Drones, AI, multi-domain warfare: Army redraws blueprint for future wars

NEW DELHI: Indian Army’s Land Warfare Doctrine 2026, released by defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday, drew lessons from “contemporary conflicts” like Ukraine-Russia & Iran-US conflicts and last year’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan “where unmanned systems, persistent surveillance, contested communications and information warfare have emerged as critical factors on the battlefield”.“The revised doctrine outlined a roadmap for preparing the force for future conflicts characterised by advanced technology, drones, artificial intelligence, precision warfare and multi-domain operations,” sources told TOI. “Aligned with Defence Forces Vision 2047, the doctrine emphasises jointness among the armed forces, integration of capabilities across multiple domains and the continued centrality of land power in achieving decisive military and political outcomes,” they said.Rajnath, along with MoS defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General N. S. Raja Subramani, Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth and defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, launched the new doctrine during the final day of the biannual Army Commanders' Conference.A land warfare doctrine is a high-level military strategy and set of guiding principles that explains how an army prepares for, plans, and conducts combat and security operations on land.

The Army’s doctrine also places considerable emphasis on empowering the soldiers and, man-unmanned teaming as enabler for future conflicts. It also highlights human leadership, resilient logistics and the ability to operate effectively even in technologically-contested environments. The doctrine provides commanders the flexibility to adapt operational approaches according to the threat, terrain and mission requirements.A key focus of the doctrine is on Atmanirbharta and a whole-of-nation approach, recognising the importance of indigenous defence capabilities, national infrastructure and coordination with institutions beyond the military in future wars, they said. Rajnath has been an advocate of Atmanirbharta in defence forces who has time and again stressed that self-reliance directly enhances military capabilities and acts as a force multiplier on the front lines.“The revised doctrine signals the Indian Army’s efforts to transform into a future-ready, technology-enabled and adaptable force, capable of fighting and winning wars across the full spectrum of conflict,” the sources told TOI.Alongside the doctrine, the Army is progressing several training initiatives, including a five-year roadmap for multi-domain operations training, a three-level AI skill development programme for officers and a new philosophy to make drone operations a secondary skill across the force.The Army’s last land warfare doctrine was released in Dec 2018, following the armed forces’ joint doctrine issued in April 2017. The 2018 doctrine covered the geostrategic environment, different levels of conflict, hybrid warfare, multi-front operations, surveillance, precision strikes, information warfare, space warfare and special forces. It also provided a foundation for developing strategies for India's northern and western fronts.Several developments have changed India's military planning since the previous doctrine was released in 2018. The Army has faced a prolonged stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, while conflicts in other parts of the world have demonstrated the growing role of drones, missiles and electronic warfare.