The Ministry of Defence on Thursday unveiled an ambitious plan that includes creating dedicated entities for analysing data, operating drones and carrying out geo-spatial mapping.Full-fledged commands for space operations and cyber operations are to be raised, while an expanded air defence system named “Sudarshan Chakra” is expected by 2030.The MoD made public the document “Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military”. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had formally released the 47-page document at an event on March 10. It was made public today.The document says the plan is to expand ballistic missile defence (BMD) and air defence systems for protecting economic and strategic assets as well as civilian installations against multi-domain threats as part of mission “Sudarshan Chakra”. India has already tested a BMD system and is looking to expand it, analysts explained. “Sudarshan Chakra” is the name of the expanded air defence system.The vision document lists the creation of a defence geo-spatial agency, a data force, a drone force and a cognitive warfare action force. In the case of a full-fledged space command, the forces have a division handling space. The full command indicates expansion and the need to control space operations.It also talks about creating capabilities to dominate the electro-magnetic spectrum — the ability to control, communicate and detect in battle while denying, disrupting or deceiving an adversary’s communications, radars and navigation systems.The MoD says the focus will be on technological development and indigenous research and development of niche and complex systems to achieve self-reliance in capability development.It also mentions the need for dual-use infrastructure and creation of “surge” capacities to cater to prolonged high-intensity operations.The document divides the future roadmap into three transition phases: Phase I from now to 2030 will be the era of transition; Phase II from 2030 to 2040 will be the era of consolidation; and Phase III from 2040 to 2047 will be the era of excellence.Phase I aims to undertake organisational restructuring for multi-domain operations and exercise positive control over borders and the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control. It also seeks to deter adversaries from initiating or provoking conflict and to contain standoffs, localised confrontations and terrorism.Phase II aims to achieve the next level of integration, move towards data-driven operations and integrate space and cyber capabilities into traditional domains, while acquiring the capability to dominate aerospace and maritime domains.Phase III aims to transform the armed forces into a world-class military leading in all aspects of technology and capable of meeting future threats and challenges by ensuring freedom of operations across all domains in areas of interest.India’s presence in the Indian Ocean Region will be sustained through robust maritime domain awareness, underwater domain awareness and air domain awareness.