Lt Col Manoj Kumar Channan (R)

Lt Col Manoj Kumar Channan (Retd) is a veteran of the Indian Army’s Armoured Corps and a respected leader in India’s defence industry, combining frontline operational experience with senior corporate roles. Commissioned into the 65 Armoured Regiment in August 1983, he served until April 2007, developing recognised expertise in armoured warfare, counter-insurgency and strategic affairs. His operational service includes Operation PAWAN in Sri Lanka with the IPKF, counter-insurgency duties in Nagaland and Manipur and key command and staff roles under Operation RAKSHAK in Jammu & Kashmir, where he also contributed to establishing a counter-insurgency school. These assignments provided deep exposure to high-intensity and sub-conventional conflict, as well as civil–military coordination. Post-retirement, he has held leadership positions across major defence and aerospace ventures involving Raytheon, SAFRAN, and indigenous MBT programmes. A leading advocate for recognising Operation PAWAN veterans, he is also an active writer, commentator and public speaker on defence and national security.