Non-Kinetic Warfare [UPSC Notes]

The defence minister speaking at the 12th convocation of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) at Girinagar in Pune said the concept of non-kinetic warfare has highlighted the need for advanced technology in the defence sector. In this context, it is important to know what non-kinetic warfare is, its significance and other details for the IAS exam defence & security segments.

What is Non-Kinetic Warfare?

• Critical and Emerging Technologies (CETs) can be classified in terms of their use in war, i.e., as battlefield and over-the-horizon (OTH). 
• Battlefield CET refers to those technologies that can be used for warfighting and used explicitly on the battlefield. 
• OTH CET comprises technology which can be used in the non-kinetic domain and includes cyber-physical attacks, influence operations, big data analytics (BDA), etc.
• Non-kinetic warfare generally refers to action against an adversary without a direct conventional military action. It comprises possibilities such as information warfare, cyber warfare, psychological operations, electromagnetic offensives and cryptographic warfare.

Changed Nature and Character of War – need for advanced technology in defence

• The political and economic equations between nations are rapidly changing. Over the last few decades, the dynamics and methods of warfare are undergoing transformation the world over. 
• Warfare has become both non-contact and non-kinetic in its character and the nature of war has become diffused, i.e., violence is no longer the platform on which war is visualised. 
• In addition to the surface and air domain, we are facing threats in cyber and space domains too. 
• The concept of non-kinetic or contactless warfare has highlighted the necessity for advanced technology in the defence sector. 
• Our adversaries having more advanced technologies than us can be a cause for concern. We have to look at technological advancements amidst changing global perspectives.

Importance of Non-Kinetic Warfare

• It is very important to encourage innovations in the defence sector, which are equally useful and relevant for civil applications. 
• CETs (Critical and Emerging Technologies) have become essential components in the warfighting domain, cutting-edge technologies and defence research are closely linked to each other. For example, the GPS navigation systems that we all use today were first used for defence requirements. It is now an integral part of civilian life.
• As per World Bank estimates, the global internet penetration, calculated as the percentage of individuals with an active internet connection, is close to 60 per cent. Also, the number of ‘unique’ mobile phone users in the world is now close to 5.5 billion.
• These figures highlight two important points: the world is increasingly becoming more connected through platforms and a staggering amount of data is being produced, stored and processed around the world in real-time. 
• All aspects of human activity including biometrics, social interactions, finances, entertainment, politics and ideologies are being moderated through these devices and platforms. 
• The implications are wide. The possibility of affecting individuals across countries through influence, coordination and radicalisation is immense, creating vulnerabilities from a national security point of view. 
  • There are examples of election fraud and genocide by exploiting this connectivity.
  • Similarly, civilian domains have been weaponized using non-kinetic tools of warfighting. 
  • Ban on Russian access to semiconductors, export controls against China in the fields of semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SMEs) and chips for AI, cyber-attacks against power grids and disinformation campaigns are some of the ways non-kinetic war is being waged by countries.

Way Forward:

• Self-reliance in the defence sector: The aim of self-reliance is to meet the needs of the Armed Forces by building necessary equipment and platforms with our own capacity while fulfilling the security requirements of our friendly countries through exports.
• Data policies: Within the forces, there is a need for a data governance policy, preferably aligned with the national data governance policy framework, but also firewalled from public interfacing to prevent inadvertent leaks of sensitive data. 
  • As a result, data standards need to be laid down, cloud centres need to be designated and physically protected, and finally, effective cyber security measures need to be ensured. 
  • All these need to be created at the tri-services level so that common data standards can be used in future warfare for joint operations.
• All electronic components must be checked for hardware trojans and only certified components must be allowed to be used in the military.
• Commonalities: Exploiting commonalities of requirements between separate ministries will ensure that private companies reach economies of scale and are able to deliver in a more expedited time frame. 
  • For example, drone airframes and propulsion systems are required not only by the Armed Forces but also by the state police forces, central armed police forces (CAPFs), and by other departments and organisations like the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), National and State Disaster Relief Forces (N/SDRF), the Ministry of Agriculture among others. 
  • Combining the common requirements of these ministries will create a much bigger customer base for companies rather than catering to piecemeal requirements. 
• Common cybersecurity standards: In the case of software, common cybersecurity standards need to be laid down and implemented stringently. This assumes added importance since the defence sector has seen an influx of private players increasing the importance of coordinating cyber security measures.
• Consortium method: Defence companies can explore the consortium method where they can combine their strengths to ‘collaborate and compete’ rather than merely competing. 
• Bright talent: Bright talent can also be on-boarded from a young age through leveraging the Atal Tinkering Labs and similar young science incubators.

Conclusion: Therefore, attempting to induct or absorb technologies without a corresponding change in structures may not yield the desired outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative that serious debates be undertaken within the forces regarding the future force structures necessary for winning in the competition continuum.

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