Centre for Air Power Studies

What Centre for Air Power Studies does

The Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), rebranded on 25 July 2025 as the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS), is an autonomous defence research and analysis body headquartered in New Delhi, India, established in 2001. It is staffed primarily by retired senior Indian Air Force officers, currently led by Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor as Director General, and was founded by Air Commodore Jasjit Singh. The organisation's stated mission is to provide objective analysis on national security, defence, and aerospace issues, and its work is structured around peer-reviewed journals (Air Power Journal, Blue Yonder, Defence and Diplomacy), shorter-form analytical outputs (In Focus papers, Nuclear Tracker, Issue Briefs, Expert Views), newsletters, and recurring institutional events such as the Eminent Speaker Series, Jumbo Majumdar International Conference, and Capstone Seminars conducted with the College of Air Warfare.

Its core products are research-driven rather than technology-driven: long-form policy analysis, periodical publications, conference proceedings, and more recently digital media (the RECON podcast and HawksEye video series). Underlying delivery is a human-expertise model — analysts produce written and spoken content — with no disclosed proprietary software, platforms, or technology stack. Distribution and commercialisation of paid content (books, journals) are handled through a partnership with KW Publishers, while most online content is published open-access.

The business model is best characterised as a non-profit research entity. Content is offered free to the public; revenue is generated indirectly through KW Publishers sales of journals and books, supplemented likely by institutional grants and event-related sponsorship typical of Indian defence think tanks. Customer/end-user segments consist of serving Indian armed forces personnel, Ministry of Defence policymakers, strategic-studies academics, defence media, and a broader informed public; the organisation does not operate a transactional customer base in the conventional sense. Headcount is small at ~36 employees, consistent with a niche policy-research boutique rather than a scaled commercial enterprise.

Name

Centre for Air Power Studies

Legal name

Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies

Website

https://capsindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAPSS (formerly CAPS) is an autonomous New Delhi-based defence think tank, established 2001, producing peer-reviewed journals, briefs, podcasts, and conferences on Indian aerospace and strategic security for the armed forces, MoD policymakers, and academic audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Research and Strategic Analysis

NAICS

National Security (928110), National Security and International Affairs (9281), Space Research and Technology (92711), National Security (92811)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense Universities & Joint Professional Military Education (PME) (EDAHAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Military Aircraft Platforms (Fixed-Wing) (IMABAMAA), Material Control & Accounting (MC&A) Systems & Auditing (inventory, measurements, records) (EUAKAJAD)

Keywords

• Defence research publications
• Aerospace power studies
• National security analysis
• Strategic studies think tank
• Defence policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Publications Sales: Sale of books, journals, and research publications through KW Publishers Private Limited. Books are available for purchase via their online portal or direct contact with KW Publishers.
2. Journal Subscriptions: Publication of peer-reviewed journals including Air Power Journal, Blue Yonder, and Defence and Diplomacy available through the CAPSS journals portal (journals.capssindia.org).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CAPSS is an autonomous defence research think tank that produces and disseminates original analysis on national security, defence, and aerospace power. Its core offerings are a portfolio of peer-reviewed journals, periodic newsletters, policy papers, research briefs, occasional papers, annual compilations, books, video lecture series, podcasts, and international conferences, all aimed at informing the Indian Armed Forces, strategic community, policy makers, and the informed public.

Product overview

Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS) is a defence research think tank established in 2001, offering a portfolio of research publications and knowledge products rather than a technology platform. The core offerings include three peer-reviewed journals (Air Power Journal, Blue Yonder, and Defence and Diplomacy), periodic newsletters (Nuclear Security, Aerospace Power, Indo-Pacific), and annual publications (CAPSS In Focus from 2014-2026). CAPSS produces expert commentary through its Expert View policy paper series and Issue Briefs on contemporary security topics. The organization disseminates research through video lectures (HawksEye Eminent Speaker Series), the RECON podcast, and organizes conferences including the annual Jumbo Majumdar International Conference. Additional products include the CAPSS Nuclear Tracker for tracking nuclear developments, New Delhi Papers as occasional papers, and a Books Programme published through KW Publishers. CAPSS operates journals through an Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform at journals.capssindia.org.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Air Power Journal: Journal of Air Power & Space Studies published by CAPSS
• Blue Yonder
• Defence and Diplomacy
• CAPSS Nuclear Tracker
• CAPSS In Focus
• HawksEye
• CAPSS Journals (OJS)

