Urgent Shift to Multi-Domain Operations Highlighted by Air Marshal Dixit

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has underscored the urgent need for India to embrace Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) to effectively counter evolving threats. Speaking at the 'Ran Samwaad 2026' event, he emphasized that MDO is not a future option but a present necessity, given the complexities of modern warfare. He highlighted the importance of integrated operations across various domains to address hybrid threats and ensure national security. Dixit also pointed out the significant role of drone technology in reshaping conflict dynamics. His remarks call for a comprehensive approach to military preparedness that prioritizes collaboration and rapid response.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 9, 2026, 15:24 IST

Emphasizing the Need for Multi-Domain Operations

A file image of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit addressing a gathering at the Defence Services Staff College. (Photo:@PIB_India/X)

Bengaluru, Apr 9: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, emphasized on Thursday the critical need for India to transition to Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) due to the evolving threats that disregard traditional domain boundaries.

He stated that readiness must encompass multiple domains from the beginning, asserting that MDO is not merely a future consideration but an immediate necessity.

“The urgency of this transformation is clear; we face threats that do not adhere to domain limits,” Dixit remarked during his keynote speech at the second edition of "Ran Samwaad 2026," which focused on the theme "Multi-Domain Operations: An Imperative for Addressing Conventional and Irregular Threats."

He highlighted that along India's northern borders, various technologies such as surveillance drones, satellite monitoring, and electronic warfare are in a constant state of readiness, while in maritime contexts, sea lines of communication are intertwined with space-based surveillance and undersea competition.

Dixit pointed out that the nature of threats is continuously changing, particularly on the western front, where hybrid threats like misinformation, cyber attacks on power grids, and drone swarms blur the lines between peace and conflict.

“These challenges cannot be tackled by a single service or in a sequential manner; they require a simultaneous, coordinated response across all domains,” he stated.

Regarding the ongoing conflict in West Asia, he noted that disruptions in sea lanes, energy supply issues, and regional instability could impact India's interests even without a direct adversary.

“Preparedness must be multi-domain from the outset. This is why MDO is not a future option; it is a present imperative,” he reiterated.

Dixit clarified that true multi-domain operations go beyond mere collaboration among the three services at meetings; they require a foundational approach.

“It necessitates the development of force structures, command relationships, data standards, training pathways, and industrial ecosystems designed for interoperability from the outset. It’s about systems thinking rather than platform-centric views, focusing on effects rather than service interests, and prioritizing rapid decision-making over tradition,” he explained.

“In essence, MDO is not about ownership; it’s about our collective capabilities to act faster than our adversaries,” he added.

He also referenced India's experience with Operation Sindoor in May 2025, which highlighted the importance of joint operations more effectively than any doctrine could.

“Integrated operations that are coordinated across services and domains in real-time set the new standard. This lesson must be ingrained in our training, equipping, and combat strategies,” he concluded.

Dixit also noted the significant impact of drone technology on modern warfare, stating that low-cost unmanned systems, when effectively integrated, have transformed the dynamics of conflict from Eastern Europe to West Asia.