About Integrated theatre command

1)  An integrated theatre command envisages a unified command of the three Services, under a single commander, for geographical theatres (areas) that are of strategic and security concern. 

2) The commander of such force will be able to bear all resources at his disposal from the Army, the Indian Air Force, and the Navy with seamless efficacy. The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to individual Services.

3) The Shekatkar committee has recommended the creation of 3 integrated theatre command-northern for the China border, western for the Pakistan border, and southern for the maritime role.

4) More than 32 countries in the world already have some form of theatre or joint command in place for better integration among the branches of the military. E.g. According to a report, the US was the first to come up with a theatre command system and "presently possesses six geographical and four functional commands.

Current Status of Military Commands

Since Independence, the three services have been functioning separately and there has been proven  cooperation between them but no integration per se. 

1. At present, the Indian Army, navy and air force each has multiple commands that are vertically split in terms of their command structure. The army and air force have seven commands each while the navy has three commands. But these commands do not coincide geographically and are scattered across the country.
2. Apart from these, there are two unified commands  Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) and the Special Forces command (SFC) for nuclear assets: 

Proposed Theatre commands

• Northern Command
• Western Command
• Eastern Command
• Air defence Command
• Maritime theatre Command
• Logistics Command
• Training and Doctrine Command              

Need Behind proposed Theatre Commands

1) Reducing duplication of resources: As of now, the Services have to speak to each other in times of need and urgency to request their assets to conduct a particular operation. The proposal to have a theatre commander who will have operational control of the assets under his command, thus enhancing  jointness among the forces, and also reducing duplication of resources.

2) More Streamlined Costs: A theatre command system will also contribute to more streamlined costs and a leaner fighting force. A big chunk of the annual defence budget goes into paying salaries and pensions while outlays do not always grow in line with the actual needs of the armed forces.

3) Unified approach for fighting future wars: The need for a unified approach to war fighting was brought out in the deliberations after the 1999 Kargil battle. This will help in better planning and military response.

4) China factor: China’s theaterisation move has had an effect too. China has the uniformity in response, be it in the East or the Ladakh in the north. This is so because China’s Western Theater Command looks after the entire borders with India unlike us where we have multiple Commands and structures to respond with different officers at the helm,

5) Cost-effective in the long run: Theaterization will help in better planning and military response and also bring down costs. it will prove to be cost-effective in the long term as all acquisitions will be a unified one. E.g.  Not having a unified approach to acquisition in the procurement of the Apache attack helicopters from the US. While the Indian Air Force got 22 Apaches, the Army has also placed orders for six of these choppers. The end result — loss of at least Rs 2,500 crore and haphazard operational planning

Challenges/Issues

1. Different service cultures: The service culture and way of functioning of the three services is very different. The Indian Army has regimental affiliations and is bound by its legacy. The legacy issues may not be that much in the Indian Air Force or the Indian Navy. Finding the right mix will remain a challenge.
2. Mismatch between the assets of the army, navy and air force: While the Army and the Navy are on board on the issue of theaterization, the IAF while supporting the move says there can’t be multiple theatres. They argue that a single theatre is what is needed. IAF fears that it will lose control over its assets and operations.  
3. Massive funding: Creating infrastructure for the Theatre commands will also require huge amounts of funding. Budgetary allocations and the distribution of funds need to be clearly worked out to enable the setting up of a seamless and theatre command system.
4. Hurdle in integrating the three services: The key hurdle in integrating the three services under the theatre command system is that of the structure itself: that is who reports to whom and how does the chain of command flow. These involve issues of operational command and control over assets
5.  No need for theaterization: Experts have said that there has been no occasion during actual warfare when the three services have not operated with commendable cooperation. Moreover India is not geographically large enough to divided into different theatre commands. Hence, there is no need for an integrated theatre command.
6.  Limited domain Knowledge : Limited domain knowledge and expertise of a theatre command could affect the functioning of command.

Way forward

1) A supportive ecosystem: In order for Theatre Commands to be effective, there needs to be a supporting ecosystem. India still remains the 2^nd largest arms importer in the world. Hence, indigenous technology and hardware by self-reliance should be a priority.

2) Managing internal & external security: There needs to be an assessment of how the internal and external security will be managed under the theatre commands. It is because there are lakhs of paramilitary personnel and the Indian Coast Guard.

3) Parliament’s role: The legislature needs to play a far more pro-active role. A Dedicated Standing Committee of Parliament should be created. It needs to be staffed with military advisers and other professionals to independently monitor the transition very minutely. Budgetary allocations and the distribution of funds need to be clearly worked out to enable the setting up of a seamless theatre command system

4) Modular structure: In the theaterization debate, India must not forget to modularize its armed forces. The present big hierarchical formations need to be divided into many small networked brigades. Multiple studies have shown that these are superior to the division-based structure in terms of deployability, employability, and sustainability.

Conclusion

Integrated Theatre Commands are by no means a panacea for all our military shortcomings. But they are an important edifice in the overall organisational structure that seeks to improve, to bring clarity and efficiency in our military functioning.

By: VISHAL GOYAL