Element of surprise key to secure strategic edge, Rajnath tells commanders

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said “future wars will not be won solely through weaponry, but through innovative thinking and enhanced synergy” and advised commanders of the three services to cultivate the “element of surprise in any given situation as it’s must to secure a strategic edge”.

Addressing the second edition of Joint Commanders’ Conference in Jaipur on Friday, the defence minister underscored the need to strengthen capabilities in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, data analytics and secure communication networks to stay prepared in the rapidly-evolving geopolitical security scenario. He also advised commanders to remain vigilant of the element of surprise of the enemy and always stay two steps ahead.

He emphasised that future conflicts will increasingly be shaped by hybrid threats, information dominance and operations conducted simultaneously across cyber, space, electromagnetic and cognitive domains. Highlighting the transformative impact of emerging technologies, he stressed on the importance of ensuring integrated national preparedness across all spectrums of conflict.

Rajnath appreciated the progress achieved in enhancing jointness, integration and technological adoption across the three services. He stated that jointness constitutes a pivotal dimension within the transformative changes sweeping across the global defence sector. “Future wars will not be won solely through weaponry, but through innovative thinking and enhanced synergy,” he said.

Calling upon the commanders to remain future-ready by learning from Operation Sindoor as well as the current global security landscape, Rajnath said, “Op Sindoor is a testament to the swift, precise, and joint response of the Indian defence forces to safeguard national interests”.

Releasing a documentary film on Operation Sindoor, he described it was a short-duration, deep-penetration, high-intensity, and high-impact operation, which showcased India’s ability to compel its adversary to surrender. The operation was a demonstration of India’s growing capabilities and a symbol of the nation’s collective resolve and new military ethos, he said.

Rajnath reiterated the govt’s commitment to enhancing the capabilities of the defence forces through state-of-the-art weapons and platforms. He added that special focus is being laid on research in niche domains. He also released the Hindi Version of Vision 2047 and the Joint Doctrine for Integrated Communication Architecture, aimed at strengthening doctrinal clarity, interoperability and integrated communications across the armed forces in future multi-domain operations.