Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan delivered the keynote speech at the inaugural Tri-Service seminar of the Indian Armed Forces, Ran Samwad, held at the Army War College in Mhow on Tuesday.
With the theme "Impact of Technology on Warfare", the seminar convened military leaders, researchers, think tanks, and industry experts to discuss how technology will redefine the art of combat and national security.
In his remarks, General Chauhan underscored the critical role of indigenously developed defence technologies in tackling emerging strategic challenges. He drew attention to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, where the PM spoke about the Sudarshan Chakra—a futuristic defence shield likened to Israel’s Iron Dome.
“A second aspect for discussion in this seminar is the Sudarshan Chakra, India’s own Iron Dome or Golden Dome,” said the CDS.
The Prime Minister said this on 15th August, when he said that the Sudarshan Chakra will contribute to India's strategic defence and should be implemented by 2035. The purpose is to create a system that will defend India's strategic, civilian, and nationally significant places," he said.
Describing in detail, General Chauhan informed that the Sudarshan Chakra would function as "a sword and shield," with detection, acquisition, and neutralisation capabilities. "It will need development of strong infrastructure and processes, employing soft as well as hard skills, such as kinetic as well as directed energy weapons," he said.
Building further on the general theme, the CDS has advocated a strategic shift in military thought and action. "Severe research needs to be undertaken on all aspects of war, including leadership, motivation, technology, tactics, and strategy. This is important as India rises to power," he said.
Emphasizing the need for a whole-of-nation endeavor, he further said: "As a Viksit Bharat, we must be Sashakt, Surakshit, and Aatmanirbhar, not just technologically advanced, but also in ideas and practice."
He also emphasized the importance of public involvement in enhancing awareness on national security. "There is a need to build awareness in all sections of society about doctrinal and conceptual issues, the academic interest in how war is waged, and the operational aspect of war-fighting skills and tactics," he said.
Ran Samwad was focused on two themes—Emerging Technologies and Their Implications for Future Warfare, and Reforms in Institutionalised Training to Spark Technological Enablement. The seminar seeks to push tangible solutions towards the creation of a future-ready military consistent with India's long-term strategic vision.
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