India theatre commands should not permanently divide fighter aircraft by geography, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said on October 25, 2026, arguing that the proposed military reorganisation must reflect the country’s security needs.

Key Takeaways

  • Singh called for centralised control where necessary and decentralised execution where appropriate.
  • The proposed integration of the Army, Navy and Air Force has stalled amid differences over command structures.

India theatre commands and the air power debate

Singh said the Indian Air Force supports closer integration among the services, but that air power must retain the flexibility to move between sectors as threats change. He pointed to aerial refuelling, long-range weapons, networked sensors and basing as capabilities that allow aircraft to operate far from their home locations.

He cited Operation Sindoor as an example of a joint structure in which critical resources were centrally allocated and reallocated. Singh said the reform should be implemented in phases so that operational readiness is not compromised.

What the proposed reorganisation would change

Announced in 2019, the theatre command plan seeks to integrate Army, Navy and Air Force capabilities. The services currently have separate commands.

The proposed architecture envisaged a Northern Theatre Command in Lucknow focused on China, a Western Theatre Command in Jaipur addressing challenges from Pakistan, and a Maritime Theatre Command in Thiruvananthapuram. Progress has stalled because the services hold different views on the structures, with the Air Force raising concerns about splitting its fighter squadrons.

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