The Indian Armed Forces released three new joint doctrines to enhance synergy and integration among the services. These doctrines were developed under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and represent a significant step towards creating a unified and ready military.
“To minimise duplication and enhance effectiveness, SF may be trained jointly on advanced skills. Existing Special Forces Training Schools of the three services need to be upgraded to Joint Service Training Institutes (JSTIs), each being a Centre of Excellence for a specific core competency. This can be done without transferring the command and control from lead service and by optimising existing infrastructure with assets and resources from all the services,” reads an excerpt from the doctrine.
The three joint doctrines released are:
- Joint Doctrine for Special Forces Operations: Aims to harmonize the understanding, terminology, and operational procedures of the special forces of the Indian Army (Para-SF), Indian Navy (MARCOS), and Indian Air Force (Garuds). It covers joint training, command and control strategies, and the future of special operations.The doctrine for SF operations covers a raft of subjects including joint training, future weapon profile, operational imperatives, and issues related to command, control and planning.
- Joint Doctrine for Airborne and Heliborne Operations: Provides a standardized framework for the planning and execution of airborne and heliborne missions involving all three services. This doctrine seeks to ensure seamless coordination for rapid deployment of troops and equipment. Chauhan released the joint doctrine for airborne and heliborne operations, and defence minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the doctrine for multi domain operations, putting the spotlight on the steps being taken towards jointness, which is an essential prerequisite to the creation of theatre commands.
- Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations: Outlines the integrated and synchronized employment of military forces and national capabilities across the land, sea, air, cyber, space, and cognitive domains. This doctrine is a response to the evolving character of modern warfare, which often involves simultaneous actions across multiple fronts.
