Editor’s Note
Will firepower and manoeuvre lose their preeminence on the battlefield? Disruptive technologies are making continuous inroads into the nature and character of war. It may be feasible to achieve dissuasion and deterrence without using kinetic weapons as the most preponderant instruments of warfighting. The article exploits new methodologies the forces will encounter/ field in the future battlefield.
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Future warfare has drawn the highest attention in the recent past, and for good reasons. The ongoing conflicts beyond predictable outcomes of strategic crystal gazing and the geopolitical turmoil driven by tariffs and black swans have created a recipe to make the blueprint for change. As technological advancements accelerate and global power dynamics shift, the nature of warfare is also likely to undergo a profound transformation from attrition warfare, targeting real estate, PWs and destruction of National assets, if not will, to manoeuvre warfare targeting the mind of the commanders and winning conflicts without firing a shot – achieving dissuasion and deterrence.
Future conflicts will no longer be defined solely by kinetic operations and traditional military might but will increasingly be shaped by information, EW and cyber dominance, autonomous systems, space capabilities and artificial intelligence in the military domain, in addition to tariffs and exercising coercive control over critical resources at National level. Warfare is evolving into a multidimensional contest where information superiority, rapid decision-making, and integrated command structures are as critical, if not more, as firepower. Given the transparency afforded by technology infusion, fratricide and collateral damage will continue to be taboo words, and hence, the structures have to graduate beyond C4I!
In this complex battlespace, the lines between physical and digital realms, human and machine, and state and non-state actors are blurring. Emerging technologies such as AI-driven command and control, loiter ammunition, unmanned autonomous systems, hypersonic weapons, quantum computing, and cognitive warfare are redefining both the character and conduct of war. The future battlefield will demand unprecedented levels of adaptability, resilience, and innovation as a ‘Whole of Nation’ approach.
This piece aims to explore the contours of future warfare, analysing how disruptive technologies and shifting geopolitical landscapes will influence military doctrines, force structures, and strategic decision-making. It also examines the implications of NextGen warfare based on manned-unmanned autonomous technology-based actions with a man-in-the-loop and man-out-of-the-loop missions, depending on the criticality of the mission. Understanding these perspectives is essential for shaping robust strategies that ensure operational advantage and national security in the coming decades.
Savour is a technology-based, innovative Counter Insurgency Counter Terrorism operation. The first wave is autonomous, with man in the loop. A number of unmanned autonomous ground vehicles (robots) with day-night cameras, through wall radars, close combat weapons ICT networked carry out the inner and outer cordon. This ground-based mission is duly integrated by a swarm of aerial unmanned autonomous systems (drones) with day-night cameras and automatic grenade launchers. Add the need-based sensors and hailers to these platforms. The complete mission is autonomously networked with an Incident Command Post (ICP) displaying real-time situational awareness and a common operating picture for commanders at all levels.
The ICP commander directs the operations to carry out search operations using the first wave of unmanned autonomous systems to search, draw fire and act as the vanguards and first respondents. The complete area is under surveillance and uncommitted, but combat-ready QRTs await the mopping-up operation. Think of this combat deployment in ambushes, astride intrusion areas, as a recce in force, flank protection, a variety of combat roles, and a formidable narrative with advantage to security forces manifests.
In effect, tactically speaking, a robust unmanned combat force with effective C7 Force- command, control, communication, computers, cybertronics, cognition and combat force facilitating I2- information and intelligence, S2- surveillance and security R recce-based decision support system (DSS) is generated. Big data management and AI bring in the dimension of cognition, which is so important for IFF, search, identify and destroy missions. In effect, AI-driven C7I2S2RDSS is a platform for autonomous weapons systems with lethal kinetic and non-kinetic devices that their human creators have empowered to survey their surroundings, identify and track potential enemy targets, and independently choose to attack those targets on the basis of sophisticated algorithms.
These systems typically comprise a seek-and-respond system. Seek is an autonomous pivot which comprises all types of sensors tightly integrated with the respond strike autonomous system mobile manoeuvre arm comprising combat platforms both kinetic and non-kinetic, in an automated system with a man in the loop or autonomous systems with a man out of the loop. Such systems require the integration of several core elements: a mobile combat platform, such as a unmanned autonomous drone, aircraft, ship, or ground vehicle; sensors of various types to scrutinize the platform’s surroundings; processing systems to classify objects discovered by the sensors as friend or foe; and algorithms directing the platform to initiate attack when an allowable target is detected.
