John Spencer, Executive Director of the Urban Warfare Institute and a globally recognised authority on modern military operations, has shared his reflections on a recent visit to India, offering rare insights into the country’s evolving defence posture and the growing sophistication of its military response mechanisms.
In a detailed post published on X, with a photograph of his meeting with India’s Director General of Military Operations, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Spencer described his visit as “extremely informative,” underscoring a dramatic shift in India’s national security paradigm.
“The old assumptions about India’s strategic posture no longer apply,” Spencer wrote. “The country is transforming in doctrine, technology, and geopolitical outlook.”
A central theme of his post was Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, which Spencer called a “strategic turning point.” According to him, Indian military leaders did not view the operation as a one-off counterterrorism action but as part of a new, proactive doctrine—focused on precision, speed, and deterrence.
Spencer emphasised the depth of preparation behind the operation, citing months of wargaming, intelligence fusion, and pre-positioned defense assets. Of particular note was India’s reliance on long-range fires, including rocket artillery and loitering munitions, rather than traditional airstrikes. Seven out of nine identified terrorist targets were reportedly neutralised using these methods.
Counter-drone warfare featured prominently, with a layered defense system that combined radars, jammers, and both kinetic and soft-kill systems, including the effective use of legacy L-70 guns integrated with modern platforms. Persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) from satellites and human intelligence sources enabled real-time battle damage assessments.
“What stood out was the clarity and firmness of India’s red lines,” Spencer noted. “Every terrorist attack will receive a military response. There will be no distinction between the attacker and those who support or harbor them.”
Beyond the battlefield, Spencer detailed India’s broader defense and technological transformation. He highlighted the growing role of private defense startups, including firms working on autonomous systems, GPS-independent drones, and indigenous air defense technologies — driven by India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
On Kashmir, Spencer observed a notable shift in ground realities. While acknowledging the continued threat of cross-border infiltration, disinformation, and narrative manipulation, he reported growing tourism, infrastructure development, and democratic engagement. Local communities, he said, are increasingly rejecting extremist violence.
Spencer’s conversations spanned a wide range of strategic domains, including airpower, deterrence, cyber, space, semiconductors , and supply chain security. Yet, according to him, a singular message resonated across all sectors: “India is preparing for the next war while working to protect the peace it is building at home.”
He concluded by asserting that India is no longer waiting for global recognition of its capabilities. “It is asserting itself. It is planning, modernizing, and executing with focus.”
Spencer hinted that further detailed analysis would follow in the coming weeks. But even this initial report signals that India’s strategic recalibration is being closely noted by international defense experts — and is fast becoming a defining case study in 21st-century deterrence and national resilience.
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