The Indian Armed Forces have plans to transform into a Integrated Military Theater Command. Its draft is being finalized by the Indian Armed Forces for the creation of Integrated Theater Command. It is a part of the ambitious defense reform. Currently, all three defense services (Army, Navy and Air) function individually under their individual operational commands. Its goal is to integrate the three defense forces. After the formation of the Integrated Theater Command, specialized units of personnel of all three defense services (Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force) will be placed under a single theater commander.
Development of Integrated Military Theater Command
- The Government of India initiated reforms in the year 2019 by creating the post of Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) and setting up the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) to oversee the changes.
- Efforts have been going on for the last five years. However, in the meantime other initiatives to integrate the services at the lower level have also been implemented.
What is the objective of the Integrated Military Theater Command
- Its objective is to integrate the three forces for joint operations in specific opponent (enemy) based theaters with defined military objectives during a limited conflict or war.
- With this integration, the three forces will be able to jointly control the situations in their favor as a unit.
- In this process, the manpower and resources of different military services will be rationalized.
Integration under Integrated Military Theater Command
- With the creation of theater commands, their personnel, assets, infrastructure and logistics will be integrated. There is a plan to make Mumbai the first tri-service common defense station.
- There is a plan to establish additional joint logistics nodes across the country to promote integration in logistics requirements and streamline supply chains and inter-service postings of officers.
Command and headquarters plans
The Army’s latest draft envisages three enemy-based theatre commands:
- A Western Theatre Command in Jaipur to counter Pakistan
- A Northern Theatre Command in Lucknow to counter China
- A Maritime Theatre Command to counter threats emanating from the Indian Ocean region
- Its headquarters could be in Coimbatore. However, Karwar and Thiruvananthapuram are also being considered for the headquarters.
- There are also plans to create a Joint Logistics Command, a Space Command and a Training Command as well as an Air Defence Command and other theatre commands in the Eastern, Northern and Western Commands.
Creation of theatre military commands and rationalisation of existing service commands
- At present, the Army and the Air Force have seven commands each, while the Navy has three commands.
- Apart from this, there are two tri-service commands: Andaman and Nicobar Command and Strategic Forces Command (SFC). Apart from this, there is also Headquarters Integrated Defense Staff (HQIDS).
- After the creation of theater military commands, the three command headquarters of the three services are likely to be converted into theater command headquarters.
- The existing Andaman and Nicobar Command may be included in the Maritime Theater Command and HQIDS will likely work under the CDS.
- As per the plan, SFC will continue to function independently.
Who will lead the command
- The three theater commands will be headed by three theater commanders who will likely be of general or equivalent rank.
- As per current plans, the theater commander will report to a National Defense Committee. It is likely to be chaired by the Defense Minister.
- Apart from this, there is also a plan to appoint a Vice CDS and a Deputy CDS.
- The Vice CDS is likely to oversee strategic planning, capacity development and procurement-related matters.
- The Vice CDS will likely be an officer of general or equivalent rank.
- The Deputy CDS will be responsible for operations, intelligence and coordination of asset allocation between theatres.
- The Deputy CDS will likely be an officer of the rank of Lieutenant General or equivalent.
- The three service chiefs will be separately responsible for the upliftment, training and maintenance of the services. Also, the responsibility for operations will be on the three theatre commanders.