Army has to evolve new concepts to align with emerging trends cds

Army has to evolve new concepts to align with emerging trends cds

General Anil Chauhan calls for investing in technology and ideas if ‘we want to compete’ with the Western countries or align with them; says warfare has become complex and multi-dimensional.

Arguing that aligning technology with future warfare is not the only way forward, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Wednesday said the Army has to evolve new concepts, doctrines, organisations (theatre command), culture, and processes to align itself with the emerging trends in warfare and battleground.

“Warfare has become complex and multi-dimensional. Aligning technology to the future warfare is not the only answer but it is a part of the answer,” he said at a seminar on “Aligning technologies to future conflicts”, organised as part of Aero India here.

“Application of emerging technologies in combat is still some distance away,” he said.

“We know that these technologies are going to influence warfare in future but in what shape we may not be able to understand fully,” he said. He gave examples of the role of artificial intelligence with autonomous weapons and sixth-generation aircraft in future warfare that are yet to be known.

‘Adapt and adjust’

“Army has to adapt, adjust, and accommodate the emerging technologies. You have to evolve new concepts, doctrines, organisations, culture, and processes,” he said.

General Chauhan emphasised the need to change the processes that are made to acquire the product and said, “By acquiring a product you are actually behind five or 10 years because that product already exists. We have to invest in technology and ideas if we want to compete with the West or align with the West.”

General Chauhan also referred to the disruptive technologies such as quantum science and artificial intelligence that could change the face of warfare.

“Earlier, war was rational because it was a thoughtful decision and finite, as negotiations and politics would take over after the war. Now, it has become irrational and perpetual. Combat earlier was seen between humans that could change to humans against machines or machines against machines. Technology can drive tactics and vice versa,” he said.