The War Has Changed, Have We?: Warfare, as the world has long understood it, is undergoing a profound transformation. What was once determined by the grit of infantry charges and territorial gains is now shaped by precision, pulses, and perception. From manpower-intensive to technology-driven conflict, the new paradigm demands far more than just weapons — it demands intelligent, integrated systems guided by real-time data and rapid decision-making.
India, with its vast military traditions and evolving strategic responsibilities, finds itself at a pivotal juncture. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan encapsulated this new reality when he warned, “Future wars will be short, swift, and intense. Victory will belong to those who can see, decide, and strike first — across domains.” It is no longer about who has more troops or tanks; it is about who dominates the invisible domains —cyberspace, the electromagnetic spectrum, and information.
The philosophical underpinning of this transformation has been predicted for decades. Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock warned us that societal systems unable to adapt to the acceleration of change would collapse under stress. In The Future Is Faster Than You Think, Diamandis and Kotler argue that exponential technologies — from AI to robotics — will disrupt every institution, including militaries. And in Yuval Noah Harari’s Homo Deus, the rise of data, algorithms, and machine learning is seen as the next evolutionary leap — not just for societies, but for war itself.
The Indian Armed Forces must internalise this shift. We must prepare not just to fight —but to dominate — in a battlespace where software may matter more than steel.
How Will Future Wars Be Fought? Understanding the Multi-Domain Battlespace
Tomorrow’s wars will begin without warning. They will not be declared through parliamentary debates or ultimatums. They will begin with a deepfake video causing mass unrest, or a zero-day exploit disabling an air defence grid. Satellites may go dark, banks may freeze, and radars may go blind — long before a single missile is launched. War, in this age, will unfold simultaneously across multiple domains — land, air, sea, cyber, space, electromagnetic spectrum, and information. The crux of power will lie not in any one domain, but in their fusion.
Take, for instance, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. It is not just an artillery duel. It is a full-spectrum war — featuring drone swarms, space-based ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), AI-powered targeting systems, and rampant information warfare. When Iran and Israel recently exchanged airstrikes and retaliatory drone swarms, neither nation’s soldiers crossed borders — yet strategic effects were achieved through autonomous platforms, long-range missiles, and digital deception. The emerging pattern is clear: dominance depends on integration.
Warfare, as the world has long understood it, is undergoing a profound transformation. What was once determined by the grit of infantry charges and territorial gains is now shaped by precision, pulses, and perception. From manpower-intensive to technology-driven conflict, the new paradigm demands far more than just weapons — it demands intelligent, integrated systems guided by real-time data and rapid decision-making
In such a battlespace, a single operational action — say, the deployment of an armoured brigade — must be supported by satellite-based reconnaissance, electronic jamming, psychological operations on digital media, cyber intrusion into enemy C2 (command and control), and precise air support guided by AI-powered analytics. Victory will hinge not just on how we fight, but how fast and how accurately we process information and respond. The key word is convergence. In this context, India must develop an ecosystem where these seven domains work not as silos but as synchronised instruments of national power.
What Must We Build to Dominate the Battlefield?
In the land domain, the modern Indian soldier must be equipped with a networked infantry combat system, enabling secure real-time communications, and linked to unmanned ground vehicles for mine clearance and ISR tasks. Precision loitering munitions and indigenous active protection systems to intercept anti-tank missiles must become standard. Tanks and infantry combat vehicles must be designed to function as sensor-shooters within larger digital grids.
In the air domain, India must acquire fifth-generation stealth aircraft with sensor fusion, internal weapons bays, and super-cruise capability. UAVs capable of swarming, autonomous strike, and deep surveillance must become an operational reality. Indigenous AESA radars and multiband electronic warfare suites are essential, as is the development of long-range air-to-air missiles exceeding 500 km with AI-driven seekers.
