Tri-services officers train for drone wars, cyber threats as Future Warfare Course begins in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 2: Indian military officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force have begun specialised training on drone warfare, cyber operations, space-based assets, and supply-chain vulnerabilities, as the third edition of the Future Warfare Course commenced at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The three-week course, running from February 2 to 25, is being conducted under the aegis of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in partnership with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), and is designed to prepare commanders for how technology-driven conflicts are reshaping the battlefield. The programme focuses on how emerging technologies are changing war-fighting concepts, doctrines and tactics, with officers undergoing practical exposure to new military systems, demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies, and interactions with institutions critical to India’s defence preparedness.

Participants include officers ranging from Major to Major General and their equivalents, along with representatives from India’s defence industry, including start-ups, MSMEs, defence public sector undertakings and private firms. While younger officers bring technical expertise in new domains, senior commanders contribute operational experience and strategic perspective. A key objective of the course is to align the operational requirements of the Armed Forces with the capabilities of the indigenous defence industry, allowing free-flowing discussions on modern and future warfighting challenges. Experts from the armed forces, veteran community, academia, diplomacy and industry are expected to lead sessions on topics such as critical and rare-earth materials, supply-chain disruptions, and regional and global geopolitical trends likely to influence future military operations. Building on the success of the inaugural edition held in September 2024, the expanded course reflects the vision of Chief of the Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan to equip Indian military leaders for the increasingly complex, technology-intensive nature of future conflicts.