New Delhi: In his first meeting after taking over as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat has directed the important functionaries of Integrated Defence Staff to prepare a proposal for creating the first air defence command and prioritised establishing common logistics support pools for the defence services. “The CDS directed that a proposal to create air defence command be prepared by June 30, 2020,” said the defence ministry statement.
Rawat during the meeting held on Wednesday, also directed the different branch heads to give recommendations for inter-service synergy and jointness. He also emphasised on having a collegiate system of functioning and directed the three defence services— army, air force and navy and the Coast Guard to be consulted over this. He added that the decisions in this regard will be taken to ensure optimisation of resources. The CDS also added that ‘infructuous” ceremonial activities, which are manpower-intensive, must be cut.
Each service has its individual air defence set-up. Experts believe that an air defence command could be tasked with integrating the air defence and assets of the army, air force and navy and jointly provide air defence cover to the country. This could also lead to regular training with ground forces in simulated combat scenarios. Having such a command could fine-tune the system by providing early warning of incoming enemy aircraft and missiles. It could also involve using space assets. It could be on the similar lines of the two tri-services command- the Strategic Forces Command and the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
“He also set out priorities for execution of synergy by June 30 and December, 31, 2020. Some of the areas identified for jointness and synergy include creation of common logistics support pools in stations where two or more services have their presence,” according to the statement. A logistic support pool could be a single depot and base workshop that provides supplies and repair works to the services. This will lead to saving manpower and funds and avoid wastage.
On having a collegiate system of functioning, “General Rawat directed that all three services and the Coast Guard must be consulted and their views obtained in a timebound manner. Decisions will, however, be taken to ensure optimisation of resources. Efforts will be made to cut out infructuous ceremonial activities, which are manpower-intensive,” it said. The CDS has stressed that all must work towards accomplishing desired results and coming up with healthy views and ideas.
Source: Economic Times