Warfare has transcended its traditional confines, evolving into a complex, multi-dimensional, and technologically driven phenomenon. 

• The year 2025 is also one that celebrates eight decades of seemingly relative peace following the end of the second world war, though the years in between did see, and had seen, several conflicts, though not on the scale of the second world war.

From Historical Conflicts to Evolving Battlefields

• Transformation of Warfare: Machiavelli asserted that politics revolved around power and survival, advocating for extreme force and deception if required to protect a kingdom. 
  • The Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which gave rise to the concept of the nation-state and non-interference.
  • The Congress of Vienna in 1814-15, aimed at balancing power to prevent conflicts, ultimately proved insufficient. 
  • The post-World War II pushed for a rule-based world order, founded on common laws and agreements, but failed to prevent subsequent conflicts like the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Cold War itself. 
  • The end of the Cold War in 1990, rather than bringing peace, ushered in an era of greater chaos and instability.
• 1991 Turning Point: While some attribute the shift in warfare’s nature to events like 9/11, which provided the USA with opportunities to target adversaries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, the true transformation in how wars would be fought emerged in 1991. 
  • This was evident during Operation Desert Storm, when Iraq attempted to occupy Kuwait, and the USA launched three-dimensional strikes involving air, water, and land forces.

The Defining Characteristics of Modern Warfare

• Today’s conflicts, exemplified by the Ukraine-Russia war, are fundamentally battles of automation.
• Drones are indispensable: Their use has surged for intelligence gathering and executing precise strikes.
  • Semi-autonomous drones can interpret images, recognise targets, and prioritise them.
  • Loitering munitions, also known as suicide or Kamikaze drones, hover until a target is acquired, then initiate a self-destructive attack.
• The India-Pakistan conflict, specifically Operation Sindoor, showcased extensive technological deployment, including fixed-wing drones, loitering munitions, fighter jets, advanced air-to-air missiles, and BrahMos missiles.

New Dimensions and Concepts

• Network-centric warfare: Militaries are shifting away from rigid hierarchies. All critical components of war – sensors, information sharing, and decision-making – are interconnected within a single network, enabling faster and more efficient decision processes.
• Complex multi-domain conflict zones: Conflicts are no longer confined to land, air, and water; they now encompass space and cyberspace. This involves significant use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cyber warfare.
• Hypersonic weapons: These missiles travel at Mach 5 speeds or greater, making them extraordinarily difficult to recognise, track, and counter effectively.

Need of Adaptation For India

• Need for Defence Modernisation: India must thoroughly revise its military modernisation strategies in light of rapidly evolving warfare dynamics.
• Reassessing Procurement Plans: Current weapon procurement tenders may be obsolete and need reevaluation to match the demands of modern conflict.
• Lag in Fighter Jet Capabilities: While China advances with 5th and 6th generation jets, India struggles with the underperforming and slowly produced Tejas.
• Need for Advanced Drones and UAVs: India must invest in high-altitude, long-endurance drones and unmanned aerial vehicles essential for tech-driven warfare.
• Supplier Diversification: A diverse supplier base for military hardware is vital to strengthen India’s strategic autonomy and resilience.

Conclusion

India must adapt to the realities of modern, tech-driven warfare by overhauling its defence strategies.

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