CDS General Anil Chauhan outlines four key trends shaping future warfare

General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff of India (Photo : ANI)

Chief of Defence Staff of India, General Anil Chauhan, participated in the Chiefs of Defence Round Table at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, highlighted the emerging geopolitical dynamics and rapid technological shifts that were redefining the nature of warfare, underscoring that the democratisation of technology has empowered non-state actors, fueling proxy wars and instability.

General Anil Chauhan made the comments while addressing the dialogue on 'Defence Innovation Solutions for Future Challenges'.

CDS General Anil Chauhan emphasised that future warfare will be shaped by four trends: the proliferation of sensors across all domains, long-range hypersonic and precision weapons, manned-unmanned teaming with autonomous systems, and the intelligentisation of the battlefield driven by AI, ML, LLMs, and quantum tech.

CDS General Anil Chauhan highlighted India’s approach to capability development, which focuses on adaptability, innovation, and self-reliance. He noted that the country has fostered collaborative defence manufacturing ecosystems in partnership with private industry, adopting a ‘Tactics-Led Modernisation’ strategy aimed at developing systems tailored to operational requirements and local conditions.

Emphasising the broader scope of transformation, General Chauhan stated that changes will also encompass military doctrine, organisational culture, and human capital. He added that India's unique geography, strategic experiences, and national aspirations continue to shape its evolving defence outlook.

The talks focused on strategic decision-making, sharing best practices, and fostering cooperation to promote stability and address evolving security concerns in the defence sector.

Global defence leaders, including those from Australia, the European Union, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, the UK, and the US, discussed critical security challenges, emerging trends, and innovative solutions in Dialogue.

General Anil Chauhan affirmed India's commitment to global peace & responsible innovation and commended the Shangri-La Dialogue as a critical forum for fostering dialogue and cooperation in the collective pursuit of global stability.

*With ANI Inputs