Detailed Blueprint for Theatre Commands to Be Unveiled at Lucknow Military Commanders Conference

India is set to unveil a roadmap for theatre commands at a military conference in Lucknow, signaling a major restructuring of the armed forces. The commands, focused on China, Pakistan, and the Indian Ocean, aim to enhance joint operations among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, moving toward a modern multi-dimensional warfare approach.

 India is set for a massive overhaul of its military as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan prepare to announce the plan for the formation of theatre commands. The three new theatre commands will combine the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force into a single system to address contemporary security threats. The plan, which is still pending the approval of the Narendra Modi government, will be presented at the first ever Joint Combined Commanders Conference in Lucknow. 

 The proposed commands are the Northern Theatre Command in Lucknow for China, the Western Theatre Command in Jaipur for Pakistan and the Maritime Theatre Command in Thiruvananthapuram for the Indian Ocean. The goal of the reorganization is to increase integration and synchronization among the services, leaving behind the air-land battle concepts and adopting the multi-domain battle concept. 

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 While there is some discomfort in the armed forces about the changes, General Chauhan underlines the concept of integration in future warfare, which will be a combined operation on land, sea and air, using LRSWs. Theatre commanders will have operational control and will be directly responsible to the political masters and not through the chain of command as is the case today. The changes are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the Indian military and its ability to counter the new threats, similar to the processes observed in China and the United States.