India defence minister Rajnath Singh today stressed on evolving a joint military vision & preparing for future challenges apart from capability development in space & electronic warfare, with focus on increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Singh was presiding over the maiden Joint Commanders’ Conference in Lucknow on the second and final day of the apex-level military leadership meeting.
He commended the armed forces for their contribution in safeguarding national interests and advancing the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, and appreciated the efforts for integration among the three services.
In line with the theme of the conference, ‘Sashakt aur Surakshit Bharat : Transforming the Armed Forces’, Singh asserted India is a peace loving nation and the forces need to be prepared for war to preserve peace.
Underlining the significance of evolving joint military vision and preparing for the type of challenges India may face in future wars, he emphasised on synergised, swift and proportionate response to provocations.
Referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine & Israel-Hamas conflicts and the current situation in Bangladesh, he exhorted the commanders to analyse these episodes, predict the problems that the country could face, and stay prepared.
He emphasised on the need of a broader & deeper analysis by the top military leadership in view of the situation along the Northern border and the happenings in neighbouring countries, which are posing a challenge to peace and stability in the region.
“Despite global volatility, India is enjoying a rare peace dividend and it is developing peacefully. However, due to the increasing number of challenges, we need to remain alert,” he noted.
The defence minister called upon the commanders to identify and include the right mix of traditional and modern warfare equipment in the armed forces arsenal.
He stressed on capability development in space and electronic warfare, describing them as integral to tackle modern-day challenges.
He urged the military leadership on increasing the use of latest technological advancements in the fields of data and artificial intelligence.
“These components do not participate in any conflict or war directly. Their indirect participation is deciding the course of warfare to a great extent,” he added.
Meanwhile, he enumerated the steps being taken to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to strengthen the sector, and equip the forces with state-of-the-art indigenous weapons and platforms.
The two-day conference brought together the combined apex-level military leadership of the country, who deliberated upon the current and future challenges to the nation in the context of national security.
The focus was on future capability building including organisation structures for joint and integrated response and ushering in efficiency, transparency and accountability in work process during peace and war.
Deliberations spanned across a broad spectrum of contemporary issues such as theaterisation, indigenisation and technological developments including those in the field of robotics and AI enabled autonomous weapon systems.
Special attention was given to the strategic importance of cyber and space-based capabilities in modern warfare, underlining the necessity of preparing for future conflicts that will increasingly span multiple domains.
The conference provided an opportunity for the commanders to review national and international developments that impact India, while discussing measures to further improve the country’s defence capabilities.
Singh also launched eight innovative applications including e-Museum and e-Granthalaya along with one publication on ‘Colonial Practises and the Armed Forces – A Review’ marking a significant step towards greater cohesion and synergy among the three services.