RECENT POSTS
Disruptive Military Technologies: An Overview – Part II
This three-part series on disruptive military technologies attempts to examine whether India is sufficiently geared up to leverage these technologies in pursuance of our national security goals. In the previous part, a classification of disruptive military technologies based on their expected impact on future warfare was presented, and four key technologies were shortlisted for further analysis. Thereafter, a brief look was taken on the global R&D status of AI & robotics and quantum technologies. This part gives out the status of global research for nano and hypersonic weapons technologies, and the efforts being made by India towards their development.
Disruptive Military Technologies: An Overview – Part I
Cutting edge technologies whose manifestation on the battlefield is expected to have a significant impact on the nature of warfare, are often referred to as disruptive military technologies. At this point in time, potentially disruptive technologies include ICT, IW, AI & robotics, quantum, nano and hypersonic weapons, amongst several others. The impact of some of these technologies on the 21st Century battlespace is expected to be very profound, and may even revolutionise warfare. This three-part series attempts to examine whether India is sufficiently geared up to leverage these technologies for building up our comprehensive military power in tune with our geopolitical aspirations. In Part I, a classification of disruptive military technologies based on their expected degree of impact on warfare is first presented. Thereafter, a brief look is taken on the global R&D status of AI & robotics and quantum technologies, as also the initiatives being taken by India in these areas.
IW Structures for the Indian Armed Forces – Part IV
The first three parts of this four part series discussed the conceptual foundations of IW as also organizational structures which have been adopted by other armies. In this culminating part, an overview is first given of the IW organisations which presently exist at our national level as well as within the Indian Armed Forces. Thereafter, drawing upon concepts discussed in the preceding parts, a large number of recommendations are made on how organisational transformation may be carried out by us in order to effectively address the challenges emerging on the information-intensive battlefield of the 21st Century.
IW Structures for the Indian Armed Forces – Part III
Part I of this four part series dwelt upon terminologies, concepts and doctrines, and identified CO, EW and Psy W as the three primary components of IW. Part II analysed the areas of convergence as well as differences amongst these components, as also various facets of how these capabilities may be operationally deployed in an integrated manner. With the conceptual underpinnings of IW having thus been established, here we endeavour to briefly describe IW structures which presently exist in some of the defense forces of the world which are of relevance to us, specifically China, United States, Russia and Pakistan, with a view to drawing lessons and thence analysing our own structures against this backdrop.
IW Structures for the Indian Armed Forces – Part II
Part I of this four part series dwelt upon and clarified the terminologies, concepts and doctrines which this work uses as a basis for proposing effective and viable IW structures for the Indian Armed Forces. In this second part, the areas of convergence as well as differences amongst CO, EW and Psy W components of IO are first brought out. Thereafter, some considerations which determine the manner in which these capabilities are operationally deployed in an integrated manner are discussed.
IW Structures for the Indian Armed Forces – Part I
The primary focus of this four part series is to suggest IW structures for the Indian Armed Forces which are effective enough to match up to the challenges of 21st Century warfare. This analysis takes cognizance of the fact that there is deep resistance to change within the Indian military hierarchy, despite the radical changes taking place in modern warfare concepts. Therefore, a transformational – as opposed to a (preferred) revolutionary – approach is adopted towards achieving the desired capabilities. In this first part, an attempt is made to dwell upon and clarify the terminologies, concepts and doctrines which are taken as the basis for proposing effective and viable IW structures for the Indian Armed Forces.
Cyberspace Operations: National Strategy and Doctrine
Cyberwar can no longer be brushed off as fantasy or “hype” and is very much a phenomenon in the realm of reality. Indeed, several instances of cyber-attacks have already taken place which lend themselves to be classified as acts of cyberwar at the national strategic level. Thus, it is imperative that necessary steps be taken to secure our national cyberspace on a war footing, even as initiatives to usher in Digital India are being taken forward in right earnest. It would not be far off the mark to state that the focus so far in India has been on cyber-crime, hactivism and industrial cyber espionage, while state-level cyber warfare, offensive and defensive, has not received the consideration it deserves. There is an urgent need, therefore, to conceptualizing the right strategy and doctrine for defending our national cyberspace. This piece attempts to discuss this critical issue at some length.
Network Centric Warfare : A Command & Control Concept
While networks and information management are central to the concept of Network Centric Warfare (NCW), it is important to emphasize that NCW is essentially a Command & Control concept. Further, NCW is also related to the notions of Self-Synchronisation of forces, “Power to the Edge”, Effects Based Operations (EBO) and the concept of Agility. All of these are various facets of how command & control is effected on the battlefield. In this write-up, these ideas are stitched together and discussed.
Cyberspace: The Fifth Dimension of Warfare – Part II
The dimensions of warfare have evolved over the centuries from Land and Sea to encompass Air and Outer Space in the 20th Century. With the heavy dependence on networks in the 21st Century, Cyberspace is emerging as an increasingly contested domain, with critical importance for the projection of military force. In the first part of this two-piece write-up, the emergence of Cyberspace as an operational domain of warfare, as well as the types and classifications of cyber-attacks/ cyberwar were discussed. In this part, some real-world examples of cyberwar over the past decade will be described, and certain doctrinal aspects related to offensive cyberwar strategies as well as some legal implications of conducting cyberwar will be dwelt upon.
Cyberspace: The Fifth Dimension of Warfare – Part I
The dimensions of warfare have evolved over the centuries from Land and Sea to encompass Air and Outer Space in the 20th Century. With the heavy dependence on networks in the 21st Century, Cyberspace is emerging as an increasingly contested domain, with critical importance for the projection of military force. Here, in a two-piece write-up, we discuss the emergence of Cyberspace as an operational domain of warfare, deliberate on types and classifications of cyber-attacks/ cyberwar, briefly describe some real-world examples of cyberwar over the past decade, and finally dwell upon certain doctrinal aspects related to offensive cyberwar strategies as well as some legal implications of conducting cyberwar.