Amity Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies (AIDSS), Amity University, Noida Uttar Pradesh, organized a Joint Virtual Seminar on “India’s Integrated Theatre Commands: Prospects and Challenges” in collaboration with Centre for Joint Warfare Studies. The aim of the Seminar was to re-establish the strategic urgency for India to graduate from traditional Service Specific Commands to Integrated Theatre Commands for meeting the emerging challenges and paradigm in Modern Warfare dynamics.
Addressing the gathering, Keynote Speaker, Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Former FOC-in-C, Southern Naval Command and Former Chief of Personnel (COP), Indian Navy, averred, “The idea behind ‘Theatre Command System’ is to bring synergistic coordination between the three branches of the armed forces. Further, it aims at bringing separate commands for the army, navy, air force under a unified command spearheaded by a single commander. The integration process would ultimately lead towards the unified military assets fused into one single command under one operational head who will be responsible for directing and controlling their activities in each situation. Integrated Theatre Commands are imperative since the outcome of wars is always based on them”
Speaking about “Genesis and Evolution of Integrated Theatre Commands”, Lt Gen PS Mehta, Former GOC 21 Corps and Former MGGS Western Command, Indian Army, said, “We create our war methodology without missions and through Integrated Theatre Commands, our mission will become well-defined. However, structure of command, shortage of resources within the Indian Air Force (IAF), limited experience and inter-services competition, are the major challenges which we must address before creating Integrated Theatre Commands.”
Speaking about “Integrated Theatre Command: Road Map and Likely Challenges”, Maj Gen Rajiv Narayanan, Independent Strategic & Defence Analyst and Former Additional Director General Military Operations (ADGMO), stated, “The aim is to have a unified approach to fighting the future wars. Over 32 countries around the globe already have some form of theatre or joint command in place to bring better integration among their military forces. Notably, the USA was the first country to enforce a theatre command system with six geographical and four functional commands presently in place. Russia also started with the restructuring of its defence forces in 2008 and has four theatre commands. China’s theatre command system is said to be based on the US model and has “five peacetime geographical commands. Therefore, we also have to create Integrated Theatre Commands, keeping in mind what kind of attacks are possible and what kind of capabilities we have to develop to prepare for such attacks.”
Speaking about “Integrated Theatre Command: An Air Force Perspective”, Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva, Former Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) (DCIDS), HQ IDS, averred, “The World is changing today, as also the scope and nature of war. It is becoming technology driven; therefore, India should not have fragmented approach. Our entire military power, i.e., land, air and maritime, will have to work in unison and move forward. Things cannot move smoothly if any of the services is ahead of the balance two services. There should be good coordination, it should be relevant with the hope and aspirations of our people and in sync with the changing security environment in the world today.”
Dr Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, said, “These Seminars with military oriented knowledge will benefit the students of Amity in attaining knowledge about Integrated Theatre Commands which is the need of the hour. They enhance the ‘Awareness Quotient’ of Amitians on strategic issues and motivate them to improve their ‘Assimilation & Comprehension’ of National Security problems, with its systemic ramifications in perspective. India would have won the Kargil War if Integrated Theatre Commands were implemented during the time of the war. Integrated Theatre Commands will change the scenario of military power in India.”
Welcoming the guests, Dr W Selvamurthy, Vice President, Amity Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies (AIDSS), mentioned, “These cerebral defence -oriented Seminars are regularly being organised by Amity, with the most illustrious personalities on its panel for ensuring meaningful outcomes, contributing to scholastic excellence. Amity endeavors to shape the contours of such Online Seminars in harmonious unison with the eminent Panelists towards developing ‘Strategic and Critical Thinking’ skills amongst the students to shape them into ‘Future leaders of Tomorrow’.”
Various illustrious panellists shared their insightful and research-based views on different topics including “Outcomes of the Integrated Theatre Command”, “Challenges, Scope, and Framework of Integrated Logistics Command”, “An Overview of the Integrated Air Defence Command” and “An Overview of Peninsular / Maritime Theatre Command” amongst others, for the benefit of all researchers of Defence and Strategic Studies. The Webinar was very well attended by faculty, students and PhD Scholars of Amity, Tri Services Institutions, various dignitaries, senior veterans from the Armed Forces and other eminent citizenry.