| Summary/Abstract |
This article starts with an assertion that TIME and SPACE are constant factors of war and goes on to say that these factors take on variable values of impact at different timelines in history. Currently Time has drastically shortened, and Space has widened. It goes on to examine why kinetic weapons were weapons of choice and why ‘soft weapons’ are increasingly becoming important. The article asserts that War is a continuum with intensity ranging from non-contact across full spectrum anonymity strikes to visible effect limited spectrum kinetic strikes interspersed. Importantly, the article brings out that no longer are the Information age weapons in support or force multipliers to kinetic warfare. They are a potent arsenal of warfare, especially when war is not officially declared. Both kinetic, semi kinetic (Proxy) and non-contact warfare are blending into one whole war fighting machine spanning the Time and Space arena. The coming era will increasingly see nation level coordinated efforts between contact and non-contact warfare. Even in the contact warfare, emphasis will increasingly shift to long range highly lethal platforms which have least cost in terms of resources including human capital. Indicative scenarios are painted as illustrations. The article concludes by asserting the need to change for effective adaptation of the emerging format of war.
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