Over the centuries, warfare has undergone significant transformation, due to new discoveries and innovative application of technologies. These inventions and discoveries have resulted in dramatic changes in military doctrine as well as operational and organisational concepts, and have altered the character and conduct of military operations.
The changing face of war was categorised as “generations of warfare” in 1989 by a team of US analysts, led by William S Lind. As per this taxonomy, warfare has been classified into four generations. While the first three generations were to do with conventional conflicts between large armies, the fourth generation warfare (4GW) is characterised by the increasing role of non-state actors in an asymmetrical conflict with conventional forces and the blurring of lines between politics and military.
The changing nature of warfare is also reflected in the concept of Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). The genesis of this concept began in Russia in the early 1980s, and later evolved into the “RMA” concept through the work of military thinkers primarily in the US. An “RMA” is deemed to have occurred when, over some relatively brief period, the character of conflict changes dramatically, requiring equally dramatic changes in military doctrine and organizations. As per one classification, there have been as many as ten military revolutions since the fourteenth century. In present times, the “current RMA” is often viewed as a military revolution combining technical advances in surveillance, C3I and precision munitions, leading to new operational concepts, including network centric warfare and information operations. Many military thinkers are of the opinion that the next RMA will be triggered by advances in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology, amongst others.
Triggered by an intricate interplay of underlying socio-political factors and the fast pace of technological developments, the world today is witnessing the complexity of the battlespace being taken to a new level. For conventional defence forces, keeping pace with such a dynamic scenario presents a huge challenge.
Future Wars aims to discuss the changing nature of warfare in the 21st Century, with special reference to its relevance and implications as related to the Indian security scenario. The primary issues which appear to be involved here are: development and adoption of military technologies, the paramount importance of highly specialized human resource, as well as the urgent need for transformation in doctrines, organisations and, more importantly, mind-sets. The Website would focus on a variety of facets related to future wars, including concepts, doctrines, status of global defence forces and way forward as applicable to the Indian Defence Forces.
Participation is welcome in all forms, including critical appraisal, from its readers.