Preparing For Wars Of Tomorrow

Ukraine conflict has made clear that new technologies are in the driving seat, new war doctrines follow

- MM Naravane

As the conflict in Ukraine enters its ninth month, the parties to the conflict have only hardened their respective positions. After attacks on strategic infrastructure like the Nord Stream pipeline and the Kerch bridge there is now an upping of the nuclear ante, amply demonstrating the widening dimensions of the conflict.

This war has brought to fore the urgent need to re-assess war-fighting doctrines and techniques, especially as armies the world over are always accused of training for and fighting as they did in the last war. While that may well be true it is also an unjust accusation – because it is near impossible to predict the character of future wars. The problem has only been exacerbated by the rapid pace of technological change and the inability of doctrines to keep pace with this change.

● In the past, military necessity and doctrines spurred innovation and technological developments.

● The roles have been reversed now, with technology-driven products hitting the shelves first, and doctrines being formulated or re-aligned to see how these new ‘products’ fit into the overall military capability development matrix.

● In World War I, the military necessity of breaking the stalemate caused by trench warfare, led to the development of the tank.

● In World War II, the requirement of being able to detect incoming German aircraft and scramble fighters in response, led to the development of the radar.

● The doctrinal aspects of their battlefield employment were also in place by the time these products actually rolled out.