MUMBAI: India’s military machinery is finally getting a voice in the podcast space—and it comes with the firepower of two veteran journalists. On 22 May 2025, NDTV unveiled CTRL + ALT DEFENCE, its first-ever dedicated defence podcast hosted by Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor. New episodes drop every Saturday at 6 pm across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, and NDTV.com.

The inaugural episode, aired on 17 May and titled Drones, Airstrikes, Media Narratives: Weapons of Operation Sindoor, dissected India’s calculated response to the Pahalgam terror attack. From drones and airstrikes to border defence systems and battlefront PR strategy, the episode laid the groundwork for a series promising deep insight with zero jargon.

Between them, Som and Aroor boast over 50 years of field reporting. Som has covered conflict zones from Siachen to Iraq and Ukraine, specialising in military tech and satellite defence intel. Aroor brings 21 years of on-ground reporting from war fronts in Sri Lanka, Libya, and beyond. Together, they combine real-world combat insight with storytelling precision, offering listeners more than just the news cycle.

“War is never just about headlines and breaking news; it’s a multidimensional subject that demands context, technical understanding, and lived experience to truly interpret”, the hosts emphasised.

The podcast appeals to a broad base—from defence analysts to curious citizens. It covers missile systems, drone warfare, strategy, and the moral calculus behind conflict. Its tone is crisp, conversational, and informed by first-hand exposure to battlefields like Kargil, Pahalgam, Congo, and Kyiv.

As India’s defence conversation gets more mainstream, CTRL + ALT DEFENCE fills a glaring void with both rigour and relatability.

Watch the podcast here: ndtv.com/podcast/ctrl-alt-defence-1018