PANNELIST
Vice Admiral SK Sinha PVSM AVSM NM & Bar – Chair -Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha PVSM, AVSM, NM & Bar who was Commissioned in the Aviation wing of the Indian Navy as a combat pilot in 1974 . As a frontline Naval aviator, Admiral Sinha was part of the team that induct and operationalised the first ever vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sea Harrier in the Indian navy. In his long illustrious career, Admiral Sinha commanded many frontline naval ships and later became the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (CIDS) . He later went on to become Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, a post from which he retired in 2014 . He is now the Trustee of India Foundation , Member of the governing board of the Indian Council of World Affairs, Member of the Executive Council of Manohar Parrikar Institute, and Advisor to CENJOWS .
Air Mshl Anil Khosla PVSM AVSM VM -1st Speaker – Air Mshl Anil Khosla PVSM AVSM VM who was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1979. He had been an ace Jaguar pilot who has over 4000 hours of flying on different types of aircrafts like MiG-21, Kiran etc. He has experience in both ground attack and air defence roles and specializes in maritime role. Apart from commanding the Jaguar squadron assigned to a maritime role, he held many other key appointments in the Indian Air Force , like the Joint Director of Concept Studies, Director of Personnel, Principal Director of Information and Electronic Warfare; Air Officer Commanding HQ Maritime Air Operations; Air Officer Commanding J&K Area; Director General (Inspection & Safety) . At the peak of his career he had the privilege to commanding the prestigious Eastern Air Command as the AOC-in-C and before retiring in 2019 held another most prestigious appointment of the 42nd Vice Chief of the Indian Air force. Air Mshl Anil Chopra is a Ph.D holder an Analyst and Distinguished Fellow of USI & CAPS and Strategic Advisor to Synergia Foundation.
Lt Gen Dushyant Singh PVSM AVSM – 2nd Speaker – Lt Gen Dushyant Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd). He was commissioned in the ‘NINTH BN OF THE MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY REGIMENT’ in Dec 81. He is an alumni of NDC, DSSC, CDM and Naval Post Graduate School California, USA. He has served in varied terrains and theatre of operations, in India and in the UN as Military Observer. Apart from serving as an instructor in the College of Defence Management, he had been the General Officer commanding Infantry Battalion, Brigade and a Division in Jammu and Kashmir. The General Officer also commanded a Corps in the East and thereafter headed the Army War College at Mhaw. Today he is a better known as the Thinking General, prolific writer, speaker and an active member of the Lucknow based sister think tank STRIVE.
Please do not miss this interesting discussion on AIRPOWER and “Theater Command in Indian Context” direct from the top specialists –
DATE & TIME OF PANEL DISCUSSION
Recorded on ON 9TH SEPTEMBER 7.30 PM (IST) (7.00 AM Arizona, USA)
YouTube Link –
https://youtu.be/5ExGCJFh7l8?si=5jptNXf3c-5Y_zVe
CONCEPT NOTE
Numerically, Indian Army, Air Force and Navy are ranked third, sixth, and ninth in the world. Considering the rapid changes in security environment in and around the sub-continent, India is re-assessing its defiance preparedness, capabilities, and approach to measure up to the challenges of a highly technological, multi frontal, multi-dimensional, contact less as well as hybrid warfare visualized in the 21st century.
Initiative to upgrade, indigenize & privatize defiance production along with forging new alignment with global forces and re-organization of own forces in tune with the “theatre concept” are just few of the many initiatives that Indian government has taken recently to prepare the nation for any expected and unexpected eventuality on the three fronts identified by it. With the passing of the bill on ‘The Inter-Services Organizations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023’, the ball is set to roll towards greater integration . However, what is also gradually getting close to the Centre of the debate is the much mis-understood question of splitting nation’s Air Power into the three distinct theatres ?
Much meaningful debate on this subject rests on the correct understanding and perception of the terms “Theaterwide Command and Control structure” or its alternate “Integrated Command and Control Structure” . Knowing and understanding exactly what constitute “Air Power” and how it is exercised in peace and conflict situation , is equally important to make sense in this debate.
MAIN QUESTIONS
Considering above, the main questions to be tackled by the speakers in this debate will be –
- The basic concept behind the Theaterisation of defence forces in India. What Prompts India to switch over to this concept? In which manner will the new command and control structure be different from the existing system in India?
- Use of Airpower in achieving military and political objectives in war and peace.
- Why Airpower has limited tactical utilisation vis a vis it’s full potential.
