New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Monday announced that a Joint Operations Centre integrating the Army, Navy and Air Force will be operational by the end of May, marking a significant step in India’s military modernisation.
Speaking at the Maj Gen Samir Sinha memorial lecture at the United Service Institution (USI), General Chauhan said the centre will enhance coordination and streamline operations across the three services as part of a broader push towards jointness and theatreisation.
He also revealed plans to expand the Defence Space Agency and confirmed that work is underway to establish a Defence Geospatial Agency, aimed at strengthening capabilities in space-based and mapping intelligence.
On the long-debated theatre commands, the CDS said three sets of recommendations have already been submitted to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Theatre commands involve restructuring the armed forces into unified, geographically defined commands under a single military commander controlling all operational assets.
General Chauhan acknowledged that integration across services is a “tedious and slow” process but stressed that significant progress has been made. He said efforts are being carried out across eight key verticals, including operations, intelligence, logistics, training, communications, human resources and legal frameworks.
Highlighting advancements, he noted that the armed forces now have a joint communication architecture enabling seamless coordination. He cited the example of air defence, where systems from all three services are integrated and operational round the clock along the western front.
The CDS also mentioned the creation of a common airspace safety organisation, ensuring shared data on accidents involving military platforms such as helicopters.
Additionally, a ₹400 crore project is underway to integrate inventory systems across the three services, further enhancing efficiency and preparedness.
General Chauhan added that efforts are also being made to draft a common services act to eventually replace the separate Army, Navy and Air Force Acts.
The move signals a major shift in India’s war-fighting architecture, focusing on greater integration, faster decision-making and enhanced operational readiness.
