For now, we don’t need new structures as theatre commands: IAF chief

Drawing upon lessons from Operation Sindoor, Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Tuesday advised against creation of any new proposed military structures like theatre commands.

Citing the recent conflict with Pakistan, the IAF chief said there was excellent coordination and joint planning among the three chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). “For now, we don’t need any new structure (theatre commands) at the lower level.”

Speaking at a ‘fire-side chat’ at the ‘Ran Samwad’, a two-day brainstorming seminar at the Army War College here, he said, “We cannot pick theatre command structures from the US or China. We have to think what we need here.”

The IAF chief mentioned the coordination done between the chiefs and the CDS saying “The CDS has played a big role. We four did not find gaps (in operations).”

“Let us not come under any pressure of creating structures,” the IAF chief said.

He said, “Any joint structure or joint-ness among forces is okay as long as the core competence of each service is retained.”

He suggested a way forward saying, “Let us have a joint planning and coordination centre in New Delhi. We plan centrally and execution of tasks is de-centralised.”

“Let us first implement it and see how it pans out. If we need any more structure, we can think about it. “But disrupting everything and making one structure now at this time, I do not think it is a good idea,” he added.

“The forces cannot have a theatre commander sitting somewhere. Yes, phones are available but generally it does not work like that,” he added.

On being asked if a long-drawn conflict could coordinate through centralised coordination, the IAF chief said, “We will still be in touch with our political leadership; we have to be in sync with the Ministry of External Affairs.”

The IAF chief referred to the strikes on Pakistani air bases in the wee hours of May 10, saying, “That night we were on song. We could have continued to strike…but that was not our aim.

“The military conveyed to the political side that Pakistan wants to cease hostilities. People have been saying we should have hit Pakistan harder, but that would prolong the war.”

The IAF chief said, “The adversary thought its radars would be able to pick up our weapons. One part was that we were hitting Pakistan deep inside its territory, the second that they were not able to strike back.”