The Indian Armed Forces is well on its way to finalizing the draft to create a unified command. This ambitious defense reform aims to integrate the three defense services of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF) to work together against specific adversary-based or defined military objectives during wartime.
The government reformed in 2019 by creating the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) and setting up the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) to oversee the transition. In its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP promised to “further establish military commands for more efficient operations”.
Over the past five years, several drafts have been prepared to zero in on an ideal model for India’s theater commands. The government is yet to give final approval for the implementation of the scheme.
Depending on the outcome of the election, further discussions on fine-tuning the current plan to address potential issues are expected in the coming months. Meanwhile, other efforts have been implemented to consolidate services at lower levels.
Services that work together
The three security services currently operate separately under their individual operational commands. Also, it would place specific divisional personnel from all three services under a single theater commander so that they fight together as a unit in a war or conflict, rationalizing the manpower and resources of the individual services in the process.
Each of the three services has its own culture and ethics. By creating theater commands, their personnel, assets, infrastructure, and logistics will be coordinated so they can work together to achieve defined military objectives in specific theaters covering defined operational areas.
The armed forces are already taking steps to bring greater coordination between the three services. There are plans to make Mumbai the first tri-service common security hub, increase coordination in logistical requirements, streamline supply chains and inter-service postings of officers and set up additional joint logistics nodes across the country.
Commands and Headquarters
According to Indian Express January 2023, the Army’s latest draft has three adversary-based theater commands – a Western Theater Command to face Pakistan, a Northern Theater Command to face China and a Maritime Theater Command for threats emanating from the Indian Ocean region. .
It is planned to establish a Western Theater Command at Jaipur and a Northern Theater Command at Lucknow. Although Karwar and Thiruvananthapuram are under consideration, the Maritime Theater Command may be headquartered in Coimbatore.
Previous drafts drawn up in the past have undergone many changes based on inter-service discussions within the military.
Some plans were to have an Air Defense Command, other theater commands in the East, North and West, a Joint Logistics Command, a Space Command and a Training Command.
However, due to a lack of consensus among the three services on form, structure and number of theater commands, the plans were changed several times over the past few years before the current plan was arrived at.
Reasoning process
How will developing theater commands rationalize existing service commands?
Currently, the Army and the Indian Air Force have seven commands each, and the Navy has three commands. Additionally, there are two tri-force commands – the Andaman and Nicobar Command, and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC). There is also the Headquarters Integrated Defense Staff (HQIDS).
After theater commands are created, the three command headquarters of the services will be converted into theater command headquarters.
The existing Andaman and Nicobar Command may be merged into one Theater Command (in Maritime Theater Command as per current plans), and HQIDS will function under CDS. According to the plan, the SFC will continue to function independently.
command chief
The three theater commands are headed by three theater commanders, who hold the rank of general or equivalent.
Under current plans, theater commanders report to the National Security Council, which is headed by the Defense Minister.
In addition, it is planned to appoint Deputy CDS and Deputy CDS.
The Vice CDS will look after matters related to strategic planning, capacity building and procurement and may be a general or equivalent officer.
The Deputy CDS is responsible for coordinating the allocation of assets between operations, intelligence, and theaters. Deputy CDS may be a Lieutenant General or equivalent.
Three service leaders are responsible for raising, training and sustaining individual services. It is unknown whether they will continue to retain some operational roles. Three theater commanders are responsible for operations.
However, none of these projects have yet received final approval from the government.
