Op Sindoor proves traditional warfare concepts are irrelevant: Indian military chief

A top Indian military commander has stated that Operation Sindoor has demonstrated that warfare has undergone a significant transformation. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, a tri-services organization, emphasized that long-range missiles hitting targets with pinpoint accuracy render traditional concepts of war “irrelevant”. Speaking at a seminar on ‘Surveillance and Electro-Optics’, co-hosted by Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), Air Marshal Dixit said, “Operation Sindoor has reinforced what military strategists have understood but perhaps not fully appreciated until now.”

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He argued that with weapons capable of striking targets hundreds of kilometres away with precision, traditional concepts such as front, rear, and flanks, combat zones, and depth areas become obsolete. India, he emphasised, must detect, identify, and track potential threats at an early stage, ideally when the enemy is about to launch an attack. To achieve this, continued investment, sustained innovation, and collaboration among all stakeholders are essential.

Air Marshal Dixit highlighted that the domain of surveillance has evolved from being a force multiplier to becoming the foundation upon which modern military operations rest. He stressed the need for deep surveillance in contemporary warfare. Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (Retd.), Director General of CAPS, added that surveillance for military operations encompasses a broad spectrum of activities aimed at gathering, monitoring, and analysing information to enhance situational awareness and support decision-making.

AVM Golani also emphasised the importance of electro-optics in supporting military operations, noting how it is transforming the conduct of surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, and threat detection. The integration of surveillance platforms has become increasingly critical in warfare scenarios.