At the Military Institute of Technology (MILIT), Pune, former Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh (Retd) spoke about how digital technologies are changing military operations and the demands on defence leadership. He delivered a guest lecture on “Navigating the Evolving Digital Landscape in Defence – Leadership Perspectives” on November 10, 2026.
Officers of the 9th Defence Services Technical Staff Course (DSTSC-09) and other ongoing courses at MILIT attended the lecture.
Technology and changing warfare
Admiral Singh discussed the shift from the industrial age to the digital era, noting that rapid advances in commercial technology are affecting military operations, strategic planning and battlefield decision-making.
Drawing on conflicts around the world, he described how drones, surveillance satellites and distributed surveillance networks are reshaping asymmetric warfare. He said affordable, adaptable and interconnected systems can enable technologically equipped forces to challenge conventional military advantages.
He also called for military force structures to adapt, with greater emphasis on Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)—the integration of human-operated platforms with autonomous and remotely controlled systems to improve operational effectiveness and battlefield awareness.
Connected systems and faster adaptation
Admiral Singh highlighted network-centric warfare and next-generation combat kill-web capabilities. These connect sensors, decision-makers and weapons systems to support faster information sharing, stronger situational awareness and coordinated military responses.
Another focus was the move from hardware-centred defence acquisition towards software-driven capabilities. He noted that modern defence systems increasingly rely on adaptable software architectures, ongoing technological upgrades and the capacity to respond quickly to emerging threats.
He called for more agile acquisition processes so military organisations can incorporate technological improvements without being held back by lengthy procurement and development cycles. The lecture’s discussion emphasised that adaptable software and rapid modification will be important to maintaining operational superiority in a technology-driven security environment.
The interaction gave officers undertaking professional military education at MILIT insights into the changing character of warfare and the leadership challenges involved in bringing emerging technologies into military operations.
It also highlighted technological adaptability, innovation and forward-looking leadership as the Indian Armed Forces prepare for future conflicts involving artificial intelligence, autonomous platforms, interconnected sensors and rapidly evolving digital capabilities.
