Army Chief Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane said Wednesday that the proposed creation of theater commands to increase synergy between the three services would be a “deliberate and thoughtful” process and would take “several years” to complete. He said “mid-way fixes” might be necessary along the way.
His comments came during a speech to officers and professors at the Secunderabad-based College of Defense Management. The army chief spoke on a number of topics including the integration of three services, the theatricalization and the modernization of the armed forces.
Theatricalization refers to the placement of specific units of the army, navy, and air force under a Theater Commander. These commands will be under the operational control of an officer from any of the three services, depending on the function assigned to that command.
As India’s first chief of defense staff, General Bipin Rawat’s mandate includes facilitating the restructuring of military commands for optimal use of resources through so-called union in operations, including through the establishment of theater commands, in three years.
On the government’s decision to appoint the CDS and create the department of military affairs (DMA), an army statement quoted Naravane as saying that it was a “momentous” decision and that the services must “demonstrate great wisdom and political ability to enable the CDS, a longstanding demand from the military. ”
The next logical step in the defense reform process was the “formation of integrated theater commands to synergize the capabilities and combat potential of the three services during war and peace,” the army chief said, citing the statement.
The statement said that the army chief explained to the officers that it was necessary for everyone to work in a spirit of unity and trust, with the interests of national security being paramount. Making a note of caution, he said that there might be a requirement for “mid-way fixes”.
However, he was optimistic about the future of military integration, which he described as “an inevitability” as it would lead to a “synergy of three services” and the optimization of resources.
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