At sea, the next frontier lies beneath the surface. Submarines with air-independent propulsion, advanced sonar, and integrated underwater surveillance networks must be fielded at scale. Indigenous development of naval UAVs, smart mines, and ship-based electronic countermeasures must be accelerated. Aircraft carriers like INS Vikrant must be equipped with next-generation systems such as electromagnetic launch systems and carrier-capable combat drones.
In the cyber domain, India requires AI-based behavioural threat detection, zero-trust architecture, and a dedicated offensive cyber command. Our current systems remain dependent on signature-based tools — ineffective against zero-day attacks or polymorphic malware. Cyber capabilities must be integrated with warfighting doctrine, not just IT administration.
The electromagnetic spectrum must be treated as a weaponised battlespace. India needs digital radio frequency memory-based jammers, cognitive electronic warfare pods, and indigenous EW aircraft capable of deep-spectrum suppression. While projects like DRDO’s Divya Drishti offer promise, they are still limited in deployment and effectiveness.
The space domain demands launch-on-demand micro satellites, anti-satellite weaponry — both kinetic and directed energy — and real-time integration of satellite intelligence with battlefield decisions. While India demonstrated its ASAT capability through Mission Shakti, a comprehensive counter-space strategy is still missing.
Tomorrow’s wars will begin without warning. They will not be declared through parliamentary debates or ultimatums. They will begin with a deepfake video causing mass unrest, or a zero-day exploit disabling an air defence grid. Satellites may go dark, banks may freeze, and radars may go blind — long before a single missile is launched. War, in this age, will unfold simultaneously across multiple domains — land, air, sea, cyber, space, electromagnetic spectrum, and information. The crux of power will lie not in any one domain, but in their fusion
Finally, the information domain is increasingly decisive. Influence operations — whether from bots or trolls — can fracture civil cohesion, alter political outcomes, or undermine battlefield morale. India must develop counter-disinformation infrastructure, AI-based content analysis, deepfake detection platforms, and dedicated information warfare commands, akin to those in the US, China, and Russia.
Where We Lack, And Why?
India’s limitations do not only lie in platforms or systems — but in foundational technologies that enable defence capabilities. The most critical of these is the lack of domestic semiconductor fabrication. From seekers in missiles to flight control in UAVs, microchips are the brain behind every system. Yet, India continues to import over 85% of its defence-grade chips, relying heavily on the US, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Our jet engine technology remains another weak spot. The Kaveri engine, once a flagship project, failed to achieve operational viability. Indigenous development of 90–120 kN engines remains elusive, forcing India to depend on GE and Safran for powering fighter aircraft.
The scarcity of rare earth refining capability is another strategic vulnerability. Although India holds deposits, most of our processing is outsourced to China — which controls 80% of global refining and is also the primary supplier for critical components such as magnets, coatings, and battery materials used in defence platforms.
Our limitations in advanced sensors, electronic seekers, and encrypted satellite navigation systems further compromise autonomy. India’s NAVIC remains regionally limited and under-integrated with tri-services operations. Additionally, while our defence laboratories have developed promising systems, they often suffer from project overruns, production delays, and weak industry linkages.
At the structural level, India is yet to operationalise a joint command integrating cyber, space, and electromagnetic domains. Our doctrines remain platform-focused rather than capability-focused. Without this shift, integration will remain aspirational.
In such a battlespace, a single operational action — say, the deployment of an armoured brigade — must be supported by satellite-based reconnaissance, electronic jamming, psychological operations on digital media, cyber intrusion into enemy C2 (command and control), and precise air support guided by AI-powered analytics. Victory will hinge not just on how we fight, but how fast and how accurately we process information and respond. The key word is convergence. In this context, India must develop an ecosystem where these seven domains work not as silos but as synchronised instruments of national power
What Should India Be Investing In? Technology Before Weaponry
To break free of dependency and leap ahead, India must invest in a spectrum of foundational technologies. A robust semiconductor ecosystem, with indigenous fabrication of 5–7 nm defence-grade chips, is essential. Aero-engine development must receive national priority, involving both DRDO and private players with global partnerships. Metallurgy for stealth composites, heat-resistant alloys, and radar-absorbent materials must be upgraded.
