Three-week ‘Future Warfare’ course begins today

A three-week-long ‘Future Warfare Course’ will commence at the Manekshaw Centre here on Monday and run until May 9.

The course is being conducted by the Department of Military Affairs under the Chief of Defence Staff and coordinated by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), a leading defence think tank.

Following the success of the inaugural edition held in September 2024, this expanded programme reflects Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan’s vision to prepare military officers for the complex challenges of modern warfare.

Maintaining its rank-agnostic approach, the course this year features more diverse and enhanced participation.

The curriculum has been broadened to include specialised subjects and domain-specific developments in military operations. It aims to build a deeper understanding of how evolving technologies are reshaping warfare — necessitating a re-evaluation of doctrines, strategies, tactics and procedures. The course also seeks to align operational priorities with the capabilities of the indigenous defence sector and facilitate open dialogue on various dimensions of future combat.

Participants range from Major Generals to Majors and their equivalents from other Services, alongside officials from other departments under the Ministry of Defence, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Representatives from the defence industry — spanning startups, MSMEs, DPSUs and private firms — will also attend the course.

The second edition continues the broader mission of making the armed forces ‘future ready’ by fostering jointness and integration across Services and nurturing strategic leadership.

Informed sources said the course would offer real-time exposure to 15 industry representatives, helping them design platforms and systems tailored to the future needs of the armed forces.

India