Abstract
The document proposes the establishment of a Military Futures Command (MFC) in India to fuse military and civilian capabilities, ensuring that the armed forces remain future-ready. Currently, global militaries face a modernisation challenge known as the ‘Valley of Death’, wherein promising concepts fail to reach the battlefield. India’s existing defence research and procurement system is overly process-oriented, hierarchical, and operates in disjointed silos, which hinders rapid technological adaptation. After analysing global defence modernisation strategies from the USA, UK, France, Israel, and Russia, a customised Indian adaptation is suggested.
The proposed MFC would operate under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to coordinate research, development, and bulk production through a Whole of Nation Approach (WONA). By structurally integrating private industries, academia, and military expertise, the MFC aims to transition the military to a posture of predictive lethality. Ultimately, the MFC would act as the central nervous system for defence innovation, translating technological advancements into integrated warfighting doctrines to achieve a state of permanent readiness against future threats.
The paper has undertaken a detailed global scan, identified own flaws in the system and then suggested a tailor-made system to give a solution to the stated problem. The brief is an idea which, even if partially implemented, would give rich dividends.
Keywords: Military Futures Command, Military Reforms, R & D Reforms, IDS Organisation, Theaterisation
Well researched and succinctly put. Need of the hour for all industries and academia in country to join hands with mil. Then only can we emerge as superpower.
Beautifully written sir