The Russia-Ukraine war has reshaped modern warfare, demonstrating how technology continues to revolutionise battlefields. Just as tanks and aircraft changed warfare a century ago, drones have now emerged as a decisive factor in combat. For India, this conflict offers critical lessons for future military preparedness. This is the topic of discussion in this week’s Defence Mantra.
Editor-in-Chief Nitin A Gokhale first talks about the outcome of the war; the Russia-Ukraine war has persisted for three years, and conflict has led to significant geopolitical shifts, particularly concerning U.S. involvement and support for Ukraine.
Early this year, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order pausing all U.S. foreign development assistance, including substantial aid to Ukraine. This decision has raised concerns about Ukraine’s capacity to sustain its defence against Russian aggression. President Trump has expressed a desire to conclude the conflict swiftly, even if it means making concessions to Russia. So perhaps it wouldn’t be too farfetched to say Russia has the upper hand in this conflict.
Moving on to the art of modern warfare and the lessons India needs to learn; drones have proven indispensable in reconnaissance, precision strikes, and swarm attacks, underscoring the need for India to accelerate indigenous drone development while enhancing counter-drone capabilities. The parallel rise of electronic warfare—seen in the jamming of GPS signals and communication networks—highlights the urgency of strengthening India’s cyber resilience and secure battlefield communications.
The war has also reaffirmed the significance of precision-guided munitions and loitering drones, pushing India to bolster its long-range strike capabilities. Meanwhile, the resurgence of trench warfare and fortified positions suggests that, despite high-tech advancements, conventional defensive tactics remain crucial. “Boots on the ground”, as Nitin puts it. India must ensure its military is prepared for both high-tech and traditional combat scenarios.
Additionally, Ukraine’s use of joint operations—integrating land, air, and cyber domains—demonstrates the importance of seamless coordination across military branches. India must enhance interoperability between its Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Perhaps the MOST urgent lesson from the Ukraine war is the need for self-reliance. The conflict has shown the risks of dependency on foreign suppliers, reinforcing India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat‘ goals in defence manufacturing.
As modern warfare continues to evolve, India must adapt swiftly—embracing new technologies, securing critical supply chains, keeping soldiers motivated and preparing for multi-domain conflicts to ensure its national security in an unpredictable world.
