A highly impactful session was delivered by Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam, AVSM (Retd), offering a comprehensive overview of the evolving nature of modern warfare, drawing critical lessons from contemporary conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, Gaza, India-Pakistan tensions, and the Israel–US–Iran dynamics. The speaker underscored the strategic importance of air power, discussing concepts such as control of the air, air denial strategies, and the democratization of aerospace capabilities. These elements, once exclusive to a few nations, are now increasingly accessible, redefining the rules of engagement.
Delving into the core principles of warfare, the talk emphasized timeless yet increasingly relevant concepts such as surprise, shock effect, risk-taking, and agility in decision-making. The speaker highlighted that in today’s complex and volatile world, leadership plays a pivotal role, not just in managing resources but in making strategic decisions amidst ambiguity. In a complex and dynamic world, the rules of engagement must be flexible, adaptive, and nimble. They should be guided by a sharp intellect, a non-dogmatic approach, and the ability to do more with less. Success lies in the capacity to think clearly through noise and ambiguity, ultimately busting the Pareto Principle.
The discussion also challenged traditional views of victory and defeat, stating that in contemporary conflict scenarios, clear-cut outcomes are rare; what matters is achieving the best possible strategic position under dynamic conditions. In this evolving landscape, the speaker emphasized that India should strive towards becoming technology leaders. As multi-domain operations become the norm, expanding collaborative strategies across air, land, sea, space, and cyber has become essential. The session outlines key considerations for Indian techno-defence strategy in the aftermath of recent conflicts. It emphasizes the need for collaborative development based on threat and capability, rather than simply accumulating platforms. The session emphasized that the pursuit of "Atmanirbharta" (self-reliance) should not lead to the development of inconsequential platforms or capabilities. It should not create systems that are primarily "curved or designed for export markets" and merely serve as a "tick mark on the balance sheet," rather than meeting genuine strategic needs.