India is advancing its long-discussed plan to establish theatre commands aimed at integrating the Army, Navy and Air Force under a unified operational structure. The move, seen as one of the most significant defence reforms in recent decades, was first highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 2019 Independence Day speech.
The initiative comes in response to long-standing coordination challenges between the services, most notably during the Balakot air strikes of 2019. While the Air Force conducted its mission effectively, the Army and Navy mobilised independently, revealing gaps in joint planning and operational cohesion.
As part of the push for integration, several preparatory steps are underway. These include standardising equipment, building common supply chains for logistics and procurement, expanding combined training programmes and introducing more cross-postings between the services. The aim is to create greater interoperability and jointness before theatre commands are formally introduced.
Currently, the Army and Air Force each operate seven commands, while the Navy has three. In addition, there are two tri-service commands — the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Strategic Forces Command. The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, created after the Kargil conflict, continues to provide institutional support for higher defence management.
Recent discussions at the Combined Commanders Conference in Kolkata, attended by the Prime Minister, focused on measures to accelerate jointness. These included establishing three new joint military stations in Thiruvananthapuram, Visakhapatnam and Gandhinagar, and forming a single tri-service Education Corps. Training syllabi are also being revised so personnel from all three services can learn and operate together, while a tri-service communication network is being expanded for seamless coordination.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that consensus among the three services is gradually emerging. However, differences remain. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh has warned against rushing the process, recommending a joint planning and coordination centre in Delhi before formal theatreisation. He stressed that India should not directly replicate foreign models like that of the United States.
In contrast, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi have both indicated that theatreisation is inevitable. Retired officers have also pointed out that adversaries such as China transitioned to theatre commands in under two years, while India has debated the issue for over two decades.
Defence sources have indicated that a Western Theatre Command is planned for Jaipur to address the Pakistan front, while a Northern Theatre Command based in Lucknow will cover threats from China and the northern borders. A Maritime Theatre Command, to be led by the Navy, is expected to be set up in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Department of Military Affairs is working on more than 150 measures to integrate the forces, including harmonising standard operating procedures, integrating repair and maintenance facilities, and standardising platforms like Apache helicopters, ALH Dhruv, and AK-203 rifles.
While challenges of tradition, turf and service-specific culture remain, senior officials argue that India cannot afford further delays in creating a unified structure. Analysts warn that the lack of integration risks repeating past coordination failures, and theatre commands are being seen as critical to ensuring India’s military preparedness against future threats.
