'IAF is not against theaterisation': Air Force chief AP Singh cautions against copying foreign models

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Saturday said the Indian Air Force is not opposed to theaterisation, but stressed that the restructuring of the armed forces should be based on India's own requirements and carried out in stages.

Speaking at a memorial lecture at Air Force Station in Kanpur, the IAF chief said there had been considerable discussion around theaterisation and that the issue needed a careful assessment.

"A lot is being talked about theaterisation these days. This subject is in discussion forever. The way the media is putting across, I can assure my own people here that the air force is not against theaterisation, the way media puts across," Singh said.

Don't Miss: 'Getting Su-57 is as good as killing AMCA': Ex-IAF chief warns against buying foreign fifth-gen jets

According to him, the IAF's position is to examine the proposed reforms objectively and identify the problems that need to be addressed. "What a force has been insisting is that, look at it objectively. Let us look at what is it that is ailing us. We need to fix what is wrong," he said.

The air chief cautioned against simply adopting a structure used by another country. "And not just pick (some structure) from somewhere and use it. We need to form a structure. We need to form an organisation chart in a manner that we need and not anybody else's," Singh said.

He said different countries have different requirements, and India should therefore develop a structure suited to its own needs. "Let us go about it in a stepwise manner so that there is minimal disruption and we don't shake up the system, especially when we have made it very clear that Operation Sindoor is still alive," he said.

Must Read: 6th-gen fighter tech: India turns to French-led European consortium to ensure air force doesn't lag

Theatre Commands Under Consideration

To modernise the Armed Forces, efforts are underway to restructure forces through the establishment of Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) and Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs). These reforms aim to optimise operational preparedness by unifying the Army, Navy, and Air Force capabilities based on geography and function.

Studies at the Service Headquarters level are actively exploring Theatre Commands for land borders, maritime, and joint/integrated air defence to enhance synergy and combat effectiveness.

Former Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan had earlier said jointness and integration are essential for ITCs. Such a structure would separate operational responsibilities from administrative raise-train-sustain functions, allowing commanders to focus on security and operations.