As the nation eagerly waits for Dipa Karmakar`s performance in the Rio Olympics women`s vault final, her parents hope that the 23-year-old gymnast gets a birthday present in the form of a medal at the prestigious quadrennial event. 
 
Dipa`s father Dulal Karmakar, a weightlifting coach with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), said that he was overwhelmed with happiness after getting the news about Dipa qualifying for the finals. 
 
&quot;I have no words to express my feelings. It was always her aim to participate in the Olympics and now she has qualified as well. Now we all are hoping that she comes back with a medal from there,&quot; Dulal Karmakar said. 
 
&quot;Yes it is a big success and we are very happy. On her birthday, we are not doing anything just praying to god that as a present on her birthday she can bring a medal for all Indians,&quot; said Dipa Karmakar`s mother Gouri Karmakar.Tripura`s golden girl Dipa surprised one and all by becoming first Indian gymnast to enter the Olympic final. 
 
Meanwhile, prayers are taking place in her native state, hoping that the Tripura gymnast brings laurels for the nation. Bijoy Chakraborty, a priest who performed a yagna for Dipa`s victory said, &quot;I had earlier performed such puja for Sourav Ganguly when he was the captain (of the Indian cricket team). This yagna is being done so that Dipa can be successful today in her final performance at the Olympic (which is slated to be held at 11.47pm).&quot; 
 
The event will take place today evening at the Rio Olympic Arena. Simone Biles (USA), Hong Un-Jong (North Korea), Giulia Steingruber (Switzerland), Maria Paseka (Russia), Oksana Chusovitina (Uzbekistan), Shallon Olsen (Canada), Wang Yan (China) are the other gymnasts participating at the event. 
 
Dipa is the world`s fifth gymnast to have attempted Produnova, a dangerous trick on the vault. The first woman from the country to feature in the lineup of gymnasts at the Olympics, Dipa succeeded in performing the difficult `Produnova` routine to secure 14.850 points after two attempts, but had to undergo a nervous wait for hours to find out that she had made it to the final with an eighth-place finish. 
 
(ANI)

As the nation eagerly waits for Dipa Karmakar`s performance in the Rio Olympics women`s vault final, her parents hope that the 23-year-old gymnast gets a birthday present in the form of a medal at the prestigious quadrennial event.

As the nation eagerly waits for Dipa Karmakar`s performance in the Rio Olympics women`s vault final, her parents hope that the 23-year-old gymnast gets a birthday present in the form of a medal at the prestigious quadrennial event. Dipa`s father Dulal Karmakar, a weightlifting coach with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), said that he was overwhelmed with happiness after getting the news about Dipa qualifying for the finals. "I have no words to express my feelings. It was always her aim to participate in the Olympics and now she has qualified as well. Now we all are hoping that she comes back with a medal from there," Dulal Karmakar said. "Yes it is a big success and we are very happy. On her birthday, we are not doing anything just praying to god that as a present on her birthday she can bring a medal for all Indians," said Dipa Karmakar`s mother Gouri Karmakar.Tripura`s golden girl Dipa surprised one and all by becoming first Indian gymnast to enter the Olympic final. Meanwhile, prayers are taking place in her native state, hoping that the Tripura gymnast brings laurels for the nation. Bijoy Chakraborty, a priest who performed a yagna for Dipa`s victory said, "I had earlier performed such puja for Sourav Ganguly when he was the captain (of the Indian cricket team). This yagna is being done so that Dipa can be successful today in her final performance at the Olympic (which is slated to be held at 11.47pm)." The event will take place today evening at the Rio Olympic Arena. Simone Biles (USA), Hong Un-Jong (North Korea), Giulia Steingruber (Switzerland), Maria Paseka (Russia), Oksana Chusovitina (Uzbekistan), Shallon Olsen (Canada), Wang Yan (China) are the other gymnasts participating at the event. Dipa is the world`s fifth gymnast to have attempted Produnova, a dangerous trick on the vault. The first woman from the country to feature in the lineup of gymnasts at the Olympics, Dipa succeeded in performing the difficult `Produnova` routine to secure 14.850 points after two attempts, but had to undergo a nervous wait for hours to find out that she had made it to the final with an eighth-place finish. (ANI)

2 dead, 9 injured in fresh Manipur violence; 'suspected Kuki insurgents' use drones to drop bombs

A video of a drone attack in Russia has rapidly spread online, leaving many shocked and drawing comparisons to the 9/11 attacks&nbsp;in the United States.

Amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine has carried out its most significant drone attack to date, targeting a residential building in Saratov, Russia. The drone strike occurred early in the morning, marking a notable escalation in the conflict.

