From precision strikes to cyber threats: Naval Chief outlines new warfare reality

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh and CII President Sanjiv Puri during the CII Annual General Meeting & Business Summit 2025, in New Delhi, Thursday, May 29, 2025. (PTI Photo)

The character of modern warfare has undergone a significant transformation, Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Thursday. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Annual Business Summit in Delhi, he noted that rapid technological advancements have fundamentally reshaped the nature of security threats.

Addressing the summit, Admiral Tripathi elaborated on India's evolving maritime strategy, driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. "PM Modi made a clarion call of 'SAGAR' - Security and Growth for All in the Region. Building on this legacy, the vision has rightly elevated to 'MAHASAGAR' - Mutual and Holistic Advancement of Security and Growth Across Regions," Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said.

He highlighted several major shifts in the landscape of modern conflict: “The traditional distinctions between times of war and peace are becoming increasingly blurred. The widespread availability of commercial technologies is enabling non-state actors to engage in warfare. We are entering an era of precision warfare, where both accuracy and scalability are vital. It's also important to recognize that irregular threats, such as terrorism, can quickly escalate into broader conflicts. Modern warfare now includes remote and non-contact methods, along with the strategic use of space and cyber domains—where hostilities may unfold without formal declarations or defined endpoints.”

Admiral Tripathi further emphasised India’s maritime identity, stating, “India is the only country in the world to have an ocean named after it. We are, and will always be, a maritime nation. The seas will continue to be the engines of our growth.”

(With inputs from ANI)