India could have upto five theatre commands and the first theatre command would be prepared within a year and all five theatre commands would be completed in the next two to three years, India’s newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat said Monday. Theatre Command is a combined force of Army, Navy and IAF.
Bipin Rawat, who was recently announced as the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff, also stated that India always wanted to set up an independent theatre command for Jammu and Kashmir in order to counter-terrorism. If India have two to five theatre commands, there will be easy to deal with future security challenges along the frontiers with Pakistan and China, including one for Jammu and Kashmir and a Peninsular Command.
At present, India does not have any theatre command system. That is the reason why CDS Gen Rawat announced setting up two to five theatre commands by the next two to three years. The key concept of Theatre Command is to bring all three armed forces, services, and paramilitary together. The concept of theatre command or unified command is derived from the US Armed forces concept which divides its entire defence forces in total 6 theatre command covering the entire globe.
One of Rawat’s main responsibilities is to ensure synergy and integration among the three services. Now, Rawat wants to enhance the capability of all three armed forces by setting up joint or theatre commands. Rawat said that several studies would be done by the end of this year to know how many theatre commands are needed and theatre commands would be completed by 2022.
“The study should be completed within three-four months and by the end of next year, the command under one naval commander should start functioning,” General Bipin Rawat said.
“By end of the year, a study for the joint commands will be in place. The study is to be completed within three months. By 2022, theatre commands should roll out. The number of theatre commands could vary from 2, 4 or 5,” Gen Rawat added. The objective of setting up joint commands is to comprise the Army, Navy and Air Force.
