Armies the world over are often accused of always fighting the 'last war'. Yet, when they crystal-gaze into the future, they are accused of watching too much science fiction. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between. The sci-fi of yesteryear is today's reality, just as the sci-fi of today may well be the future. Warfare has evolved in time and space, with its character changing so much that a soldier of even just a generation ago will be unable to adjust to the realities of the current battlefield. Similarly, today's generation will be equally perplexed with the battlefield environment as little as 20 years down the line, as the pace of technological change today far exceeds that of the past. Preparing the armed forces of the country to be future-ready calls for harnessing insights of the past, learning from experiences of the present and extrapolating these for the future.
The most important facet is to be able to identify and then occupy or control the proverbial 'high ground', so essential for victory. In the past, the side that dominated the hilltops was decidedly at an advantage, as it not only made their positions more secure, it also enabled them to see what lay on the 'other side of the hill'. This 'high ground' moved on to domination of the air space above the battlefield, no longer remaining a terrestrial construct. Domination of the air became a prerequisite for the conduct of successful ground operations. Where do we further move on to?
This story is from the August 26, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 26, 2024 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Screaming Success
Now Funny, Now Scary, This Genre Has Come Of Age In Hindi Cinema, Pulling In Audiences And Monster Returns At The Box Office
KING OF FRUITS
Sopan Joshi's Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango is an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the world's most delicious fruit
HAVING THE LAST WORD
Writer, politician and wordsmith Shashi Tharoor is out with a book of essays celebrating the magical world of words
Indian Encore
The legendary tenor Plácido Domingo will be in Mumbai with the opera competition Operalia, which makes its debut in India
Charismatic Cat
Peppered with stunning illustrations, Caracal: An Intimate History of a Mysterious Cat is a deeply moving and meticulously researched account of the elusive felid
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
After a pandemic-induced hiatus, actor Sharvari is riding high with several back-to-back releases-from Munjya to Maharaj and Vedaa
Trial by Fire
Hounded by allegations of conflict of interest in the Adani probe and rising discontent among her own staff, the Sebi chief has much to answer for-and disclose
WE WILL ROCK YOU
India's winter concert season is looking great, with leading international stars and bands set to captivate audiences
PK WALKS THE BIG POLL TALK
Prashant Kishor, the ace of the backroom, joins the battle for Bihar with lofty ambitions. Can his armoury of new ideas upset the old equations?
LORD of the ROLES
VIKKANT MASSEY is nothing if not versatile, straddling the worlds of independent and commercial cinema with élan