NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the government was committed to have a technologically-advanced and agile military, capable of responding to emerging threats and safeguarding national security.
The minister called upon military leaders to think critically, adapt to unforeseen circumstances and leverage latest technological advancements to gain a strategic advantage in today’s “ever-evolving” geopolitical landscape.
He was addressing the ‘M Phil’ convocation ceremony of 62nd National Defence College (NDC) course in New Delhi on Saturday. He urged officers to become strategic thinkers who are capable of anticipating future conflicts, understanding global political dynamics and leading with both intelligence and empathy.
Warfare, he said, has surpassed the traditional battlefields and now operates in a multi-domain environment, where cyber, space and information warfare are as critical as conventional operations.
Cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns and economic warfare have become tools that can destabilise a whole nation without a single shot being fired, Rajnath said.
He described the rapid technological advancements in today’s times as the most crucial force which drives the evolution of a future-ready military. He mentioned how drones, autonomous vehicles, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Computing are the technologies shaping modern warfare.
An in-depth analysis is needed on how best to leverage niche technologies, such as AI, which has the potential to revolutionise military operations, Rajnath said.