CDS calls for 24×7 combat readiness amid ongoing Operation Sindoor

Asserting that it was time that defence forces should understand both ‘Shastra’ (warfare) and ‘Shaastra’ (knowledge), Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said the forces are ready for any action as the Operation Sindoor was still ongoing.

Speaking at the Capstone seminar, jointly organized by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), Chauhan said the preparedness level of the armed forces has to be very high, 24×7, 365 days.

Advertisement

“As I said earlier, there are no runners up in war, and giving examples of Operation Sindoor, which still continues; Our preparedness level has to be very high,” he said.

Stating that a warrior today needs to master all three levels of warfare – tactical, operational and strategic in all domains, the CDS said, “We are seeing an unprecedented pace driven by a relentless march of technology. We now stand at the cusp of what I refer to as the third revolution in military affairs, a term I have coined as convergence kind of warfare.

“This form of warfare merges kinetic and non-kinetic means, combining elements of first- and second-generation warfare with the third. It is a converging tactical, operational, and strategic kind of domain,” he said.

Elaborating on the third revolution, the CDS stated that it is defined by the fusion of tactical, operational, and strategic thinking, alongside an integration of land, sea, air, cyber, space, and cognitive warfare.

“Future combat will be dominated by individuals proficient not only in traditional combat roles but also in technological, informational, and psychological warfare. Modern warriors must become masters of multi-domain operations, functioning simultaneously as tech warriors, info warriors, and scholar warriors,” he added.

Speaking about the changing dynamics of the military operations globally, Chauhan said it has raised the importance of info warriors, experts trained to craft and counter narratives, fight misinformation, and influence public perception in what was described as “the invisible battlefield of cognition.

“A scholar warrior is a military professional who combines intellectual depth. It combines skills. This individual possesses both strong academic knowledge and practical military expertise, enabling them to analyse complex situations, standardize effectively and adapt to diverse challenges in a dynamic security environment,” Chauhan said.