Integration & Jointness

A significant step toward accomplishing the dual objectives of jointness and integration in the armed forces was taken on Monday at the first “Parivartan Chintan,” a groundbreaking tri-service conference conducted in New Delhi. Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Gen. Anil Chauhan spoke at the conference, emphasizing the need for the armed forces to create a “joint culture” that would distill and instill the greatest qualities of all three services while honoring their individuality. He discussed extensive changes meant to improve the military’ interoperability and capacity for waging wars.

The government’s effort to make the armed services “future ready” is said to be supported by jointness and integration. The very long delay in the implementation of theater commands, a combined and integrated operational framework that envisions all three armies cooperating under a single military commander, is concerning. The primary obstacle facing this significant defense reform is the Air Force’s and Navy’s concerns about the Army’s possible dominance in the new commands. Finding a balance between the establishment of cooperative structures and the maintenance of each service’s own character and ethos is a major task for the government and the top brass in the defense industry.

It is envisaged that the conference’s brainstorming sessions would aid in developing a roadmap for smooth integration that takes into account the turf conflicts impeding the changeover. India, sandwiched between two adversarial neighbors, cannot afford to slow down its modernization, adaptability, and cooperative efforts. The primary goals of warfare in the twenty-first century are resource conservation and efficiency maximization. The secret to early theaterization plan execution is quickly reaching an agreement on jointness and integration. This is essential for strengthening India’s military readiness for battle and protecting its borders from all forms of armed incursions.