Currently, India has service-specific commands where the Army, Air Force and Navy have their own commands all over the country. The air defence command would integrate the air defence and assets of the Army, Air Force and Navy and jointly provide air defence cover to the country. An integrated theatre command is a unified command of the three Services which remain under a single commander. Currently, the Army and the Air Force have 14 commands while the Navy has 3 commands

New Delhi: In a major development, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat today announced that India’s first integrated tri-services command will be set up by June this year and it will be headed by a three-star Indian Air Force (IAF) officer.

As per the mandate given to the Department of Military Affairs, the first integrated military formation to be created would be the air defence command and it will be headed by an Air Marshal with elements of Army and Air Force air defence assets under it.

The CDS has already started discussions with Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane and Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria to finalise the structure and assets of the integrated air defence command.

As per the mandate, the Department of Military Affairs will create joint military commands along with theatre commands which would see mega restructuring exercise involving the three services.

General Rawat is also working on the creation of the joint Peninsula Command and a Logistics Command apart from the theatre commands, ANI reported.

As per the sources, no additional General-rank post will be created for heading the theatre commands or the other integrated commands but they would be headed by Lieutenant General-rank officers of the three services.

Each service has its individual air defence set-up. The air defence command would integrate the air defence and assets of the Army, Air Force and Navy and jointly provide air defence cover to the country.

The Air Force and the Army are already holding talks with each other for the integration of their air defence assets and redeployment along with the border areas with Pakistan.

What Is An Integrated Theatre Command?

An integrated theatre command is a unified command of the three Services which remain under a single commander, for regions where security remains a prime concern. During wartime, the commander of such a force will have the power to bring all resources at his disposal, be it the IAF, the Army or the Navy seamlessly. The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to any individual Services.

India currently has service-specific commands where the Army, Air Force and Navy have their own commands across the country.

While the Army and the Air Force have 14 commands, the Navy has 3 commands.