Abstract
The conflict in Ukraine has redefined modern warfare by integrating unmanned systems across air, sea, and land to create powerful multi-domain effects. Recent operations have shown that coordinating aerial drone swarms with unmanned surface vessels and ground vehicles allows forces to overwhelm traditional defences. It aids in maintaining pressure even under severe electronic jamming. For our tri-services, these developments provide a critical roadmap aligned with the Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations. This analysis explores how India can leverage artificial intelligence and decentralised mesh networks in order to manage the high cognitive load of contemporary battlefields while reducing human risk. It emphasises the need for a “Whole-of-Nation” strategy that integrates India’s private tech sector into the military-industrial complex. By adopting these lessons, India can build a resilient, self-reliant, and technologically advanced joint operational framework capable of deterring evolving multi-domain threats.
Keywords: Multi-domain Operations, Unmanned Teaming, Artificial Intelligence, Mesh Networks, Communications Resilience, and Self-Reliance.
