UNITED COLOURS OF ARMED FORCES

THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS COMPLETE A YEAR IN ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES. WILL INDIA GET THE INTEGRATED MILITARY STRUCTURE IT NEEDS?

- Sandeep Unnithan

THE ROAD TO CONVERGENCE

What the Chief of Defence Staffand the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) have achieved so far

• Studies for theatre commands initiated. Maritime Theatre Command (MTC) completed. National Air Defence Command (NADC) and Northern, Western and Eastern Commands underway. MTC and NADC to be set up by 2022.

• Integrated Capability Development Plan (ICDP) to manage all armed forces procurements. Defence Capital Acquisition Plan (DCAP) with two- and five-year horizons.

• Measures to increase the terms of engagement of armed forces personnel to reduce immediate pension payouts and cut down defence expenditure.

• Common communication protocols for the three services in Delhi. Information sharing, joint briefings.

A row of Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17s, Indian Army tanks in the Himalayas and a naval landing ship tank in the Andamans. Three large photo frames hang on one wall of General Bipin Rawat’s spartan office in South Block, a daily reminder of his task at hand. As India’s first Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), General Rawat has to get the army, air force and navy—the world’s second, fourth and seventh largest, respectively—to work together as one unit.

“Some years ago, we used to ask, ‘Why do we need a CDS?’” says General Rawat, with a smile. “Now, there is acceptance and acceptability all around and structures are being created for integration.” (See accompanying interview.)