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WATCH: Drone crashes into high-rise building in Saratov, Russia <a href="https://t.co/IIf1TU7ijg">pic.twitter.com/IIf1TU7ijg</a>
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&nbsp;

<h2>Russian defense efforts and regional impact</h2>

According to Russia's defence ministry, nine drones were intercepted and destroyed over the Saratov region, which is approximately 900 kilometres (560 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Despite these defensive measures, falling debris from the intercepted drones caused damage to a residential complex in Saratov, as reported by regional governor Roman Basurgin on Telegram.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-peace-for-gaza-as-ceasefire-talks-fail-in-cairo-over-philadelphi-corridor-753333">No peace for Gaza as ceasefire talks fail in Cairo over Philadelphi corridor</a>

The drone attack led to significant disruptions, including damage to homes and restrictions on flights in the Saratov region. Russian officials and news agencies confirmed that a woman was also injured in the attack.

Russia's RIA news agency reported that, according to the airport's press service, flight operations at Saratov's regional airport were restricted.

<h2>September 11 Attacks: A Historical Comparison</h2>

The recent events have evoked comparisons to the September 11 attacks. On September 11, 2001, suicide attackers hijacked US passenger jets. They crashed them into two New York skyscrapers, resulting in the deaths of thousands and marking one of the most traumatic events of the century, both for Americans and the global community.

(With inputs from agencies)

A video of a drone attack in Russia has rapidly spread online, leaving many shocked and drawing comparisons to the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine has carried out its most significant drone attack to date, targeting a residential building in Saratov, Russia.

A video of a drone attack in Russia has rapidly spread online, leaving many shocked and drawing comparisons to the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine has carried out its most significant drone attack to date, targeting a residential building in Saratov, Russia. The drone strike occurred early in the morning, marking a notable escalation in the conflict. WATCH: Drone crashes into high-rise building in Saratov, Russia pic.twitter.com/IIf1TU7ijg — BNO News (@BNONews) August 26, 2024 × Russian defense efforts and regional impact According to Russia's defence ministry, nine drones were intercepted and destroyed over the Saratov region, which is approximately 900 kilometres (560 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Despite these defensive measures, falling debris from the intercepted drones caused damage to a residential complex in Saratov, as reported by regional governor Roman Basurgin on Telegram. Also read | No peace for Gaza as ceasefire talks fail in Cairo over Philadelphi corridor The drone attack led to significant disruptions, including damage to homes and restrictions on flights in the Saratov region. Russian officials and news agencies confirmed that a woman was also injured in the attack. Russia's RIA news agency reported that, according to the airport's press service, flight operations at Saratov's regional airport were restricted. September 11 Attacks: A Historical Comparison The recent events have evoked comparisons to the September 11 attacks. On September 11, 2001, suicide attackers hijacked US passenger jets. They crashed them into two New York skyscrapers, resulting in the deaths of thousands and marking one of the most traumatic events of the century, both for Americans and the global community. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Ukrainian drone hits Russian high-rise building, resembling 9/11 attack visuals

North Korea is known for its ruthless isolationism and has been a secretive state for the past few years with no tourists visiting the nation after the&nbsp;pandemic.&nbsp;

But a Redditor, whose username is XioHao2, shared a series of photos captured in North Korea without entering the country. Using a novel method, the social media user flew the drone across the border from China.

In the images shared by the social media user, there were large buildings which featured photographs of the country’s founder Kim Il-sung and his firstborn son Kim Jong-il.

In the other aerial views, the eerily deserted streets were seen with very few cars and people on the roads.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korean-defects-to-south-by-crossing-border-says-seoul-military-751513">North Korean defects to South by crossing border, says Seoul military</a>

In one photo, some people were seen looking at the drone which suggested that the activities of the Reddit poster did not go unnoticed.

<h2>Reddit users react to the novel idea of visiting North Korea</h2>

The series of photographs received more than 6,900 comments as&nbsp;Redditors&nbsp;shared their thoughts.

“Am I tripping or is there no street drainage at all? Definitely no traffic lights. Looks like a concrete model of a city," wrote one user.

“Where are the people? Are they only props that come out whenever the Dear Leader needs his ego stroked?” quizzed another.&nbsp;

“It's the greyest country in the world. F**king depressing,” said a third user.

Some users also expressed concern that the activities of the original poster could land him/her in trouble.

“That is so so so cool, but not smart,” warned a user. “The Chinese government has a tight relationship with North Korea, returns escapees, helps prosecute criminals," said another.

“If [you’re] flying a DJI drone they have even more info on you, info that would allow them to track you down after the fact. So be careful," wrote a user.

Watch:&nbsp;North Korea: Kim Jong Un oversees delivery of ballistic missile launchers

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-korea-kim-jong-un-oversees-delivery-of-ballistic-missile-launchers-747476/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“This won’t create an international incident but you can be sure both governments will be working to figure out who it was," another user said.

Some even tried to understand the implications of the research done by the original poster.

“If this random dude with a drone from a store can this easily spy on North Korea, imagine the intel the US has!” wrote a user.

Another user said, “US intelligence are probably like 'wait s**t, we spent hundreds of millions on spy satellites and could have just used a f**king $500 drone?'"

“Guy single-handedly invaded N. Korea," said a user. Later, it was confirmed by the original poster that the images were taken in Sinuiju City during the 2020&nbsp;Covid pandemic.

For almost five years, the country remained closed to foreign travellers because of coronavirus restrictions and has now started opening borders slowly.

