Armed forces must be integrated, tech-driven: CDS Chauhan
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, on Friday, underscored the urgent need for India’s armed forces to evolve into an integrated, agile and technologically driven warfighting instrument capable of operating seamlessly across multiple domains. He also said that modern warfare is rapidly transcending traditional boundaries and timelines.
Delivering the closing address at the ‘Ran Samvad’ seminar, he highlighted that Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) are no longer a conceptual buzzword but an emerging operational reality, driven by advances in data analytics, artificial intelligence and the changing character of conflict.
“MDOs were chosen for this year’s theme not because it’s a buzzword, but I think it’s a kind of new reality,” the CDS said. General Chauhan noted that the seminar, conceptualised to place serving officers at the centre of strategic discourse, had enabled mid-level and junior officers to articulate perspectives on future warfare.
“Normally, it’s veterans or think tanks who would express their views. So I reversed that particular trend,” he said.
He added that those actively engaged in service are better attuned to the pace of change in warfare.
The CDS said the deliberations examined critical issues, including force design, organisational structures and the adequacy of existing hierarchies in a battlespace that no longer respects domain boundaries.
According to him, discussions also focused on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), where “the bottleneck is not information, but the speed and quality of its interpretation.”
Highlighting the growing role of emerging technologies, General Chauhan said artificial intelligence and data analytics are poised to transform decision-making cycles and operational superiority.
Referring to the classical OODA loop conceptualised by John Boyd, he said, “Whoever completes this particular cycle faster than the adversary will win a combat.”
However, he pointed to a paradigm shift driven by predictive technologies.
“Today, because of the predictive nature of AI, you should be able to orient yourself first before you can even observe,” he said.
On the evolving nature of warfare, the CDS emphasised that conflict is no longer confined to the physical domain. “All warfare till now has been in the physical domain. Then for us to imagine that warfare will move into a new kind of reality, synthetic in nature and cognitive in nature, is actually difficult to understand,” he said.
He argued that warfare must also be viewed at the political level, where outcomes are shaped beyond battlefield victories.
“If you can achieve your political objectives without actually firing, then of course, it’s a different kind of reality,” he said, noting the increasing role of information manipulation and influence operations.
General Chauhan introduced the concept of multi-dimensional warfare, expanding beyond traditional domains.
He said that in addition to land, sea and air, new dimensions such as time, cyber, electromagnetic spectrum and cognition are shaping modern conflict.
“We are maybe moving into an era of not only multi-domain, but multi-dimensional warfare,” he observed.
He also highlighted the convergence of kinetic and non-kinetic means, manned and unmanned systems, and traditional and emerging domains.
“It’s not destruction, it’s actually a paralysis of the adversary,” he said, explaining that the cumulative effect of such convergence could disrupt and incapacitate adversaries at multiple levels.
The CDS stressed the importance of institutional architecture, including networks, standard operating procedures and shared understanding, in enabling effective multi-domain operations.
He said the seminar had provided valuable insights into the level of jointness among the three services, as well as gaps that need to be addressed.
Referring to the broader implications, he said the security challenges do not respect borders, underlining the importance of collaboration and dialogue among like-minded nations.
Announcing the next edition, General Chauhan said the 2027 ‘Ran Samvad’ will be hosted by the Indian Navy, focusing on “high-intensity operations in a transparent and expanded battle space,” with greater participation expected from younger and mid-level officers.
