New Delhi/Bengaluru: With over 90 percent work on the proposed theaterisation of forces finalised at the military level, ThePrint has learnt that consensus has been reached on the division of air assets among the three theatres.
The whole theaterisation proposal has been stuck over divergence in views among the services on how limited air assets would be divided.
Sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint that the Air Headquarters will control the strategic air assets.
They explained that strategic air assets mean refuellers, transport aircraft, Airbone Early Warning and Control aircraft, any electronic intelligence aircraft in future and space assets will remain under the command of the Air Headquarters.
As far as fighters are concerned, the sources said that various commands already have the assets and they will come under the respective theatre commands.
“As more fighters come in, the whole question of division of small assets will no longer be relevant. However, strategic air assets will remain under the disposal of the Air Headquarters,” a source said.
ThePrint Wednesday reported about the plan to set up three theatre commands focused on China, Pakistan and the seas. The Pakistan-focused theatre will be headed by an Air Force officer while that against China will be headed by an Army officer.
It was also reported that there is a possibility of air assets being centrally controlled for seamless operation across the theatres since they provide strategic value in terms of not just strike but also airlift capacity.
Sources explained that in China, the Central Theatre controls the strategic assets while each theatre has their own fighters and other fighting elements.
Incidentally, the six-month extension given to current Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan is set to end next month. It is learnt that work is on to ensure that at least the broad modalities of theaterisation are agreed upon while the whole process will take time.
According to the plan, there will be a Vice-CDS and all theatres will have deputy commanders who will be from another service.
ThePrint had first reported in July 2023 that Jaipur, home to the Army’s South Western Command (SWC), will be the headquarters for the theatre command that will look after Pakistan.
The other theatre command to take care of the borders with China will come up in Lucknow, which currently is the headquarters of the Central Command.
The Army’s South Western, Western and Southern Commands and elements from the Northern Command will come under the Jaipur-based theatre command, apart from the IAF’s Western and South Western Air Commands and elements from the Central and Southern Commands.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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