C7I2S2R is, therefore, an AI-based platform that will encapsulate a number of disruptive technologies. Many semi-autonomous weapons in use today rely on autonomy for certain parts of their system but have a communication link to a manned system that will approve or make decisions. In contrast, a fully autonomous weapon system (AWS) could be deployed with an established communication network. It would independently respond to a changing environment and decide how to achieve its pre-programmed goals.
AWS may create a paradigm shift in how we wage war. This revolution will be one of software; with advances in technologies such as facial recognition and computer vision, autonomous navigation in congested environments, and cooperative autonomy or swarming, these systems can be used in a variety of assets, from tanks, ships, and submarines to small commercial drones. They would allow highly lethal systems deployed on the battlefield that cannot be controlled or recalled once launched. Unlike any weapon seen before, they could also allow for the selective targeting of a particular group based on pre-defined target parameters and AI-based decision support on the edge. A typical scenario is painted in the Sketch below.
In effect, AWS will facilitate a deep strike with precision, thereby reducing collateral damage. Viewing AWS from a technology lens, it
comprises almost all niche disruptive technologies, sensor technologies and IoT, unmanned autonomous pseudo satellite drones, aerial, ground-based, underwater platforms, cyber, electronic warfare, directed energy weapons, hard kill systems mounted or under control, quantum technologies, big data analytics, nanotechnologies, geospatial technologies and AI.
The war zone extends from outer space to deep sea; the sensor data must reside in a georeferenced data garden (de-weeded based on a single source of truth) and not a lake (with dark data), the paradigm of decision support would be augmented intelligence for decision making by commanders or based on options and scenarios built by AI over historical and real-time data inputs to create real-time situational awareness and common operating picture. All these will be based on Multi-Platform Multi-Sensor Data Fusion for effective and time-efficient decision support at all levels of the command structure. The key drivers for future warfare are – Automation, Autonomy, Precision, Positioning and AI. To achieve the above C7I2S2R, DSS needs to be designed and developed as a Tri-Services and Integrated Theatre Command necessity.
Conclusion
In future warfare, Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) could serve as force multipliers, enabling militaries to simultaneously conduct high-tempo operations across multiple domains. As nations race to develop and deploy these systems, a dual imperative emerges: to innovate responsibly and to regulate effectively. The future of warfare will not be determined solely by technological superiority but by the wisdom with which autonomous capabilities are integrated into human-centric military strategies through C7I2S2R DSS. Ensuring meaningful human control, developing robust verification protocols, and fostering international norms are essential to prevent an unrestrained autonomous arms race.
In essence, LAWS will shape the future battlespace, but humanity must shape the values that govern their use. The challenge lies not just in building smarter machines but in safeguarding the principles of accountability, proportionality, and dignity in the conduct of war. There is a case for building responsible AI through the Head brain (intellect), Heart brain (emotion and empathy), and gut-brain (instinct and spirituality). Opportunities beckon!
Lt Gen Anil Kapoor, AVSM, VSM, PhD (Retd)
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BharatShakti.in)
Lt Gen Dr Anil Kapoor, AVSM, VSM superannuated as Director General Electronics and Mechanical Engineering on 31 Dec 2020. He was also the Director General Info Systems apriori. The General is an alumni of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Pune, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Army War College, Mhow and National Defence College, New Delhi.
A Gold Medalist both in B Tech (Electronics) and Master of Engineering (Mechanical), M Sc in Defence Studies, M Phil in Strategic Management of Technology and is an expert in Radars, Guided Missiles, MRO asset management and condition based monitoring of assets. The four decades long journey that followed in military service bears testimony to maturation of his experience in military leadership, technology and innovation management, equipment management, change management, organizational behavior, ingenious administration and human resource management in diverse and challenging environments.
The General has also been on two UN Peacekeeping Assignments as Senior Logistics Officer in Angola and Deputy Chief Integrated Support Services in Sudan on deputation to UN for two years, managed operational logistics in J & K Operation Vijay during the Kargil war, Operation Parakram and recently engineering support planning for Operation Snow Leopard in Eastern Ladakh in 2020. As a Brigadier he was Dean of Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Tactics in Military College of EME and as a Major General EME in Northern Command, he implemented Engineering Support Philosophy and Practices which has become a best practice in the Corps of EME.
A Chartered Engineer, he was awarded the Eminent Engineer Award 2020 on 15 Sep 2020 by Institution of Engineers, India for outstanding professional contributions in engineering and displaying technical brilliance. He is a Master Class Independent Director and member of Institute of Directors and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Professor of Practice IIT Tirupati, Director General Amity University and Chairman, National Advisory Committee, Asset Management Society India.
