Indian Armed Forces Must Prepare for All Five Generations of Warfare: Lt Gen Rahul R Singh

Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh says India must be ready for all forms of warfare—from trench battles to non-state threats and future hybrid conflicts.

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Sumit Kumar
New Update
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By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: In a stark reminder of the evolving nature of global conflict, Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance), emphasized that the Indian Armed Forces must be prepared to tackle all five generations of warfare, ranging from conventional trench warfare to modern-day hybrid threats involving non-state actors and emerging technologies.

Speaking at a defence forum in the capital, Lt Gen Singh outlined the historical and emerging spectrum of warfare that the Indian military must navigate. “The first generation being something like trench warfare, the way world war types. The second generation warfare about artillery duels—that is indeed happening. The third generation warfare, manoeuvristic. The fourth generation warfare, wherein there is a use of non-state actors—that is also happening,” he said.

He underscored the increasing complexity and unpredictability of modern battlefields, stating, “India has to be prepared for all the five generations of warfare. The Indian armed forces have to be ready now.”

His remarks come amid growing concerns over hybrid threats—ranging from cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns to the use of drones and proxy groups—as well as heightened tensions along India's borders. The military leadership has been actively focusing on modernisation, joint operations capabilities, and indigenous defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.