Products and services

• Air Power Journal Peer-reviewed journal of Air Power & Space Studies published quarterly (Vol. 21 No.1 Spring, January-March 2026), part of CAPSS's academic publication portfolio for defence researchers, strategists, and policy makers.
• Blue Yonder A peer-reviewed journal for aerospace studies published semi-annually (Vol. II Issue II, July-December 2025), covering aerospace power and related strategic studies for defence researchers and analysts.
• Defence and Diplomacy Peer-reviewed journal focused on national security and diplomatic issues (Vol. 15 No. 2), part of CAPSS's academic publication offerings for policy makers and strategic affairs professionals.
• CAPSS Nuclear Tracker Periodic tracker publication documenting global nuclear developments and analysis of nuclear dynamics, with Issue 20 covering April-June 2026, aimed at defence and policy audiences.
• HawksEye Eminent Speaker Series Video lecture series featuring talks by defence experts, military leaders, and strategists on aerospace power, national security, and strategic studies topics, available via the CAPSS YouTube channel and website.
• RECON Podcast Podcast series covering global security dynamics, strategic issues, defence topics, and historical analyses for defence professionals, students, and informed listeners.
• CAPSS In Focus Annual publication series documenting CAPSS's yearly focus areas and strategic analyses, covering 2014 through 2026 and including a specialized Theatre Commands edition.
• New Delhi Papers Occasional paper series on strategic and security topics, including publications such as 'Emerging Nuclear Dynamics in West Asia and Northeast Asia' (New Delhi Paper 14, 2026) for researchers and policy professionals.
• Nuclear Security Newsletter Periodic newsletter covering nuclear security developments and global nuclear dynamics for defence and policy audiences.
• Aerospace Power Newsletter Newsletter focused on aerospace power developments and related strategic analyses for defence professionals and researchers.
• Indo-Pacific Newsletter Newsletter covering Indo-Pacific security dynamics and regional strategic developments for defence analysts and policy makers.
• Jumbo Majumdar International Conference Annual international conference series focused on aerospace power and strategic studies, with the 16th edition featuring book releases by the Chief of the Air Staff, for defence professionals, diplomats, and scholars.
• Expert View Policy paper series presenting expert perspectives on strategic, doctrinal, and national security issues, featuring contributions from internal and external experts such as CEOs of defence technology companies.
• Issue Brief Concise research briefs on contemporary defence and security issues such as nuclear energy fuel security, NPT review conferences, and jointness in India's Special Forces, for policy makers and analysts.
• CAPSS Books Programme Books programme published through KW Publishers on aerospace power, drones, cybersecurity, and strategic studies, including recent titles such as 'Unmanned Aerial Systems: Transforming Contemporary Air Warfare' and 'Cyber Leviathan: Digital Strategies in International Relations', sold via KW Publishers.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• KW Publishers Private LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKW Publishers serves as the exclusive distributor for CAPSS publications. Located in Daryaganj, New Delhi, KW Publishers handles the sale and distribution of CAPSS books, journals, and research publications. Contact details: Telephone: +91-011-23263498, +91-011-43528107, Email: [email protected].
• College of Air WarfaremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPSS and College of Air Warfare jointly conduct the Capstone Seminar series on India's Strategic Culture and Imperatives for Contemporary National Security, demonstrating a collaborative educational partnership.
• Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS)minorOthersListed as part of the 'Other Think Tanks' network, indicating a collaborative relationship within India's defence research ecosystem.
• United Service Institution of India (USI)minorOthersListed as part of the 'Other Think Tanks' network, indicating collaborative relationship within India's defence research community.
• National Maritime Foundation (NMF)minorOthersListed as part of the 'Other Think Tanks' network, indicating collaborative relationship within India's maritime and defence research ecosystem.
• Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS)minorOthersListed as part of the 'Other Think Tanks' network, indicating collaborative relationship within India's defence research ecosystem.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAPS_INDIA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClAA_CG6puW3bV8WZvLvpHw
• Facebookfacebook.com/100090685686854
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-air-power-studies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for Air Power Studies