Air Force Chief Prefers Joint Planning Over Joint Commands

India’s Air Chief, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, on Tuesday advocated a balanced approach to India’s quest for joint theatre commands, making it clear that the Air Force prefers central joint planning and coordination to ensure integration and jointness, rather than multiple joint commands, reigniting a debate on what model India should adopt to improve combat efficiency and effectiveness.

Singh was reiterating  a long-held belief in the IAF that theaterisation models that exist in other countries such as the US and China were not feasible in the Indian context. India must evolve its own structure, he asserted, cautioning against any hasty rollout of fresh arrangements.

“Any structural change that does not lengthen the OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop is beneficial. But sudden disruption is not ideal. What we need is a joint planning and coordination centre in the national capital to anchor integration,” he suggested.

Speaking at a fireside chat at Ran Samvad 2025 – India’s first tri-service seminar on war, warfare, and warfighting – Singh said Operation Sindoor demonstrated the value of integration under Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan.

He pointed out that Operation Sindoor marked a watershed in India’s military approach, proving the effectiveness of joint planning and execution at the centre by the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

“During Operation Sindoor, the services moved away from working in silos. The CDS was orchestrating things with all of us together. Multiple meetings were held on what needed to be addressed and by whom. It prevented gaps and improved operational effectiveness – Just four of us together and planning, we did not find any gaps during the operation,” he observed.

He stressed that joint planning at the highest level must remain central to India’s future military doctrine: “I believe joint planning at the apex level and execution at the lower level is what is required – once direction goes from there, everything else falls in place.”

Reflecting on the IAF’s role, Singh said the force was “on song” during its strikes on Pakistan on the night of May 9–10 but deliberately refrained from further escalation.

“That night, we were on a song. We could have continued to strike, but that was not our aim. Our objective was already achieved,” he said, noting that conflict termination is normally not easy to achieve as evident in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Israel’s Gaza campaign.

Responding to commentary, particularly on social media, that India should have extended its strikes, the Air Chief said: “It is very easy to say that. But why prolong a war when your objectives are already met? That is what is required.”

He added that Operation Sindoor also dispelled a long-held domestic belief that the use of air power would automatically escalate conflict.

“We can’t shy away from the fact that air power has to be used offensively – to get to a decision point. Its relevance will only grow, whether in today’s wars or tomorrow’s. Technology, too, played a crucial role in Sindoor’s success,” he said.

Ravi Shankar, Mhow