New Delhi, August 30: The nature of warfare is rapidly evolving worldwide. Battles are no longer confined to land, sea, and air. Instead, areas such as AI, cyber warfare, space, autonomous systems, and information and psychological operations are becoming crucial in future conflicts.
To address these changing challenges, a tri-service future warfare course was conducted. This fourth course concluded on August 30 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. Over four weeks, officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with experts from various government organizations, academia, the defense industry, scientists, and strategic think tanks, engaged in deep discussions about the future of warfare.
Participants explored technologies and strategies that could reshape the battlefield. Key topics included geopolitical shifts, AI, quantum technology, cyber warfare, cognitive warfare, information warfare, autonomous systems, space-based operations, and technology-driven combat.
Additionally, the course focused on the capability to conduct joint military operations across all domains—land, sea, air, and space—emphasizing multi-domain operations. Discussions also covered the evolving nature of gray-zone activities and future military campaigns. The course included practical exercises based on real-world scenarios, coordinated by the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters.
A unique aspect of this course was that participants were not limited to expert lectures. They engaged in brainstorming sessions, simulated potential combat scenarios, participated in field tours, and presented their findings, allowing them to make decisions and strategize under changing conditions.
Participants also had direct dialogues with senior military officials, policymakers, scientists, defense industry experts, and specialists from various fields. Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramanian interacted with the officers, seeking their feedback on the course’s experiences and utility.
The CDS also suggested incorporating new topics and emerging areas into future iterations of the course to enhance its relevance. Discussions also included innovative ideas to improve operational and functional efficiency within the integrated framework of the three armed forces.
During the closing ceremony, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Marshal Tejinder Singh presented certificates to the participants. Retired Lieutenant General S.S. Mahal awarded participants with a ‘PG Diploma in Future Warfare.’ This fourth edition underscored that traditional military training alone is insufficient for future military leadership.
According to the Ministry of Defence, joint training, technical understanding, strategic foresight, and operational readiness for the changing battlefield have become critical needs for military leadership. The fifth edition of this course is scheduled to take place from November 16 to December 11, 2026.
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