(With inputs from agencies)

North Korea is known for its ruthless isolationism and has been a secretive state for the past few years with no tourists visiting the nation after the pandemic.

North Korea is known for its ruthless isolationism and has been a secretive state for the past few years with no tourists visiting the nation after the pandemic. But a Redditor, whose username is XioHao2, shared a series of photos captured in North Korea without entering the country. Using a novel method, the social media user flew the drone across the border from China. In the images shared by the social media user, there were large buildings which featured photographs of the country’s founder Kim Il-sung and his firstborn son Kim Jong-il. In the other aerial views, the eerily deserted streets were seen with very few cars and people on the roads. Also Read: North Korean defects to South by crossing border, says Seoul military In one photo, some people were seen looking at the drone which suggested that the activities of the Reddit poster did not go unnoticed. Reddit users react to the novel idea of visiting North Korea The series of photographs received more than 6,900 comments as Redditors shared their thoughts. “Am I tripping or is there no street drainage at all? Definitely no traffic lights. Looks like a concrete model of a city," wrote one user. “Where are the people? Are they only props that come out whenever the Dear Leader needs his ego stroked?” quizzed another. “It's the greyest country in the world. F**king depressing,” said a third user. Some users also expressed concern that the activities of the original poster could land him/her in trouble. “That is so so so cool, but not smart,” warned a user. “The Chinese government has a tight relationship with North Korea, returns escapees, helps prosecute criminals," said another. “If [you’re] flying a DJI drone they have even more info on you, info that would allow them to track you down after the fact. So be careful," wrote a user. Watch: North Korea: Kim Jong Un oversees delivery of ballistic missile launchers “This won’t create an international incident but you can be sure both governments will be working to figure out who it was," another user said. Some even tried to understand the implications of the research done by the original poster. “If this random dude with a drone from a store can this easily spy on North Korea, imagine the intel the US has!” wrote a user. Another user said, “US intelligence are probably like 'wait s**t, we spent hundreds of millions on spy satellites and could have just used a f**king $500 drone?'" “Guy single-handedly invaded N. Korea," said a user. Later, it was confirmed by the original poster that the images were taken in Sinuiju City during the 2020 Covid pandemic. For almost five years, the country remained closed to foreign travellers because of coronavirus restrictions and has now started opening borders slowly. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese man invades North Korea in a never-thought way, flies drone across the border

Chinese Engineers successfully conducted the test run of the country's biggest cargo drone to date that's not all they also tested a helicopter taxi which is soon to open 100 kilometer route to Shanghai. Watch in for more details!

China tests largest domestically produced Cargo drone

You might be aware of the term crash-landing but how about crash birching-inspired by winged creatures. Swiss scientists have built a winged unmanned aerial vehicle by hugging trees and poles.

Swiss scientists create tree-hugging drones, UAV with unique perching ability

Watch top headlines of the hour: - Israel pounds tent camps around Rafah - PMs Modi, Hasina hold bilateral talks - Yemen Houthis attack USS Eisenhower - Russia pounds energy infra in Ukraine - Convicted, Hindujas appeal to higher court - Israel-Hezbollah: UN Chief sounds alarm

WION Headlines | Yemen Houthis attack USS Eisenhower | Convicted, Hindujas appeal to higher court

With increased strikes on vessels the Houthi trouble for Israel seems to be gaining momentum. In the latest strikes announced early on Sunday Houthi rebels have struck four ships at Israel's Northern Haifa Port. Watch in for more details!

Houthis claim attack on four ships at Israel's Haifa port

A leading Chinese drone maker is changing the game on Goods deliveries to remote locations. Their drones are now operating on Mount Everest from delivering cargo to helping clear trash China appears to be leading the game of drones.

DJI's Flycart30: Heavy-lifter drone, tested on Mount Everest

Japan detected a Chinese reconnaissance-attack drone flying near Okinawa in the East China Sea. The incident occurred Monday within Japan's air defense identification zone.

Gravitas: China sends drone in Japanese airspace

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed to have shot down a US MQ9 drone over the southeastern province of Maareb on Thursday evening, according to the group's military spokesman on Friday. Watch in for more details!

Israel-Hamas war: Houthis claim to have downed US MQ-9 reaper drone

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed to have shot down a US MQ9 drone over the southeastern province of Maareb on Thursday evening, according to the group's military spokesman on Friday.