India must also develop directed energy weapons — lasers, microwave-based anti-drone systems — and next-gen energetic materials for smart munitions. Investments in quantum communication, cryptography, and computing are critical not only for secure military communication but for long-term data warfare superiority. In addition, India must urgently develop a sovereign operating system architecture for both military and civil use. Relying on commercial foreign OS platforms exposes our command, control, and communication systems to embedded vulnerabilities. A secure, India-specific OS would provide end-to-end control over digital infrastructure.
Furthermore, India must build a globally viable GPS alternative with complete satellite coverage and redundancy. NAVIC must be expanded, encrypted, and integrated into both civil and military platforms. Secure, multi-layered communication satellite networks are essential to ensure command continuity even during kinetic and non-kinetic attacks on space assets. The mission should not merely be to build weapons — it should be to build the technologies that power tomorrow’s weapons.
Bridging the Gap: Indigenous Progress and Institutional Push
India has made commendable progress through initiatives like Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and iDEX. Platforms like BrahMos, Akash-III, Tejas Mk1A, Pinaka MBRL, and the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) reflect a growing industrial base. However, many of these still depend on imported subsystems — be it seekers, engines, or fuses.
The Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX), and SRIJAN have enabled over 300 startups to enter the defence sector. Public-private synergy is also growing — with Tata, L&T, Bharat Forge, and ideaForge playing key roles. The Indian Navy’s BASAI (Bharatiya Nau Sena Artificial Intelligence) and the Army’s Indigenisation & AI Directorate are steps in the right direction.
In the land domain, the modern Indian soldier must be equipped with a networked infantry combat system, enabling secure real-time communications, and linked to unmanned ground vehicles for mine clearance and ISR tasks. Precision loitering munitions and indigenous active protection systems to intercept anti-tank missiles must become standard. Tanks and infantry combat vehicles must be designed to function as sensor-shooters within larger digital grids
Specialised formations like the Rudra Brigade, intended as high-tech operational units, reflect institutional intent. But these units will only matter if backed by cutting-edge, indigenous technology. Otherwise, they remain skeletons without sinew.
At the strategic level, India continues to face diplomatic pressure. The United States has repeatedly criticised India’s continued purchase of Russian weapons. While geopolitical realities must be acknowledged, such pressure is a stark reminder that until we build our own platforms, we will remain vulnerable — not only to adversaries but to strategic blackmail by allies.
India Must Own the Architecture of Future Warfare
Strategic autonomy will not be gifted — it must be built. As Sapiens teaches us, those who control narrative and knowledge shape history. In military terms, those who control sensors, signals, and software will shape wars.
India must also develop directed energy weapons — lasers, microwave-based anti-drone systems — and next-gen energetic materials for smart munitions. Investments in quantum communication, cryptography, and computing are critical not only for secure military communication but for long-term data warfare superiority. In addition, India must urgently develop a sovereign operating system architecture for both military and civil use. Relying on commercial foreign OS platforms exposes our command, control, and communication systems to embedded vulnerabilities. A secure, India-specific OS would provide end-to-end control over digital infrastructure
India’s vision must now shift from being a consumer of legacy systems to a creator of future architecture. We must not only aim to catch up with global military powers — but to define the trajectory of military transformation. The tools of tomorrow will be AI, quantum, lasers, and signals — not just steel and gunpowder. Our defence establishment must evolve from tactical acquisition to strategic innovation.
The battlefield is changing. The question is no longer if we will fight — but how. And if we wish to shape that answer on our own terms, we must begin by building the tools, the technologies, and the talent — at home.
The writer is an Indian Army veteran and expert in Operations Research and Systems Analysis
