IAF Chief AP Singh outlines vision for theaterisation

Indian Air Force Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has detailed his vision for the theaterisation plan, emphasizing that the reform should not involve a permanent geographic division of fighter assets. Speaking in an interview, Singh advocated for a structure tailored to India's specific security needs rather than replicating foreign military models.

He proposed a guiding principle of “centralised control” where necessary and “decentralised execution” where appropriate. Singh stressed that such a large-scale transformation must be implemented in phases to ensure that operational readiness is never compromised. He also cautioned against attempting to predict future battlefield scenarios with excessive certainty.

The theaterisation plan, announced in 2019, is intended to integrate India's three military services for better operational synergy. The proposed architecture includes a Northern Theatre Command in Lucknow, a Western Theatre Command in Jaipur, and a Maritime Theatre Command in Thiruvananthapuram. However, progress has faced delays due to differing views among the services regarding the command structures, with the IAF specifically expressing reservations about splitting fighter squadrons.