IAF Chief Advocates Joint Coordination Hub in Delhi

Speedy Summary

• Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh cautioned against hasty implementation of India’s theaterisation plan and proposed a joint planning and coordination centre in Delhi under the Chiefs of Staff Committee’s directions to ensure synergy among the three Services.
• Theaterisation aims to integrate Army, Navy, and Air Force capabilities into unified theater commands for specific geographical territories; currently, they operate with separate commands.
• During a discussion at the Army War College on August 26, 2025, he emphasized that disrupting existing structures might not be ideal without adequate assessment through phased implementation.
• Operation Sindoor (May 7-10 conflict with Pakistan) demonstrated tri-Service coordination, “primacy” of air power, and effective collaboration under Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan’s leadership.
• The Air Chief suggested centrally planned decisions executed under decentralized frameworks as optimal for long-drawn conflicts while dismissing pressures to emulate foreign models like the U.S.’s command system before tailoring India’s needs strategically.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The Air Chief Marshal’s remarks highlight caution as central to implementing theaterisation-a potentially transformative military strategy for India’s defense architecture.The proposal to initially focus on high-level joint planning underscores pragmatism in avoiding disruption when moving toward integration across Services.Operational successes like Operation Sindoor reflect robust inter-Service cooperation but also raise questions about scalability in prolonged conflicts without structural evolution.

India must balance adopting advanced strategies with its unique geopolitical context rather than mimicking external models hastily. By prioritizing deliberation over urgency-and evaluating incremental approaches-the suggested framework reflects a thoughtful approach toward ensuring military efficiency while adapting gradually to future warfare demands.

Read more: The hindu