The two-day national seminar ‘Ran Samwad’ around the theme ‘Multi-Domain Operations (MDO): An Imperative for Addressing Conventional and Irregular Threats’ concluded in Air Force Training Command, Bengaluru on April 10. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan delivered the closing address, emphasising that the multi-domain operations require convergence across physical, synthetic and cognitive realms.

In his address, the CDS highlighted the urgency of faster and smarter decision-making in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven battlespace. He underlined that warfare in present era spans across multiple dimensions of time, cyber, electro-magnetic (EM) spectrum and cognition, demanding seamless tri-service integration and innovative thinking. The focus, therefore, has now shifted from coordination to true integration among the Indian defence forces, he added.

Gen. Chauhan announced that Ran Samwad 2027 would be organised on the theme ‘High-Intensity Operations in a Transparent and Expanded Battlespace: Challenges for Force Application and Force Preservation’. Post his address, he met with the members of media fraternity and lauded their role in nation-building and nurturing the spirit of strategic culture.

The second day of Ran Samwad also witnessed discussions by senior officers from the tri-services on a broad spectrum of subjects including Doctrinal Adaptation and Training for Multi Domain Operations (MDO) and Re-imagining Operational Art, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillances & Reconnaissance) Integration for Information Superiority in MDO, and joint planning.

The seminar succeeded in fostering a shared understanding of the challenges posed by both conventional and irregular threats with a collaborative road map and meaningful discussions on the complexities of war, warfare and warfighting. The collaborative spirit demonstrated over the two days reaffirmed the Indian defence forces’ commitment towards achieving decision superiority and operational excellence in an increasingly contested multi-domain battlespace.