The battlefield, change and the Indian armed forces

Introduction

Warfare is shifting fast. AI, drones, automation, and cheap precision weapons lower the cost of force but raise risk. India faces a two-front threat and pressure across land, sea, air, cyber, space, and the information domain. Structures, doctrine, technology, force composition, Professional Military Education (PME), and readiness are being reshaped. Past attempts at jointness gave limited results. Reforms must now move faster and at greater scale so that command, training and equipment match today’s multi-domain wars. The battlefield, change and the Indian armed forces.

Changing warfare

1. Multi-domain conflicts : Modern wars no longer unfold in a single arena. Battles are launched simultaneously across land, sea, air, cyberspace, outer space, and the information domain. This creates a complex web where events in one domain instantly shape outcomes in another. In such an environment, speed and real-time information become as decisive as firepower.
2. Shift towards non-contact combat: Warfare increasingly relies on the ability to strike without direct confrontation. Precision-guided munitions, long-range missiles, and drones allow militaries to impose pressure from a distance.
3. The growing role of autonomy, data, and code: Advances in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and automated decision-support systems are reshaping the battlefield. Future wars may involve machine-versus-machine interactions, where algorithms detect, decide, and act faster than human operators.
4. Hybrid battles: Conflicts today are less likely to end quickly with negotiated settlements. They often become prolonged struggles that combine conventional military action with cyber operations, disinformation campaigns, and economic or diplomatic pressure. Such hybrid wars blur the line between wartime and peacetime..

Challenge faced by India in the changing warfare

1. Two-front pressure:China and Pakistan create simultaneous threat axes. CPEC linkages and a stronger Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean increase coordination risks and stretch deployments, logistics, and vigilance.
2. Dependence on Foreign Arms: India’s position as the world’s largest arms importer between 2018 and 2022 reflects its heavy reliance on foreign military technology.
3. Budget stress: India spends around 2% of its GDP on defence.
4. Skewed allocation:

• !Of India’s ₹6.8 trillion defence budget for 2025–26, only 26% is for capital expenditure. The rest covers routine costs—salaries, pensions, maintenance.
• Pension costs alone exceed 20% of revenue expenditure. The upcoming 8th Pay Commission may further tilt spending toward salaries.

5. Low R&D Expenditure:

• India’s research and development spending in defense is low at 0.7% of GDP, compared to China’s 2.54%.
• Globally, India ranks 53rd in R&D spending, while China spent $421 billion in 2022.
• This slows indigenous progress in AI, missiles, EW, space, and cyber, and keeps dependence on external tech.

6. Professional military education has not kept pace with multi-domain demands, limiting the growth of leaders who can integrate cyber, space, electronic warfare, and information operations into one plan. The result is limited proactive deterrence, constrained joint manoeuvre, and fewer flexible theatre options in a two-front scenario.

India initiative for changing warfare

1. From coordination to command: India is shifting from service silos to integrated theatre commands. The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Rules, 2025 give joint commanders clear disciplinary and administrative powers.
2. Tri-service agencies: Dedicated cyber, space, and special operations agencies function under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).
3. PME as a centrepiece reform:

• Professional Military Education (PME) now follows a joint framework .
• It aims to build hybrid warriors who can read the adversary, code solutions, and shape the narrative. PME is embedded into field exercises with iterative trials and course correction.
• It relies on civil–military fusion with DRDO, DPSUs, private industry, and universities for code, data, test ranges, and rapid prototyping.

4. Doctrinal evolution:

• The Joint Doctrine of the Indian Armed Forces (2017) and the Army’s Land Warfare Doctrine (2018) provide the foundation for synergy and jointness.
• Ran Samvad, the first tri-service seminar on war and warfighting, institutionalises learning for hybrid and multi-domain warfare.

5. Modular combat groupings:

• New formations “Rudra” and “Bhairav” integrate infantry, armour, artillery, air defence, engineers, and surveillance into mission-specific modules.
• Integrated Battle Groups are structured for 12–48 hour mobilisation with drones and loitering munitions.

6. Networked procurement for jointness.
   MQ-9B strengthens persistent ISR and precision strike across land and sea. Rafale-M supports carrier aviation and maritime strike. Akashteer (AI-enabled Army air-defence C2) is integrating with the IAF’s IACCS to enable a common air picture. Pralay completes user trials to add theatre-range fires.
7. Maritime–amphibious posture.
   A carrier-centred naval approach progresses alongside a 15-year capability roadmap across air, subsurface, and unmanned domains. The Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations sets procedures for integrated maritime–air–land actions.

Way forward

1. Rebalance defence spending: Increase the share for capital modernisation. Link annual allocations to readiness and effect in extended-war scenarios.
2. Accelerate indigenous R&D: Fund DRDO–industry–academia projects with shared test ranges and rapid prototyping. Prioritise AI, EW, missiles, cyber tools, and autonomy with clear milestones.
3. Secure the space layer: strengthen satellite communications, PNT, and ISR with protection, redundancy, and ground resilience. Align space plans with joint operations and extended contingencies.
4. Create dedicated Cyber and Electromagnetic Commands for defence, offence, and support to field formations. Integrate outputs with tri-service planning and operations.
5. Unify data and Command and Control(C2): Adopt common data models, secure links, and interoperable C2 interfaces across services, using common data and interface standards with iterative joint exercises under realistic scenarios. Validate performance through regular joint trials.

Conclusion

India confronts multi-domain pressure and a demanding industrial contest. Core steps are clear: rebalance budgets, scale indigenous capacity, protect space and cyber layers, and standardise joint C2 and data. With steady funding, deep industry linkages, and tested interoperability, the armed forces can retain initiative and operate with confidence against fast-changing threats.

Question for practice

Examine how joint Professional Military Education (PME) and integrated theatre commands can enhance India’s readiness for multi-domain warfare.

Source: The Hindu