The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

According to news reports from November 21, 2024, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, has emphasised the necessity for the Indian Armed Forces to adopt a data-driven and integrated warfare approach. Speaking recently at the India International Centre, he outlined how technological advancements are reshaping modern warfare and underscored the importance of doctrinal changes to effectively engage in future conflicts. He highlighted the need to develop new concepts of warfare, embracing innovative strategies that incorporate data-centric approaches, including joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to integrate military branches for enhanced operational effectiveness.

The Indian Army is restructuring its Army Education Corps into the 'Army Knowledge & Enablers Corps' to focus on cyber warfare, information technology, and linguistics

The CDS stressed the importance of integration across the air, land, and maritime domains, suggesting that naval assets could be managed by the Air Force when necessary. He called for original thought processes and ideas from military and academic institutions to address new warfare paradigms, emphasising the need for a distinct Indian approach. He outlined a roadmap up to 2047, which includes transitioning to an integrated all-domain force capable of responding dynamically to various conflict scenarios. He also advocated joint structures for logistics, ISR, and air defence.

Recent reports indicate that the Indian Army is establishing the 'Army Knowledge & Enablers Corps' to enhance capabilities in cyber warfare, information technology, and linguistics. This new corps will recruit specialists in various fields, including languages such as Mandarin and Burmese, to bolster the Army's strategic and tactical capabilities. The Army Education Corps (AEC) will be restructured and rebranded as the Army Knowledge & Enablers Corps. This restructuring will allow the direct recruitment of graduates and postgraduates with specialised skills in cyber operations and linguistics. A three-pronged approach of reorientation, reskilling, and on-the-job training for existing staff is being implemented to better equip them for cyber-related tasks.

The Territorial Army is hiring Chinese language interpreters and cybersecurity experts to support sensitive operations, reflecting China's strategic significance

The Territorial Army (TA) is also hiring Chinese language interpreters and planning to induct cybersecurity experts to support border personnel meetings and enhance communication capabilities at sensitive locations. With China being a primary concern, expertise in Chinese language, culture, and cyber tactics is deemed essential. The new corps aims to create a dedicated pool of trained professionals capable of operating effectively in these niche areas to address contemporary security challenges while enhancing operational effectiveness on multiple fronts.

The challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), its combination with cyber and electronic warfare, and the accompanying information overload are immense, and the Armed Forces must already be addressing these. Some eminent analysts have warned about the advancement of machines to a stage where they could rewrite or even create their own algorithms—a highly dangerous development. According to Microsoft's AI CEO, AI will possess infinite memory by 2025. Notably, in October 2024, Chinese researchers reportedly broke the RSA algorithm using a quantum computer, highlighting future dangers in cybersecurity.

To cope with these challenges, the Army will require the ability to acquire vast amounts of data, store and tag it using cloud technology, and manage closed-open-closed networks dealing with classified and unclassified data. High-performance computing power and GPU servers within formations will be essential, along with data analysts who can determine which data is needed, how to use it, and where to store it. The scale of data influx is staggering, coming from thousands of sources, including open and classified channels as well as military platforms. However, not all data is reliable—some may be irrelevant or false. In the present era, drones, advanced communication systems, radars, and satellites inundate headquarters with enormous amounts of data. According to The Washington Post, "every day, collection systems at the National Security Agency intercept and store 1.7 billion emails, phone calls, and other types of communications." Such a volume of intelligence would require a dedicated team at formation headquarters to quickly and continuously analyse terabytes of data about adversaries.

The CDS outlined a roadmap up to 2047, transitioning to an integrated all-domain force capable of responding dynamically to various conflict scenarios

At the battlefield level, the Army would need super-cognitive "Human-Machine Teams" supported by an upward structure comprising Digital Units, Data Mining Sections, and similar entities. An innovative system must be developed, with staffing to include machine learning specialists for solving problems and handling AI in conjunction with cyber and electronic warfare. The requirement includes creating data centres, designing AI data models, conducting training and tuning, including for leadership, and preparing formations, units, and sub-units for the AI revolution. This includes evaluation, predictions, and accelerated automation for specific robotics, as well as the establishment of an "AI Wall."

Hypersonic weapons, swarm drones, and space/near-space-based platforms are profoundly impacting Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). The US Army, for example, has called for a system that not only provides advance warnings of impending enemy actions but also tracks evolving enemy tactics in real-time during ongoing operations. This capability would be inherently integrated within the US Army.

Emerging challenges, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing breakthroughs, demand significant advancements in data analysis, storage, and cybersecurity capabilities

Finally, there is an urgent need for a well-thought-out and pragmatic approach to achieving the much-needed transformation while avoiding the usual setbacks. For instance, while the CDS has suggested that naval assets could be managed by the Air Force when necessary, this raises questions about the apparent shelving of plans to establish an Air Defence Command, a concept discussed extensively in recent years.