US reaper drone shot down with surface-to-air missile: Houthis

While drones have revolutionised the battlefield, it is the rise and proliferation of rockets and missiles that has impacted the battlefield and geostrategic statecraft. Their widespread employment in conjunction with traditional artillery and aircraft is the new battlefield paradigm. The global inventory of rockets and missiles has expanded geometrically. Firepower has changed drastically as rockets and missiles have been employed as geopolitical tools of coercion, as conventional weapons in battle and as a tool of power by non-state actors. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>The Geopolitical Tools of Coercion</h2>

North Korea pioneered provocative testing cum demonstrative firings of missiles and rockets as geopolitical tools of coercion since the late 70s. Initially, North Korean missiles had 50% failures. Current failure rates are only around 15%. As missile reliability improved, the North Korean threat has increased. In 2024, North Korea tested a cruise missile and IRBMs with hypersonic glide capability thrice. It keeps threatening the United States, South Korea and Japan through such firings. North Korea keeps firing a mix of unguided rockets, guided missiles and cruise missiles to keep the Eastern Pacific destabilised. It also conveys nuclear ambiguity through missile testing. It even fires conventional rockets mixed with tube artillery near inhabited areas to explicitly threaten and coerce South Korea. &nbsp;

China has a vast array of modern missiles and rockets. The PLARF is the largest ground-based missile force on earth. China regularly carries out large-scale rocket and missile firing demonstratively along with naval and air exercises to threaten and coerce Taiwan. The larger message is to demonstrate China’s resolve and capability to annex Taiwan, fight and win wars and project power globally. China uses the PLARF to convey its credibility and capabilities of nuclear deterrence and counterattack, strengthen intermediate and long-range precision strike forces, and enhance strategic counter-balance capability. It is a potent threat to China’s neighbours and adversaries. It also gives the PLA the ability to influence local, regional, and global military conflicts. In simple terms, it is geopolitical coercion on a global scale.&nbsp;

<h2>Rockets and Missiles in Conventional Battles</h2>

The &nbsp;Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict indicated how conventional wars will be fought using rockets, missiles, drones, and artillery. While its highlight was the extensive use of drones to complement conventional artillery, it also featured the heavy use of missiles and rocket artillery. This aspect has largely gone unnoticed. &nbsp;Both sides deployed and employed a range of rockets and missiles. These were a combination of legacy systems of the USSR era as also modern systems procured from different sources individually. Azerbaijan invested more into its rocket and missile arsenal to include guided rockets and MLRS systems to engage targets up to 200 km in depth. The balance tipped in Azerbaijan’s favour due to better drones and rocket artillery and a willingness to use them in an innovative and integrated manner. &nbsp;

The violence of firepower and its centrality in battle is reinforced in the Ukraine war. &nbsp;Employment of guns, rockets and missiles – guided, cruise and hypersonic has been unrestricted, imaginative and extensive. &nbsp;Major lessons have been drawn. Terrain, ground or weather might deter, inhibit or preclude the employment of Air, Infantry and Armour but nothing deters long-range Artillery. It overcomes terrain friction by striking deep. Despite static front lines, the daily situation changes due to orchestrated firepower strikes across the battlefield. Long-range vectors generate strategic as well as battlefield manoeuvre. They have been used to achieve political aims by deliberate firing on specified targets. Russia has postured with nuclear warheads and fired conventional warheads to achieve deterrence. It has done so through extensive use of air, hypersonic/cruise/guided missiles, rockets, and guns to deter NATO from getting directly involved. Ukraine uses rockets and cruise missiles imaginatively to deliver crucial blows to Russia. It has sunk a large part of the Russian Navy. &nbsp;Rockets and missiles have been used innovatively in executing ‘firepower ambushes’, &nbsp;undertaking ‘track and kill’ operations and carrying out ‘spoiling attacks’. A major factor which has emerged is that rockets and missiles used in conjunction with drones and a good command and control system dominate conventional battlefields.&nbsp;

<h2>The Non-State Tool of Power</h2>

The Houthi movement to grab power in Yemen is decades old. When the Saudis intervened, Iran stepped in. It provided the Houthis with a liberal supply of rockets and missiles. Once Saudi Arabia and Iran got involved, the Yemen civil war acquired local, regional and international flavours. “The Missile War in Yemen” &nbsp;marks the rise in the use of rockets and ballistic missiles by nonstate actors/proxies. Houthis have fired innumerable rockets and missiles locally at Yemen’s Government and Saudi bases, population centres, and infrastructure to trigger a humanitarian crisis. Regionally, Houthis have used a combination of cruise missiles, unguided rockets, ballistic missiles and armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack Saudi Arabia. The most spectacular being the 2019 ARAMCO attacks of Abqaiq and Khurais oil refineries. The Houthi SAMs have downed many &nbsp;Saudi coalition force aircraft. Their rocket and missile arsenal has secured a power-sharing agreement in Yemen. The Houthis are exercising ‘sea denial’ from land by firing drones and anti-ship cruise missiles against international shipping, oil tankers and U.S. Navy warships in the Red Sea. The Houthi arsenal of long-range missiles and drones has complicated the prospect of restoring peace and stability in West Asia or normalising international trade. &nbsp;

The Iran-backed Hezbollah is the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor, described as ‘a militia trained like an army and equipped like a state’. Its rocket and missile arsenal is arrayed against Israel. Hezbollah’s missile inventory is mostly unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets which lack precision or lethality. However, sheer numbers and volume make them potent weapons of terror. From the 2006 Lebanon war to now, they have expanded from 15,000 rockets and missiles to about 130,000-150,000. Hezbollah uses them as tools of terror and deterrence.&nbsp; 
Hezbollah’s ‘shoot and scoot’ tactics make detection, &nbsp;suppression and retaliation extremely difficult. It negates Israeli airpower. &nbsp;Hence, Hezbollah and Israeli troops are on equal footing in battle. It gives an advantage to Hezbollah which fights from behind a civilian façade like all non-state actors. Hezbollah and Houthi forces are collaborating to develop and employ rockets and missiles against Israel. Hezbollah is pushing to acquire longer-range precision-guided munitions. It has some rockets and missiles with a range of up to even 250 km. This is feasible due to the proliferation of missile technology by Iran.&nbsp;

