Vishal Nigam 🇮🇳

Lapsed aviator,author,policy geek following esoteric DAP2020. DU & IIFT. Wanderlust. Chef. RT/Likes are bookmarks not endorsement. Instagram: bohemiansolivagant

[Vishal Nigam 🇮🇳 @NigsV]

Seminal exposition by General Bipin Rawat on Integrated Theatre Command System, a must hear for scholars of National Security ... #NationalSecurity #theatrecommand #CDSBipinRawat

https://t.co/jJk6aVxQ7o via @YouTube

[Aviator Anil Chopra @Chopsyturvey]

“Death of Fighter Jet” Narrative Being Built by Some Is Misplaced; Ex-IAF Air Marshal Explains Why Missiles Cannot Replace Combat Jets Based on Perceived Success of Ballistic Missiles and Drones. @Chopsyturvey @THEEURASIATIMES https://t.co/w267OrqAg1

[Egypt's Intel Observer @EGYOSINT]

Update on U.S. Air Force losses in the Iran War — Operation Epic Fury (April 9, 2026):

Total losses are now estimated to exceed $2.5 billion, with actual replacement costs likely to climb even higher.

— Four F-15E Strike Eagles have been lost, one over Iran and three downed by friendly fire over Kuwait.

— An A-10 Warthog was shot down while providing close air support (CAS) for combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations.

— An F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft was damaged by an Iranian surface-to-air missile (SAM).

— An E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft was completely destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

— Two KC-135R aerial refueling aircraft have crashed, including one destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base.

— Six additional tankers were damaged, one in an incident over Iraq and five at Prince Sultan Air Base.

— 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones have crashed or been shot down by Iranian forces since February 28.

— One HH-60M helicopter was damaged in an FPV drone attack on Camp Victory in Iraq.

— Two HH-60W helicopters were damaged during CSAR operation in Iran.

— Two MC-130J Commando II aircraft were destroyed during a combat search and rescue (CSAR) mission in Iran.

— Four AH-6 Little Bird helicopters were lost in the same operation.

— Two CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters were destroyed in Iranian strikes on Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

— One MQ-4C Triton drone crashed in the Persian Gulf off Iran on April 9.

[Tyler Rogoway @Aviation_Intel]

Navy MQ-4C Triton’s Fate Unknown After Disappearing From Flight Tracking Over Persian Gulf

Tracking data shows the MQ-4C rapidly losing altitude after declaring an unspecified in-flight emergency.

https://t.co/wyqDiJyLO4

[Shiv Aroor @ShivAroor]

BREAKING 🚨

In its most costly air loss in the Iran War,
US Navy confirms crash of a $240M MQ-4C Triton drone in the Persian Gulf on April 9 during a Hormuz surveillance op.

I report details: https://t.co/eqBTyJScRa

[Vishal Nigam 🇮🇳 @NigsV]

Counter-UAS Marketplace Streamlines Acquisition, First Purchases Total $13 Million > U.S. Department of War > Defense Department News | U.S. Department of War https://t.co/VIiaWbRLvE

[Gita Gopinath @GitaGopinath]

AI is everywhere. AI-related products account for 23% of U.S. imports in 2025. This study from @tradewartracker is very interesting. https://t.co/7z5ca0rdiP

[Shiv Aroor @ShivAroor]

🚨 WHY IRAN’S STRIKE ON A U.S. E-3 SENTRY IS A BIG DEAL

1. The U.S. E-3 Sentry AWACS fleet is tiny. The U.S. now has only about 17 aircraft left after decades of retirements. Losing even one is a serious strategic loss.

2. Six E-3s were deployed to the Gulf theatre, nearly 40% of the entire fleet. One aircraft destroyed removes a large share of the airborne radar coverage available for the war.

3. The E-3 may be ageing but it is the airborne command centre of this air war. Its radar can detect aircraft, missiles and drones hundreds of kilometres away.

4. It tracks hundreds of targets simultaneously and directs fighter patrols, intercepts, tankers and air defence across the battlespace.

5. The strike strongly suggests external targeting support for Iran, widely believed to include Russian intelligence help. It also shows these prized aircraft were operating out of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia (which has been hit once before!) because U.S. staging options in the Gulf are shrinking after Iran demonstrated reach against nearly every major American base.

