Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has described “Operation Sindoor” as a defining example of India’s progress toward joint warfare, highlighting the growing importance of integration across multiple military domains. Speaking at the RAN SAMWAD 2026, he said the operation demonstrated how coordinated efforts across land, air, sea, cyber, space, and cognitive domains are reshaping modern warfare.

Operation Sindoor was launched in May last year as India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. The operation targeted terror launchpads inside Pakistani territory. According to General Dwivedi, it marked a significant step toward “domain jointness,” though he stressed that achieving full integration and fusion across domains remains a key objective.

The Army Chief noted that modern conflicts are increasingly influenced by hybrid or “grey-zone” warfare, which operates below the threshold of conventional military engagement. He revealed that nearly 15 percent of the effort during Operation Sindoor was dedicated to countering disinformation campaigns. Non-kinetic operations, including cyber and information warfare, are now playing a more prominent role in shaping outcomes on the battlefield.

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Explaining the evolving nature of warfare, General Dwivedi said that Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) have transformed the battlefield into a dynamic, three-dimensional space. He emphasized that no single domain determines success, citing how ground intelligence networks, cyber inputs, and electronic warfare supported joint Army-Air Force targeting, while naval repositioning influenced the broader strategic calculus.

He further clarified the distinction between land forces and the land domain, noting that all six domains operate in a shared and interconnected environment. While cyber, space, and cognitive operations often benefit from centralized control, land warfare still relies on decentralized execution, requiring a balance between autonomy and coordination guided by a unified strategic intent.

Outlining the way forward, General Dwivedi highlighted ongoing structural reforms, including integrated battle groups, drone units, and cyber operations nodes. He stressed the importance of the “three Is”—integration, informatisation, and intelligentisation—while underscoring that human judgment must remain central to decision-making. Calling for a shift from “domain silos to domain fusion,” he urged commanders to evolve into techno-leaders capable of operating seamlessly across all domains in future conflicts.

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