Tri-Services Future Warfare Course Enters Cognitive and Cyber Warfare Module

The inclusion of industry and academic experts reflects the course’s strong emphasis on aligning operational requirements with technological innovation.

The third edition of the Tri-Services Future Warfare Course (FWC-3), currently underway at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, entered its dedicated Cognitive and Cyber Warfare module, marking a critical phase in preparing India’s military leadership for emerging domains of conflict. The course is being conducted from February 2 to 25, 2026.

The module is aligned with the overarching objective of FWC-3—to equip officers with a comprehensive understanding of cyber, information and cognitive warfare, while fostering operational foresight, adaptive thinking and strategic innovation in an increasingly complex security environment.

Cyber and Cognitive Domains Central to Future Conflicts

Addressing the participants, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), underlined that future conflicts will be shaped as much by cyber and cognitive dimensions as by conventional military operations.

He emphasised that military decision-making, operational planning and strategic advantage will increasingly depend on the ability to navigate contested information environments, counter adversarial influence operations and effectively employ digital and cognitive tools. He noted that India’s preparedness in cyber and cognitive warfare is essential to maintaining credible deterrence and operational superiority.

Multi-Disciplinary Participation and Knowledge Exchange

FWC-3 brings together a diverse group of participants, including officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force, scientists from DRDO, representatives from academia, and experts from the technology and defence industry. This multi-disciplinary composition enabled a rich exchange of ideas on integrating cyber and cognitive capabilities across multi-domain operations.

Participants examined how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, neural networks and automated intelligence systems can be leveraged for operational advantage, while also assessing vulnerabilities and risks in the evolving battlespace.

Bridging Operations and Technology

The inclusion of industry and academic experts reflects the course’s strong emphasis on aligning operational requirements with technological innovation. Participants gained insights into practical applications, emerging technology trends and future capability development relevant to national security.

By combining theoretical frameworks with operational scenarios and multi-domain perspectives, the course aims to prepare officers to address both conventional and non-conventional threats in their professional roles.

Next Modules and Scenario-Based Learning

FWC-3 will continue with subsequent modules covering multi-domain operations, land, naval and air warfare. The course will culminate in scenario-building exercises and presentations on complex operational problem statements.

The comprehensive structure of FWC-3 ensures that participants not only understand emerging threats but also develop actionable strategies to preserve and enhance India’s operational advantage in the rapidly evolving global security landscape.