Shift to ‘Intelligent Warfare’, CDS General Anil Chauhan calls for All-Realm All-Domain Operations

New Delhi, Feb 25: Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan on Wednesday said the Indian Armed Forces must transition from net-centric operations to “Intelligent Warfare” and evolve beyond Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) to what he termed “All Realm All Domain Operations (ARADO)” to meet the demands of future conflicts.

Addressing the annual seminar at the College of Defence Management in Secunderabad on February 24, 2026, General Chauhan said warfare is rapidly expanding “from the physical to the synthetic and cognitive realms,” requiring a fundamental doctrinal shift.

Inaugurating the two-day seminar themed ‘Multi-Domain Integrated Technologically-Empowered Resilient Armed Forces (MITRA)’, he underlined the emergence of what he described as the “Third Revolution in Military Affairs.” This phase, he said, is defined by “Convergence Warfare” that integrates contact and non-contact operations, kinetic and non-kinetic tools, and blends traditional and emerging domains across all levels of conflict.

He also stressed the importance of developing credible non-nuclear strategic deterrence to ensure India retains the ability to prevail at every rung of escalation.

The February 24–25 seminar, hosted by CDM with the Indian School of Business as knowledge partner, brought together senior defence officials, scholars, industry representatives and practitioners. The theme ‘MITRA’ reflects the Armed Forces’ evolving role amid a complex geopolitical and technological environment.