Multidomain Warfare Readiness: Integrating Cyber, Space, Air, Sea, and Land in Indian Defence Strategy

Introduction: The Evolution of Warfare into the Multidomain Arena

🌐 A Strategic Paradigm Shift

The modern battlefield is no longer defined by geography or kinetic engagements alone. It now spans multiple overlapping and interconnected domains — land, air, sea, cyber, and space — where actions in one domain cascade into effects in others. This evolution marks a shift from compartmentalized military doctrines to integrated multidomain operations (MDO), enabled by real-time data fusion, artificial intelligence, autonomous platforms, and resilient networks.

🇮🇳 Why India Must Prioritize Multidomain Readiness

India’s geopolitical environment, defined by two nuclear-armed adversaries (China and Pakistan), combined with increasing threats in cyberspace, space militarization, grey-zone warfare, and hybrid conflicts, necessitates a comprehensive transformation in defence philosophy. Incidents like:

• The 2020 Galwan standoff, where digital warfare and satellite surveillance played key roles.
• RedEcho APT attacks on India's power grid during military tensions.
• The growing PLA Rocket Force and Strategic Support Force, combining cyber, space, and EW into warfighting doctrine.

...all underscore the urgency for India to move beyond traditional tri-services coordination to a fully integrated, networked, and AI-enhanced multidomain warfighting structure.

2. The Five Domains of Warfare and Their Interlinkages

🧭 2.1 Land Domain

The land domain remains foundational to warfighting — encompassing:

• Infantry operations
• Armored maneuvers
• Artillery strikes
• Forward logistics

Modern land warfare is now heavily dependent on satellite-based navigation (GPS/IRNSS), battlefield management systems (BMS), drone surveillance, and encrypted tactical communications.

: The Indian Army’s Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) are structured for rapid offensive operations with integrated air, artillery, and cyber support.

🛩️ 2.2 Air Domain

Air superiority enables control over terrain, facilitates deep strikes, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance), and support for naval and land assets.

• Use of AWACS, UAV swarms, and AI-assisted targeting
• Reliance on space assets for air navigation, weather intelligence, and satellite comms

: The IAF’s modernization includes the induction of Rafale jets with Meteor missiles, Su-30 MKI upgrades with BrahMos, and the deployment of UAVs like Heron and Rustom-II, which are integrated into cyber and space command networks.

⚓ 2.3 Maritime Domain

Naval operations are now hybridized through:

• C4ISR systems at sea
• Satellite-guided missiles
• Cyber-protected naval ICS/SCADA systems
• Anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) via maritime surveillance drones and P-8I aircraft
• : The Indian Navy’s Mission-Based Deployments (MBDs) around the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) rely on the GSAT-7 satellite, MDA (Maritime Domain Awareness) platforms, and AI-enhanced fusion centers to track adversarial vessels.

🛰️ 2.4 Space Domain

Space is the backbone of modern multidomain warfare, supporting:

• GPS & navigation
• Surveillance & reconnaissance
• Secure communications
• Missile warning & launch detection
• Strategic deterrence via ASAT capabilities
• Mission Shakti (2019): India’s first successful ASAT test, asserting space deterrence capability.
• GSAT-7A/B, CartoSAT, RISAT, and EMISAT satellites are used for real-time intelligence and troop movement analysis.

💻 2.5 Cyber Domain

Cyber is the invisible nervous system connecting all warfighting domains:

• Military Command & Control (C2) networks
• Battlefield Management Systems
• Drone/robotics control
• Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)
• Psychological & information operations

Examples:

• RedEcho APT (China-linked) targeted India’s critical infrastructure.
• 2022: Ransomware attack on All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) exposed national-level cybersecurity gaps.
• Integration of Defence Cyber Agency (DCA) under HQ IDS to conduct offensive cyber ops and active cyber defense.

3. Strategic Imperatives for India’s MDW Readiness

🔰 3.1 Establishing a Unified Multidomain Command

India needs to transition from service-specific silos to a Joint Multidomain Operations Command (JMOC) that oversees synchronized planning and operations across the five domains.

Model: The US’s JADC2 (Joint All-Domain Command and Control) and UK’s Integrated Operating Concept (IOpC)

🧠 3.2 C4ISR Integration with AI and Quantum Technologies

• Development of a cloud-based, AI-enabled battle network for data fusion from satellites, drones, ships, and sensors.
• Use of quantum key distribution (QKD) for satellite-ground secure comms (DRDO-ISRO have begun quantum trials).

🛡️ 3.3 Digital Sovereignty and Indigenous Systems

• Reduce dependence on foreign tech in satellite comms, avionics, and microelectronics.
• Strengthen public-private defence tech ecosystems (startups in cyber/space AI).
• Defense Space Research Agency (DSRA) and DRDO's new cyber/AI divisions must be empowered.

🤖 3.4 Robotics, Drones, and Autonomous Warfare

• Integration of drone swarms with IAF/Army for multidomain ISR-strike missions.
• Ground robotics for terrain surveillance, IED detection, and AI-enabled targeting.

🌐 3.5 Grey-Zone and Cognitive Warfare Preparedness

• Develop counter-psyops and counter-influence units in cyberspace and media.
• Train military personnel for hybrid warfare scenarios: deepfakes, memetic warfare, information suppression.

4. Key Exercises and Milestones

🛠️ INDRA-2021 (India-Russia)

• Demonstrated cyber-electronic warfare integration and space-ground comms.

📡 Gagan Shakti (IAF)

• Tested cross-domain strike coordination using AWACS, drones, and satellites.

🌊 Milan Naval Exercise

• Indian Navy’s multidomain participation included P-8I, space-based ISR, and real-time satellite-fed targeting data.

5. Comparative Global Models of MDW

India must chart its own model but incorporate strategic lessons from adversaries and allies alike.

6. Future Roadmap and Policy Recommendations

🛠️ Institutional Reforms

• Create a Joint MDW Planning Cell under NSA/PMO with integration from DRDO, ISRO, NTRO, DIA, and tri-services.
• Upgrade DCA and DSA to full-fledged Cyber and Space Commands.

🎓 Training & War-gaming

• Multidomain war colleges and cyber-physical simulation labs.
• Integration of AI-augmented simulation platforms like Project IDEX.

🛰️ Technological R&D

• Indigenous military satellite constellations.
• DRDO-AI initiatives for ISR and offensive cyber weapons.
• Civil-military partnerships in AI/robotics ( IITs, TCS, private aerospace firms).

7. Conclusion: Toward a Future-Ready Indian Military

In a contested strategic environment, India must treat multidomain warfare readiness as a national imperative, not merely a military aspiration. The convergence of cyber, space, air, sea, and land domains demand institutional synergy, real-time integration, AI-driven command systems, and digital sovereignty.

A secure India of the future will be built not just on missiles and tanks, but on algorithms, satellite constellations, quantum-secure comms, and AI-infused networks — all working together across domains.