The IAF is not opposed to the creation of new structures under the proposed theaterisation plan but it should be taken forward after adequate deliberations, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said at an event Tuesday.
In a separate fireside chat at the event, CDS General Anil Chauhan, who said he has been mandated with the task of establishing the theatre commands, stated that Operation Sindoor has yielded new lessons which would be incorporated in the new structures.
Stating that any decision on creating a new structure for synergy among the tri-services —the Army, the Air Force and the Navy— will be based on national interest, ACM Singh highlighted the need to create a joint structure that also comprises paramilitary forces and civilian entities to deal with issues related to the use of drones.
“I am not saying that we do not need another structure… But my way of looking at it is: Let’s not go by some structures that exist somewhere else and say this will fit us,” he said at the India Defence Conclave organised by defence portal Bharat Shakti. Singh said Operation Sindoor was a reflection of tri-services synergy. “Maybe this time it was our own personal equation with each other that worked. Tomorrow, it may not be so. Because we all are humans. There will be people with slight differences of opinion. If there is a formalised structure, it will help us.”
The IAF had earlier expressed reservations on the proposed creation of theatre commands with Air Chief Marshal Singh, in September, cautioning against rushing the plan and stressing on creating a joint planning and coordination centre instead in Delhi to bolster “jointness” among the three services.
Speaking about Operation Sindoor, he said that it reaffirmed the primacy of air power. “When I am talking about air power, I am not talking about just the Air Force. It is the medium of air we are talking about,” he said.
About the rising use of drones in global conflicts, he said they can do things up to a certain level, but can’t help win wars.
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“If you want to finally hit a place…you need to have those weapons, which will carry a punch. A drone cannot do that as of now,” the Air Chief added.
On lessons from Operation Sindoor, General Chauhan said, “In Op Sindoor, we found that the service chiefs also had a major role as part of COSC (Chiefs of Staff Committee)… We need to rework the role of COSC. That is one big lesson.”
Second big lesson, he said, is “how do we interact with the higher leadership, the higher Defence organisation and strategic decision- making.”
