The Fourth Edition of the Tri-Services Future Warfare Course commenced at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, on 3 August 2026, with Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) General N.S. Raja Subramani delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session. The course aims to prepare military leaders for the rapidly evolving character of warfare by focusing on emerging technologies, joint operations and future security challenges.
Addressing the participants, the CDS highlighted the transformation of modern warfare and the growing impact of technological advancements on military operations. He emphasised that future conflicts would increasingly be shaped by innovation, adaptability and the ability to anticipate evolving threats across multiple operational domains.
General Raja Subramani underscored the expanding role of artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, autonomous systems, information warfare, space technologies and data-driven decision-making in shaping the future battlefield. He stressed that mastering these technologies would be essential for maintaining operational superiority and ensuring national security in an increasingly complex strategic environment.
The CDS also highlighted the importance of greater jointness, integration and collaboration among the three Services. He noted that close cooperation between the Armed Forces, industry, academia, research institutions and government agencies would be critical in developing indigenous capabilities and strengthening India’s defence preparedness for future conflicts.
Organised by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), the four-week course brings together officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, along with representatives from government departments, industry, academia and strategic think tanks. The programme is designed to promote cross-domain understanding and encourage collaborative thinking on emerging military challenges.
Participants will engage in comprehensive discussions and case studies covering a broad spectrum of subjects, including geopolitics, emerging technologies, cognitive warfare, cyber warfare, multi-domain operations, scenario-building and technology-enabled warfare. The curriculum is intended to enhance strategic thinking and equip participants with the knowledge required to address future operational challenges.
The Tri-Services Future Warfare Course reflects the Indian Armed Forces’ continued focus on preparing military leaders for an era of rapidly evolving threats, technological disruption and integrated operations. By fostering innovation, strategic foresight and inter-service collaboration, the programme supports India’s vision of building a modern, agile and future-ready military capable of operating effectively across all domains of warfare.
