Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry Says Technology, Jointness Key to Future Warfare
Air Marshal Tarun Chaudhry, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command, told participants at HDMC-22 at the College of Defence Management under the Integrated Defence Staff that the nature of future warfare is being reshaped by rapid technological change, deeper jointness among the armed forces and new forms of partnership.
In his address, he framed the discussion around how modern conflict is evolving as advanced technologies become more widely available and as military organisations are forced to adapt their planning, operations and decision-making to a more complex security environment. He pointed specifically to the growing democratisation of technology, saying that capabilities once limited to a few now have far broader access, altering the way military power is developed and employed.
That shift, he said, makes integration across domains essential. Air Marshal Chaudhry emphasised that effective Multi-Domain Operations require military capabilities to work seamlessly across different operational environments rather than in isolation. The ability to connect air, land, maritime, cyber and other relevant domains, he suggested, is becoming central to how future conflicts will be fought and managed.
He also told the audience that keeping pace with technology is no longer a matter of choice for military leaders. Understanding emerging technologies and their operational implications, he said, has become a core leadership requirement. In his view, commanders and planners must not only know what new systems can do, but also how they can change tactics, force design and operational outcomes.
Another major theme of the address was the role of India’s domestic defence industry. Air Marshal Chaudhry called for stronger synergy between military users and industry, arguing that close cooperation is needed to produce solutions that are operationally relevant, scalable and aligned with the armed forces’ changing requirements. The emphasis, as he laid it out, was on ensuring that innovation is not only technologically advanced but also useful in real operational settings.
By bringing together the themes of technology, jointness, industry collaboration and leadership, the Air Marshal’s message at HDMC-22 pointed to the broad adjustments India’s armed forces must make as they prepare for future warfare. His remarks reflected a view that readiness for coming conflicts will depend not on any single capability, but on the ability to combine multiple strengths into a coordinated operational framework.