Hamas was estimated to possess around 6000 rockets in a mix of short (15-20 km), medium ( 45 km) and long (100-200 km) range rockets. Hamas has adapted ideas from the Houthis and Hezbollah with Iranian assistance. Hamas specialises in making crude rockets using water pipes and filling them with any available explosive. Though erratic, they strike terror and make defiant political statements. Hamas uses civilian infrastructure and tunnels to camouflage and store these weapons. Hamas used to fire rockets into Israel from civilian areas of the Gaza Strip. It demonstrates their power to retaliate and even needle Israel to pursue their aims. These have also been used by Hamas to provoke Israel into indiscriminate retaliatory action and enmesh it in a humanitarian trap like they have done in the ongoing conflict.&nbsp;

Iran’s rockets and missile power were on display in its recent demonstrative strike on Israel. The strategic message in that strike is that sheer numbers and volumes can overwhelm air defences. Iran also proliferates rockets &amp; missiles to most of the non-state actors in West Asia. This enables Iran to project power and gain recognition of being an important player in the region. Iran is a case study in power projection far beyond borders without a strong navy or Air Force. Iran has offset this deficiency with its missile arsenal. Incidentally, this tactic is being used by China against the USA in the Western Pacific and against India in the Himalayas.&nbsp;

<h2>The Rise of Rockets and Missiles</h2>

Rockets and missiles are the choice tools of power, coercion and terror for the state as well as non-state actors. Their enhanced ranges outpace conventional artillery or aircraft. When combined with drones, they expand and threaten every corner of the battlefield. They have heralded a new vista of non-contact warfare with positive escalatory controls. They are also cheaper and far less complicated than air forces to acquire and maintain. They are flexible in employment and light on training and infrastructure requirement. The array of rockets and missiles is vast and can be produced through crude methods as also sophisticated processes as per capability and requirement. Rockets and missiles can be used as weapons of terror and mass destruction interchangeably. Their visual impact is high with enhanced propaganda value. They are capable of precision over longer ranges, unlike guns. Their survivability against air defences is far higher than aircraft. Very importantly they can be employed in conventional and nuclear roles. Technology gives better options in producing and employing rockets and missiles en masse. Modern missiles with higher speeds, range, navigation, advanced materials, and endurance can be developed at speed through dual-use space technologies. The evolution of hypersonic missiles is a new chapter on the horizon. The use of rockets and missiles combined with drones and satellite systems backed by AI-driven command and control systems is deadly and set to grow in modern warfare.

<h2>The Indian Scene</h2>

While there is some clamour for a Rocket Force in India, we need to see it in perspective. India has the technology and wherewithal to produce any kind of rocket or missile. It has a reasonable inventory and adequate capability to accelerate production. What it lacks is the vision to put it all together. A major part of the inability is a lack of Recce Strike Integration thinking. Integration of surveillance and long-range firepower through a dedicated command and control system is sorely lacking. More importantly, a national strategy is lacking. ISRO and DRDO don’t exactly see eye to eye. Each Service has its own philosophy at variance with the other. The Army myopia reduced the number of rocket regiments in its long-term plans! As the ranges of engagement have increased, &nbsp;the Indian Artillery, which incidentally is the most modern Arm of the Army, has been stripped of integral deep surveillance and targeting capability! Believe it or not! Over time, long-range and aerial observation capability birthed in Artillery has been bifurcated from it by our ‘Dritharashtric’ planners. While the rest of the world is integrating firepower, surveillance and observation through repurposed apps in battle, we have systematically disintegrated our structure! &nbsp;No. We do not need a rocket force. We need integrated thinking and jointness. We sorely lack that at almost every level. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) &nbsp;

While drones have revolutionised the battlefield, it is the rise and proliferation of rockets and missiles that has impacted the battlefield and geostrategic statecraft.

