Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan today underscored the need for swift, decisive joint responses across domains to secure victory in future wars, stressing that tomorrow’s battlefields will not recognise service boundaries.
Delivering the keynote address at RAN SAMWAD—a first-of-its-kind Tri-Service seminar on war, warfare, and warfighting—at the Army War College, General Chauhan said Aatmanirbharta in defence and integrated logistics would be the backbone of India’s future warfighting capabilities.
He called for institutionalising joint training and embracing evolving technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber, and Quantum to boost operational strength. Highlighting the importance of civil-military integration, he reaffirmed India’s commitment to developing Sudarshan Chakra, the nation’s own version of an Iron Dome, envisioned as both “a shield and a sword.”
Quoting Kautilya, the CDS reminded the audience of India’s ancient legacy of knowledge and ideas, while noting the lack of rigorous academic discourse on Indian wars and strategy. “Serious research must be undertaken on leadership, morale, technology, and the many dimensions of war. India must be Sashakt, Surakshit, Aatmanirbhar, and Viksit—and this can only be achieved when all stakeholders build future-ready forces collectively,” he said.
General Chauhan emphasised that RAN SAMWAD seeks to amplify the voices of serving professionals, particularly young and mid-level officers aware of technological shifts. “It is vital to create an ecosystem where fresh ideas harmonise with experience,” he added.
The two-day seminar, themed ‘Impact of Technology on Warfare’, will conclude tomorrow with a plenary address by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. A set of Joint Doctrines and the Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap will also be unveiled during the event.