6. Iran clearly targeting the sensor layer of the war. Earlier strikes damaged/destroyed THAAD radars and other radar systems that form the backbone of Gulf missile defence.

7. Destroying an AWACS is psychologically and reputationally damaging. These aircraft normally operate far behind the front line with fighter escorts and layered air defence.

8. The loss piles onto other equipment losses in the war, steadily eroding U.S. infrastructure and operational depth in the theatre.

9. The E-3 cannot be easily replaced. It uses the old Boeing 707 airframe and production ended decades ago, meaning there is no production line to replace losses.

10.The E-3’s intended successor, the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, is mired in politics. The U.S. therefore has no immediate replacement capacity if more AWACS aircraft are lost.

[Suhasini Haidar @suhasinih]

For those confused about FP, the ultimate dictionary by @samzsays
https://t.co/GBGRGWmRis

[Lt Gen H S Panag(R) @rwac48]

Take a look!

“Victory may be declared. However, since Iran is unlikely to capitulate, a strategic defeat of the US is ordained.”

What's the prognosis of the US-Israel-Iran war? Strategic defeat of the US is ordained https://t.co/IWlvoKkq5B

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Great news for India and USA!

We have agreed on a framework for an Interim Trade Agreement between our two great nations. I thank President Trump for his personal commitment to robust ties between our countries.

This framework reflects the growing depth, trust and dynamism of our partnership. It strengthens ‘Make in India’ by opening new opportunities for India’s hardworking farmers, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, StartUp innovators, fishermen and more. It will generate large-scale employment for women and youngsters.

India and the United States share a commitment to promoting innovation and this framework will further deepen investment and technology partnerships between us.

This framework will also strengthen resilient and trusted supply chains and contribute to global growth. As India moves forward towards building a Viksit Bharat, we remain committed to building global partnerships that are future-oriented, empower our people and contribute to shared prosperity.

@POTUS

@realDonaldTrump

[Ajay Bagga @Ajay_Bagga]

Invest 31 minutes in building your knowledge of the future.
See the Elon Musk speech at #WEF2026.
Will summarise it by the afternoon.
Its a very busy Friday !

[Vishal Nigam 🇮🇳 @NigsV]

Doctrinal shift and a new strategic paradigm

[John Spencer @SpencerGuard]

https://t.co/tCdXloIpGb

[Vishal Nigam 🇮🇳 @NigsV]

Must read

[Gita Gopinath @GitaGopinath]

The exposure of the world to US equities is at record levels. A stock market correction would have more severe and global consequences as compared to what followed the dot-com crash. The tariff wars and lack of fiscal space compounds the problem. The underlying problem is not 'unbalanced trade' but 'unbalanced growth.' There is a need for higher growth and returns in more countries/regions of the world, not just in the US. The full piece can be read here: https://t.co/FAPKS9k7Vg

[Vishal Nigam 🇮🇳 @NigsV]

Govt to approve 26 Rafale-M’s purchase worth $7.6 billion

https://t.co/EMqPfSFd8y

For News on the go, Download HT app. Click https://t.co/steIpdIiGx

[Rajnath Singh @rajnathsingh]

India’s defence exports have surged to a record high of Rs 23,622 crore in the FY 2024-25. An impressive growth of Rs 2,539 crore or 12.04% has been registered in the just-concluded FY over the defence exports figures of FY 2023-24, which were Rs 21,083 crore.

I congratulate all stakeholders on this significant achievement. Under PM Shri @narendramodi’s leadership India is marching towards achieving the target of increasing defence exports to Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.

[Fareed Zakaria @FareedZakaria]

Vladimir Putin has for years been trying to rebuild the Tsarist empire — against the desires of the people of Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus and other nations.

It puts Putin on the wrong side of history — and now under the Trump administration, the United States may be joining that side.

My take:

[Fareed Zakaria @FareedZakaria]

“Putinism has won in the US.”

My conversation with Russian political philosopher Alexander Dugin – known to some as “Putin’s brain” – on the ideological bond between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin:

[Vishal Nigam 🇮🇳 @NigsV]

https://t.co/vCE5i09Npj