While drones have revolutionised the battlefield, it is the rise and proliferation of rockets and missiles that has impacted the battlefield and geostrategic statecraft. Their widespread employment in conjunction with traditional artillery and aircraft is the new battlefield paradigm. The global inventory of rockets and missiles has expanded geometrically. Firepower has changed drastically as rockets and missiles have been employed as geopolitical tools of coercion, as conventional weapons in battle and as a tool of power by non-state actors. The Geopolitical Tools of Coercion North Korea pioneered provocative testing cum demonstrative firings of missiles and rockets as geopolitical tools of coercion since the late 70s. Initially, North Korean missiles had 50% failures. Current failure rates are only around 15%. As missile reliability improved, the North Korean threat has increased. In 2024, North Korea tested a cruise missile and IRBMs with hypersonic glide capability thrice. It keeps threatening the United States, South Korea and Japan through such firings. North Korea keeps firing a mix of unguided rockets, guided missiles and cruise missiles to keep the Eastern Pacific destabilised. It also conveys nuclear ambiguity through missile testing. It even fires conventional rockets mixed with tube artillery near inhabited areas to explicitly threaten and coerce South Korea. China has a vast array of modern missiles and rockets. The PLARF is the largest ground-based missile force on earth. China regularly carries out large-scale rocket and missile firing demonstratively along with naval and air exercises to threaten and coerce Taiwan. The larger message is to demonstrate China’s resolve and capability to annex Taiwan, fight and win wars and project power globally. China uses the PLARF to convey its credibility and capabilities of nuclear deterrence and counterattack, strengthen intermediate and long-range precision strike forces, and enhance strategic counter-balance capability. It is a potent threat to China’s neighbours and adversaries. It also gives the PLA the ability to influence local, regional, and global military conflicts. In simple terms, it is geopolitical coercion on a global scale. Rockets and Missiles in Conventional Battles The Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict indicated how conventional wars will be fought using rockets, missiles, drones, and artillery. While its highlight was the extensive use of drones to complement conventional artillery, it also featured the heavy use of missiles and rocket artillery. This aspect has largely gone unnoticed. Both sides deployed and employed a range of rockets and missiles. These were a combination of legacy systems of the USSR era as also modern systems procured from different sources individually. Azerbaijan invested more into its rocket and missile arsenal to include guided rockets and MLRS systems to engage targets up to 200 km in depth. The balance tipped in Azerbaijan’s favour due to better drones and rocket artillery and a willingness to use them in an innovative and integrated manner. The violence of firepower and its centrality in battle is reinforced in the Ukraine war. Employment of guns, rockets and missiles – guided, cruise and hypersonic has been unrestricted, imaginative and extensive. Major lessons have been drawn. Terrain, ground or weather might deter, inhibit or preclude the employment of Air, Infantry and Armour but nothing deters long-range Artillery. It overcomes terrain friction by striking deep. Despite static front lines, the daily situation changes due to orchestrated firepower strikes across the battlefield. Long-range vectors generate strategic as well as battlefield manoeuvre. They have been used to achieve political aims by deliberate firing on specified targets. Russia has postured with nuclear warheads and fired conventional warheads to achieve deterrence. It has done so through extensive use of air, hypersonic/cruise/guided missiles, rockets, and guns to deter NATO from getting directly involved. Ukraine uses rockets and cruise missiles imaginatively to deliver crucial blows to Russia. It has sunk a large part of the Russian Navy. Rockets and missiles have been used innovatively in executing ‘firepower ambushes’, undertaking ‘track and kill’ operations and carrying out ‘spoiling attacks’. A major factor which has emerged is that rockets and missiles used in conjunction with drones and a good command and control system dominate conventional battlefields. The Non-State Tool of Power The Houthi movement to grab power in Yemen is decades old. When the Saudis intervened, Iran stepped in. It provided the Houthis with a liberal supply of rockets and missiles. Once Saudi Arabia and Iran got involved, the Yemen civil war acquired local, regional and international flavours. “The Missile War in Yemen” marks the rise in the use of rockets and ballistic missiles by nonstate actors/proxies. Houthis have fired innumerable rockets and missiles locally at Yemen’s Government and Saudi bases, population centres, and infrastructure to trigger a humanitarian crisis. Regionally, Houthis have used a combination of cruise missiles, unguided rockets, ballistic missiles and armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack Saudi Arabia. The most spectacular being the 2019 ARAMCO attacks of Abqaiq and Khurais oil refineries. The Houthi SAMs have downed many Saudi coalition force aircraft. Their rocket and missile arsenal has secured a power-sharing agreement in Yemen. The Houthis are exercising ‘sea denial’ from land by firing drones and anti-ship cruise missiles against international shipping, oil tankers and U.S. Navy warships in the Red Sea. The Houthi arsenal of long-range missiles and drones has complicated the prospect of restoring peace and stability in West Asia or normalising international trade. The Iran-backed Hezbollah is the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor, described as ‘a militia trained like an army and equipped like a state’. Its rocket and missile arsenal is arrayed against Israel. Hezbollah’s missile inventory is mostly unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets which lack precision or lethality. However, sheer numbers and volume make them potent weapons of terror. From the 2006 Lebanon war to now, they have expanded from 15,000 rockets and missiles to about 130,000-150,000. Hezbollah uses them as tools of terror and deterrence. Hezbollah’s ‘shoot and scoot’ tactics make detection, suppression and retaliation extremely difficult. It negates Israeli airpower. Hence, Hezbollah and Israeli troops are on equal footing in battle. It gives an advantage to Hezbollah which fights from behind a civilian façade like all non-state actors. Hezbollah and Houthi forces are collaborating to develop and employ rockets and missiles against Israel. Hezbollah is pushing to acquire longer-range precision-guided munitions. It has some rockets and missiles with a range of up to even 250 km. This is feasible due to the proliferation of missile technology by Iran. Hamas was estimated to possess around 6000 rockets in a mix of short (15-20 km), medium ( 45 km) and long (100-200 km) range rockets. Hamas has adapted ideas from the Houthis and Hezbollah with Iranian assistance. Hamas specialises in making crude rockets using water pipes and filling them with any available explosive. Though erratic, they strike terror and make defiant political statements. Hamas uses civilian infrastructure and tunnels to camouflage and store these weapons. Hamas used to fire rockets into Israel from civilian areas of the Gaza Strip. It demonstrates their power to retaliate and even needle Israel to pursue their aims. These have also been used by Hamas to provoke Israel into indiscriminate retaliatory action and enmesh it in a humanitarian trap like they have done in the ongoing conflict. Iran’s rockets and missile power were on display in its recent demonstrative strike on Israel. The strategic message in that strike is that sheer numbers and volumes can overwhelm air defences. Iran also proliferates rockets & missiles to most of the non-state actors in West Asia. This enables Iran to project power and gain recognition of being an important player in the region. Iran is a case study in power projection far beyond borders without a strong navy or Air Force. Iran has offset this deficiency with its missile arsenal. Incidentally, this tactic is being used by China against the USA in the Western Pacific and against India in the Himalayas. The Rise of Rockets and Missiles Rockets and missiles are the choice tools of power, coercion and terror for the state as well as non-state actors. Their enhanced ranges outpace conventional artillery or aircraft. When combined with drones, they expand and threaten every corner of the battlefield. They have heralded a new vista of non-contact warfare with positive escalatory controls. They are also cheaper and far less complicated than air forces to acquire and maintain. They are flexible in employment and light on training and infrastructure requirement. The array of rockets and missiles is vast and can be produced through crude methods as also sophisticated processes as per capability and requirement. Rockets and missiles can be used as weapons of terror and mass destruction interchangeably. Their visual impact is high with enhanced propaganda value. They are capable of precision over longer ranges, unlike guns. Their survivability against air defences is far higher than aircraft. Very importantly they can be employed in conventional and nuclear roles. Technology gives better options in producing and employing rockets and missiles en masse. Modern missiles with higher speeds, range, navigation, advanced materials, and endurance can be developed at speed through dual-use space technologies. The evolution of hypersonic missiles is a new chapter on the horizon. The use of rockets and missiles combined with drones and satellite systems backed by AI-driven command and control systems is deadly and set to grow in modern warfare. The Indian Scene While there is some clamour for a Rocket Force in India, we need to see it in perspective. India has the technology and wherewithal to produce any kind of rocket or missile. It has a reasonable inventory and adequate capability to accelerate production. What it lacks is the vision to put it all together. A major part of the inability is a lack of Recce Strike Integration thinking. Integration of surveillance and long-range firepower through a dedicated command and control system is sorely lacking. More importantly, a national strategy is lacking. ISRO and DRDO don’t exactly see eye to eye. Each Service has its own philosophy at variance with the other. The Army myopia reduced the number of rocket regiments in its long-term plans! As the ranges of engagement have increased, the Indian Artillery, which incidentally is the most modern Arm of the Army, has been stripped of integral deep surveillance and targeting capability! Believe it or not! Over time, long-range and aerial observation capability birthed in Artillery has been bifurcated from it by our ‘Dritharashtric’ planners. While the rest of the world is integrating firepower, surveillance and observation through repurposed apps in battle, we have systematically disintegrated our structure! No. We do not need a rocket force. We need integrated thinking and jointness. We sorely lack that at almost every level. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Rise of rockets and missiles in conflicts

