Technology is reshaping combat, but geography and human leadership decisive in war: Army chief

Though technology is reshaping combat, geography and human leadership still remain the decisive factors in a war, said Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi here on Tuesday (November 11, 2025).

Addressing the Cavalry Seminar 2025, he spoke on the rapid evolution of warfare and the pivotal role of technology in shaping future battlefields. Reflecting on the shift in battlefield communication, he said, “The call in battle has evolved from the war trumpet to radio, satellite links, drones and now to the flash of a data packet.”

Speaking on future strategic priorities, General Dwivedi noted that by 2032, the Army’s proposed rocket force will be a “game changer”.

The two-day seminar, organised by the Cavalry Officers Association on the theme “Mechanised Forces on the Future Battlefield”, brought together senior military leaders, defence industry experts and scholars.

Transition mode

Delivering the Cavalry Memorial Address on “Cross Domain Operations in the Indian Context,” General Dwivedi highlighted the Army’s ongoing transition towards fully integrated multi-domain operations by 2032, leveraging AI, drones and data-driven decision-making.

He urged the military leadership to embrace innovation, foster synergy and drive technological excellence to secure operational advantages in a dynamic security environment.

Day one of the seminar saw discussions on advances in tank systems, infantry combat vehicle modernisation, deep-tech military applications, and drone-electronic warfare integration.

The event reaffirmed the collective resolve to build a future-ready, adaptive and technology-driven mechanised force aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.