Technology-driven weapon systems have reshaped the very nature of modern military conflicts. Revolutions in military affairs have pushed the arena of war from ‘non-contact’ to ‘invisibility’. It simply means whatever is visible to the naked eye or even the ‘electronic eye’, would be mercilessly destroyed. Brute force display is a thing of the past.
Physical involvement of soldiers, tanks, and fighter aircraft in the designated combat zones will go, or has already gone, into the dustbin of history of warfare, as did swords, horses and chariots. Battle zones have been redefined as the entire length and breadth of your enemy’s territorial jurisdiction. Weapon systems have acquired pinpointed ‘kill accuracy’ at unimaginable distances. Physical numbers are as useless as were sword-wielding soldiers at the advent of muskets and gunpowder. Technology has reshaped every aspect of conflict, from weapons to tactics, through counter-measures.
How technology is shaping the profile of a modern war was evident in Israel’s Operation Rising Lion against Iran and Operation Lucky Drop against Houthi rebels in Yemen. In both cases, the intended targets did not know what hit them. A few months earlier, Israel demonstrated the exclusive use of advanced technology against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, when their pagers went exploding at the press of a button. Electronic pulses can be devastating to activate a ‘sleeping’ agent of destruction.
Weapon systems have acquired pinpointed ‘kill accuracy’ at unimaginable distances. Physical numbers are as useless as were sword-wielding soldiers at the advent of muskets and gunpowder. Technology has reshaped every aspect of conflict, from weapons to tactics, through countermeasures
Technology and military-specific applications have affected weapon systems in three specific areas, namely Range, Lethality and Accuracy. BVR (Beyond Visual Range) systems with devastating ‘kill accuracy’ now rule the military conflicts. The incarnation of missiles and drones, now on the battlefield, has added new dimensions to war-making strategy. Ballistic or cruise missiles are now being beefed up by hypersonic missiles with ranges going up to 5,000 to 10,000 miles.
China displayed its new missile system during its military parade on September 3, 2025. It claims its MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) carries 60+1 nuclear-tipped missiles, and it can reach any corner of the world in 20 minutes. Nuclear-tipped or carriers of biological agents can cause unimaginable devastation on the target. In a similar tone and texture, Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir had threatened that if Pakistan was endangered, it would take ‘half the world down with it’. He was obviously referring to the use of his so-called nuclear stockpile of 170 nuclear bombs.
While lethality and devastation by nukes and biological devices have reached a zenith, so have the accuracy and guidance systems of the weapon delivery systems. The guidance system of missiles and drones has achieved pinpoint precision. The demolition of Noor Khan Air Base nuclear command centre in Pakistan, during Operation Sindoor, by a single precision-guided missile speaks volumes about the kind of accuracy achieved. What about the destruction of Pakistan’s AWAC system at a distance of 315 km? These were single-carrier missiles. MIRVs are multiple carriers to take on multiple targets simultaneously.
If ISRO can produce world-class rockets/space ships, so can DRDO do to produce the requisite engines for our AMCA project. Use all means to indigenously produce engines by stealing/begging/borrowing technology. Set your priorities. Do not leave it to only DRDO. Shed all ethics and moralities. All nations do it
It is an era of ‘Brain Force Wars’, where there would be no monkey dancing of soldiers, armoured vehicles, such as tanks, and ground attack fighter aircraft across the borders. They would be beaten into pulp by invisible weapon systems, such as EMP guns, Laser Killers, biological agents and even by drone swarms.
Whatever our IAF friends might think about acquiring these ‘fifth/sixth generation fighter aircraft’ from Russia, France or the US — I firmly believe in a future war scenario they would not have the freedom to zoom in the air across borders. They would be ‘white elephants’— not even good as decorative pieces. The opening phase of Operation Sindoor had given a good lesson to both sides when they failed to use Rafales/F-16s openly to strike their respective adversaries. IAF has to reorient itself to dominate ‘own air’ by acquiring more sophisticated A2/AD (Anti-Air/Air Defence) systems.
If fighters are needed only to act as ‘Stand Off’ Launch Pads, as is being advocated, in favour of Fifth Generation fighter Aircraft, then emphasis must be on acquiring indigenously built Tejas or AMCA. The government must be asked to speed up the production. If ISRO can produce world-class rockets/space ships, so can DRDO do to produce the requisite engines for our AMCA project. Use all means to indigenously produce engines by stealing/begging/borrowing technology. Set your priorities. Do not leave it to only DRDO. Shed all ethics and moralities. All nations do it.
The Indian Navy must resist the temptation of a third aircraft carrier. In times to come, they will become ‘white elephants’ and will be sitting ducks for weapons from ‘space platforms’. Instead, the Indian Navy should go for more nuclear-powered submarines
What the Air Forces did in the past, MIRVs/Drones would take on the role of strategic bombing. China has other day warned of its MIRV, which can carry 60+1 nuclear missiles, including a Hydrogen bomb. They don’t need to send J-20 aircraft to bomb adversaries. Again, long-range and loitering Drone Swarms would dominate the future battlefields. They would attack anything visible — whether a concentration of troops or tanks or even logistic convoys. India has already tested a running train as a weapon platform for such drones. Thus, be assured, there won’t be any ‘dog fights’ in the air— neither Pakistan nor China would be able to employ bombers or ground attack fighters for target neutralisation.
We had demonstrated our technological capability when a British F-35 was incapacitated and it had to wait in Kerala for a month before being carted away on a cargo plane. EMP Guns/Laser beams can do a better job than these ‘Gen-5/Gen-6’ fighters. Focus must be on R&D of LASER killers or EMP Guns, which will be more cost-prohibitive. I am sure DEW (Direct Energy Weapon), such as the KALI-5000 project, must be fully operative now. It is time to be more realistic and less emotional about losing something which would have no utility in a future war. Wars would no longer be like ‘bull fighting’ but of ‘invisible warriors’ like Corona virus.
As a passing reference, I would also like to advise the Indian Navy to resist the temptation of a third aircraft carrier. In times to come, they will become ‘White Elephants’ and will be sitting ducks for weapons from ‘Space Platforms’. Instead, the Indian Navy should go for more nuclear-powered submarines. The job of the Navy should be ‘Sea Denial’ in our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and not ‘Sea Domination’ outside our EEZ, till India is economically and technologically at par with China and the USA.
-An ex-NDA and Wellington Staff College graduate, Col Rajinder Singh is a renowned author and security analyst. He has authored four books, two individually and two in collaboration. His best-selling books are Kashmir – A Different Perspective and The ULFA Insurgency. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
