Asymmetric War in the Tech Age: Implications for Regional Security

Modern War has vividly demonstrated its asymmetric nature in recent months, as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East reveal new dimensions of emerging technologies and their profound impact on military strategies. According to recent estimates, approximately 50 per cent of the Ukraine conflict is being fought with drones and autonomous systems, whereas the infantry, armoured units, and air combat capabilities have receded in prominence. Similarly, the widespread use of rudimentary technologies like pagers and walkie-talkies has wreaked havoc in Lebanon, where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have significantly weakened Hezbollah's combat capabilities within a matter of weeks. Advanced technologies, including cyberspace operations, artificial intelligence, autonomous drones, five- dimensional fusion, and 3D printing, have proven to be highly adaptable and are expected to shape the future battlespace in the Indo-Pacific.

This dialogue, therefore, seeks a thorough understanding of the evolving role of these technologies and their implications for warfare in the Indo-Pacific region.

The event will deliberate on the following questions:

1. How disruptive technologies are currently reshaping the battlespace? Is India leveraging indigenous innovation to enhance its preparedness for them?
   
   
2. In what ways is artificial intelligence (AI) transforming the asymmetric nature of warfare? What strategies the Indo-Pacific region is adopting to prepare for AI’s advancements in the security domain?
   
   
3. What is the projected nature of future warfare in 2035, and to what extent will it redefine traditional warfighting methods?