WHY INDIA'S MILITARY FUTURE DEPENDS ON CODE, NOT JUST COMBAT

India's armed forces are at a critical crossroads where digital technologies determine battlefield dominance, rendering digital independence not just a strategic requirement but an essential condition for survival. Achieving self-sufficiency in digital infrastructure safeguards the armed forces from external vulnerabilities while enhancing operational effectiveness against emerging threats argues JOSEPH P CHACKO

- JOSEPH P CHACKO

Digital independence guarantees that the Indian military functions autonomously, without dependence on foreign hardware, software, or data ecosystems, which is essential in the context of geopolitical tensions with neighbouring countries such as China and Pakistan.

Adversaries are progressively exploiting cyber and information domains, and international experience demonstrates how supply chain breaches, embedded backdoors, or sanctions can incapacitate command-and-control (C2) systems at critical moments.

For India, digital self-reliance forms the foundation of deterrence and combat effectiveness, safeguarding that strategic and tactical networks remain under sovereign authority irrespective of external influences.

Self-sufficiency also promotes innovation customised to distinct Indian needs, including high-altitude combat in Ladakh, counterinsurgency operations in densely populated urban or jungle environments, and extended maritime security throughout the Indian Ocean Region.

Indigenous digital systems can be developed in accordance with local terrain, climate, and threat models, rather than retrofitting imported solutions that were never tailored to such conditions. This integration of technology with operational realities directly results in enhanced situational awareness, accelerated decision-making processes, and more efficient use of combat capabilities.

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