Japan’s defence Chief calls for the bolstering of its anti-drone capability after a drone footage posted on Chinese social media showed a Japanese aircraft carrier docked at a restricted navy port west of Tokyo. A video filmed by a drone showed JS Izumo, one of two Japanese helicopter carriers docked at Yokosuka naval base.

Drone records Japanese warships secretly

Drone flew undetected over US aircraft carrier

Footage on Chinese social media has revealed big gaps in Japan's defences. This 20-second footage is from one of Japan's Naval bases and shows warships docked it was captured by a drone that went undetected. It was only after the video surfaced on Chinese social media platforms that Tokyo took notice of the breach.

Tokyo takes notice of drone footage of Yokosuka Naval base on China's social media

A South Korean company that broke a Guinness World Record earlier this month showcased thousands of its drones flying in formation at a performance in Incheon. Watch in for more details!

South Korean firms put on record drone show

Fears over France's new €350 million anti-drone system failing to distinguish between unmanned terrorist aircraft and air conditioners have surfaced, raising concerns for the 500,000 spectators scheduled for the Paris Olympics.

According to The Times, the Parade system, which is hailed as critical to the fight against terror at the Games, was not as perfect as it seemed during a recent round of testing.

Reportedly, it can identify one out of every three drones in densely populated urban areas, but only up to 800 metres away. The system also misidentified air conditioning unit propellers as drones, a person familiar with the test told The Times.

