live and work aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) - a landmark mission that embodies the transformative rise of global human on June 25, this moment is far more than a scientific milestone; it is a symbol of India's ascent into the league of spacefaring nations, fuelled by decades of determination and the dreams of 1.4 billion citizens. As India charts its course through the Gaganyaan program, prepares for its own Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), and aims for a crewed lunar mission by 2040, Ax-4 marks the dawn of a new thoughts of early effortsThe Gaganyaan program, aimed at sending an Indian astronaut to space aboard an indigenous launch vehicle, was approved by the Government of India in 2019. Since then, the program has made steady progress but also faced critical challenges, chief among them being the development of the human capsule and its associated systems, such as environmental control and life support. These components have experienced delays beyond the originally announced timelines, largely due to limited domestic expertise and difficulties in sourcing advanced systems from international collaborators within the sanctioned budget. Designing a human-rated spacecraft is a technically complex task, requiring a deep understanding of human-machine interfaces in extreme conditions. While published data exists, much of the nuanced knowledge - especially regarding the operational procedures and ergonomic demands of space travel, remains tacit and rarely shared beyond those with direct mission experience. In this regard, astronauts who have been to space offer invaluable insights into capsule design, interface configuration, and mission was against this backdrop that the Department of Space proposed a bold idea in 2023: sending an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) through international collaboration. This idea gained momentum just as discussions were underway ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States. The proposal argued that such a mission would give India access to state-of-the-art technologies in human spaceflight, knowledge that could significantly inform and accelerate the Gaganyaan program. At the time, India already had a unique advantage: four astronauts trained under Gaganyaan were available, and one or more could be deployed for the ISS that NASA no longer undertakes government-sponsored foreign astronaut missions, a commercial partnership was explored. Axiom Space, a company pioneering commercial human spaceflight using NASA's legacy expertise, emerged as the ideal partner. A mutually beneficial arrangement was reached, whereby a mission pilot seat originally reserved for NASA on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) was allocated to 2024, a formal US-India partnership agreement was signed between the Indian Ambassador to the US and American counterparts, enabling this collaboration and facilitating the commercial engagement of ISRO with Axiom Space. Following this, a contract was finalised, setting in motion the selection process for India's rigorous evaluation process was conducted by a national team, resulting in the selection of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as the primary astronaut, with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as the standby. Both underwent the initial phases of training, and today, Shubhanshu Shukla is in the final stages of preparation to represent India on this historic mission.A bold commercial venture with global rootsIndia's participation in Axiom-4 is not just a symbolic milestone. It is embedded in a larger, rapidly evolving landscape of commercial human spaceflight. The mission itself is a prime example of how space exploration is shifting from purely government-led endeavors to collaborative, commercial platforms with global is the fourth private astronaut mission organised by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and SpaceX, marking another step toward building a permanent commercial presence in low-Earth orbit. The mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, using the brand-new Crew Dragon C213 this was its maiden and possibly final flight, as Crew Dragon production may not continue considering the recent developments. The four-person crew will spend approximately 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting over 60 cutting-edge scientific experiments in fields such as microgravity biology, materials science, artificial intelligence, and sustainable significance of the Axiom-4 Mission to the ISS is that it offers a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that enables research that is not possible on Earth. For more than 24 years, NASA has supported a continuous human presence aboard the ISS orbiting laboratory, through which astronauts have learned to live and work in space for extended periods of international space station was developed as a springboard for developing a low-Earth economy. NASA's commercial strategy for low Earth orbit will provide the government with reliable and safe services at a lower cost, enabling the agency to focus on future missions to the Moon in preparation for Mars while also continuing to use low Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for those deep space missions.A diverse crew, historic milestonesAs Axiom-4 advances the frontiers of commercial spaceflight and scientific exploration, it also marks a new era of international collaboration and inclusive representation in space. The mission brings together a diverse crew of astronauts from four different countries, each contributing to and celebrating a unique national Whitson, serving as Mission Commander, is a veteran NASA astronaut and now Axiom's Director of Human Spaceflight. Her extensive experience brings invaluable leadership to the mission. Representing India, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Pilot of Axiom-4, became the first Indian astronaut to live and work aboard the them are Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, Mission Specialist, who became the first Polish national on the ISS, and Tibor Kapu, also a Mission Specialist, who became the first Hungarian astronaut to enter space since the Soviet this diverse team embodies the growing democratisation of space access, as commercial platforms like Axiom open new pathways for countries and individuals to participate in human spaceflight. The crew's composition reflects not only scientific and technical excellence but also a broader, global vision of space as a shared domain - moving decisively beyond traditional government-led ventures into a future shaped by collaborative, multinational efforts.(Dr S Somanath served as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from January 2022-January 2025. A seasoned aerospace engineer, he has played a pivotal role in India's launch vehicle development and space missions.)- Ends(Views expressed in this piece are those of the author)Tune InMust Watch
