Future Wars Will Be Multi-Domain, Says CDS Anil Chauhan
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Delhi
- Dec 22, 2025
- 543
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Monday underscored the urgent need for India to remain prepared for swift, short-duration military responses—akin to Operation Sindoor—while simultaneously maintaining readiness for prolonged, high-intensity conflicts arising from unresolved territorial disputes with neighbouring states.
Addressing an audience at IIT Bombay, General Chauhan emphasised that the character of warfare is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Future wars, he noted, will no longer be confined to a single domain or fought in linear fashion. Instead, modern conflict will be inherently multi-dimensional, with simultaneous operations unfolding across land, air, sea, cyber, space, and cognitive spheres. Actions taken in one domain, he warned, will inevitably reverberate across others, amplifying both risks and outcomes.
Without explicitly naming Pakistan or China, the CDS highlighted India’s complex strategic environment, pointing out that the country faces persistent security challenges from two nuclear-armed neighbours. In such a volatile setting, he stressed, preserving strategic balance among nuclear powers is imperative, as instability or perceived weakness could have grave consequences.
General Chauhan also outlined what he described as the advent of a new era in military affairs—“convergence warfare.” He explained that emerging technologies are rapidly reshaping the conduct of war, blurring traditional distinctions between platforms, services, and domains. Artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, robotics, hypersonic systems, advanced materials, and edge computing, he said, are no longer futuristic concepts but active drivers of modern combat effectiveness.
He further noted that the success of future multi-domain operations will hinge on seamless coordination and robust command-and-control architectures. This will require unprecedented levels of integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, alongside specialised forces operating in cyber, space, and cognitive domains.
Referring to recent operational experience, General Chauhan cited Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7 in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. As part of the operation, nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan were targeted. Hostilities were subsequently halted following a mutual agreement between the two countries on May 10.
General Chauhan’s remarks reflect India’s evolving military doctrine—one that seeks to combine rapid punitive action against terrorism with long-term preparedness for complex, multi-domain conflicts in an increasingly contested strategic landscape.