A representative for Thales, which created Parade, said the technology, which is based on 'advanced processing algorithms', 'demonstrated its relevance' during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

"Given the stakes involved, it is normal that the development of these algorithms and the fine-tuning of these sensors is requiring some effort and time, but the most important thing is to be ready for the Olympic Games 2024 with a system that armed forces operators have fully adopted," they added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/sports/paris-olympics-2024-let-him-focus-says-carl-lewis-on-sprint-gold-favourite-noah-lyles-718630" hreflang="en">Paris Olympics 2024: 'Let him focus,' says Carl Lewis on sprint gold favourite Noah Lyles</a>

With the opening ceremony less than three months away, France has had to boost its much-vaunted 'Parade' kit with systems that reportedly involve people and technology from the Royal Air Force. The Parade system received a €350 million tender from the French defence procurement agency to create an anti-drone system in 2022.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, and will transform Paris into the world's centre of sport, among other things. Furthermore, there are predictions that the opening ceremony would be a star-studded affair, with around 10,500 participants disembarking from their boats and marching towards the ceremony location in Paris, France.

The 2024 Olympics opening ceremony will be held in Trocadéro Plaza, overlooking Paris' renowned Eiffel Tower. The last portion of the programme will take place when over 10,000 athletes disembark from boats and arrive at the location. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Fears over France's new €350 million anti-drone system failing to distinguish between unmanned terrorist aircraft and air conditioners have surfaced, raising concerns for the 500,000 spectators scheduled for the Paris Olympics.

Fears over France's new €350 million anti-drone system failing to distinguish between unmanned terrorist aircraft and air conditioners have surfaced, raising concerns for the 500,000 spectators scheduled for the Paris Olympics. According to The Times, the Parade system, which is hailed as critical to the fight against terror at the Games, was not as perfect as it seemed during a recent round of testing. Reportedly, it can identify one out of every three drones in densely populated urban areas, but only up to 800 metres away. The system also misidentified air conditioning unit propellers as drones, a person familiar with the test told The Times. A representative for Thales, which created Parade, said the technology, which is based on 'advanced processing algorithms', 'demonstrated its relevance' during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. "Given the stakes involved, it is normal that the development of these algorithms and the fine-tuning of these sensors is requiring some effort and time, but the most important thing is to be ready for the Olympic Games 2024 with a system that armed forces operators have fully adopted," they added. Also read: Paris Olympics 2024: 'Let him focus,' says Carl Lewis on sprint gold favourite Noah Lyles With the opening ceremony less than three months away, France has had to boost its much-vaunted 'Parade' kit with systems that reportedly involve people and technology from the Royal Air Force. The Parade system received a €350 million tender from the French defence procurement agency to create an anti-drone system in 2022. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, and will transform Paris into the world's centre of sport, among other things. Furthermore, there are predictions that the opening ceremony would be a star-studded affair, with around 10,500 participants disembarking from their boats and marching towards the ceremony location in Paris, France. The 2024 Olympics opening ceremony will be held in Trocadéro Plaza, overlooking Paris' renowned Eiffel Tower. The last portion of the programme will take place when over 10,000 athletes disembark from boats and arrive at the location. (With inputs from agencies)

Paris Olympics defence system blunders: Air conditioner mistaken for drones

The Russian Federation has developed the Malik acoustic detector for the first time in history, as drones take over the front lines of modern warfare.

Russia-Ukraine war: Russian sound-spotting drone detectors

US defence giant Northrop Grumman has tested an underwater drone that looks like a monster manta ray. The drone is capable of carrying multiple payloads of various sizes, and the machine is autonomous and war-ready.

US military flaunts massive unmanned 'Manta Ray'

Space is not the only frontier, there is another race going on under the waters - nations are trying to build long range highly autonomous fuel independent submarine drones. Washington has completed the first test of the underwater drone, also capable of hibernating on the seabed.

America's 'Manta Ray': Futuristic new underwater drone, race to conquer the ocean

Once there was the era of submarines. The silent undersea vessels were used as deterrence. The submarines however are very costly. But the drones are now changing the underwater warfare scenario also. The US military is developing a huge underwater drone called the "Manta Ray". The unmanned system passed its first major test at sea. Watch the story to know how Russia, China & North Korea too are developing such underwater drones.

Underwater drones reshape the naval warfare landscape

U.S. defence giant Northrop Grumman has tested an underwater drone that looks like a monster manta ray. The drone is capable of carrying multiple payloads of various sizes, and the machine is autonomous, and war-ready. Gravitas brings you the details of this monster spy drone.

Gravitas | America's new 'Monster Manta Ray' underwater spy drone

Italian Navy has shot down a drone in the Red Sea headed in the direction of an escorted merchant ship. According to Italy's Defence Ministry, Italy Navy which was protecting a European commercial feer shot down the drone.

Italy's Navy down drone headed for Red Sea merchant vessel; Yemen's Houthis claim attacks on vessels

Ukraine has quietly withdrawn its American Abrams tanks from the front line to avoid the growing threat from Russian drones. Watch in for more details!

Russia-Ukraine War: Russian troops advance in Ukraine, take control of key positions

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