India's CDS Says Future Wars Will Span Cyber and Cognitive Domains

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said future conflicts will span multiple domains, including land, sea, air, cyberspace, and cognitive warfare ^[1].

This shift in military strategy reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence and drone technology on national security. By integrating non-physical battlefields, India aims to prepare its forces for unconventional threats that target both digital infrastructure and human perception.

General Chauhan said these remarks during the inauguration of a defense manufacturing complex in Shirdi, Maharashtra ^[1]. He used the event to pitch the city as a potential hub for India's defense manufacturing, suggesting that localized industrial growth is essential for maintaining a technological edge ^[2].

According to General Chauhan, the nature of combat is evolving toward a model that is tech-driven and multi-domain ^[2]. He said that integrating cyber and cognitive aspects is no longer optional but a necessity for modern defense readiness.

Cognitive warfare generally refers to the use of information to manipulate the mental processes of an adversary. When combined with cyber operations, this approach allows a military to disrupt an opponent's decision-making capabilities without necessarily firing a shot in a traditional sense.

"Future conflicts will span multiple domains including land, sea, air, cyberspace, and cognitive warfare," General Chauhan said ^[1].

The promotion of Shirdi as a manufacturing center aligns with broader national efforts to reduce reliance on foreign military imports. By developing domestic hubs, the military seeks to streamline the production of the very technologies, such as AI-driven systems, that General Chauhan identified as critical for future wars ^[1].