Be prepared for ‘black swan’ events, expect the unexpected: Army Chief to force

Chennai: Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Monday called upon the force to be always prepared for ‘black swan’ events and “expect the unexpected” even as he identified technology as the new area for strategic competition among nations.

In an address at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Gen Pande highlighted the weaponisation of technology, especially its extension across various domains – from information to supply chains.

The Army Chief emphasised the importance of cross-functional synergy among the three services to effectively assess threats, articulate strategies, identify capabilities, formulate policies, achieve preparedness, and respond appropriately within the national security framework.

He further delved into the expansion of warfare into new domains, including space, cyber, electromagnetic spectrum and information technology, sources in the Army headquarters here said.

Gen Pande noted the rapid technological advancement in kinetic war instruments, saying it has made the battlefield increasingly complex, contested, and lethal.

The Chief of Army Staff urged the officers to be always prepared for ‘black swan’ events and “expect the unexpected”.

A black swan event is a high-impact event that is difficult to predict.

The Army Chief pointed out the emergence of new trendlines triggered by this rapid change, underscoring how disruptive technologies are reshaping conventional combat force ratios.

Highlighting India’s ascent on the global stage, Gen Pande stressed the growing need to safeguard India’s national interests across expanding strategic horizons.

(Defence Watch– India’s Defence News centre that places the spotlight on Defence Manufacturing, Defence Technology, Strategy and Military affairs is on Twitter. Follow us here and stay updated.)