With paradigm shifts in how global wars are being fought, India faces immense challenges from its adversaries in all domains. Artificial intelligence (AI), automation, drones and cheap precision weapons have lowered the cost of force yet heightened the risks of operation.
Against this backdrop of a two-front threat scenario, India is reshaping its structure, doctrine, technology, force composition, professional military education (PME) and military readiness. However, past attempts at building jointness have delivered only limited results. Reforms must now advance at a speed and scale that can match the operational needs of the armed forces.
At the combined commanders conference in September 2025 in Kolkata, with the theme “Year of Reforms — Transformation for the Future,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the intention to move from service silos to integrated theater commands. The Defence Ministry has prioritized a review of structural, administrative and operational matters such as the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Rules 2025, wherein commanders are empowered to exercise disciplinary and administrative authority for jointness in coordinated operations. However, these measures must be evaluated against real metrics. A decade after Modi emphasized jointness as a priority, it is only now that the Indian military has arrived at joint PME, underlining that the progression is not proportionate to the needs of today.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry has already raised tri-service agencies for cyber, space and special operations under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. New battle formations such as the Rudra and Bhairav units reflect this shift by combining infantry, artillery, armor, air defense, engineers and surveillance elements into modular, mission-specific combat groups. These enable faster reaction and more flexible operational deployment, especially along volatile borders, such as those with China and Pakistan.
The recent declassification of India’s Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations also details the framework for amphibious operations by integrating maritime, air and land forces. China has embodied integrated theater commands for years. Indian theaterization must be indigenous in design. This is all the more important when the jointness of all services has not been tested until now.
The Joint Doctrine of the Indian Armed Forces (2017) and the Army’s Land Warfare Doctrine (2018) set the basics for synergy and jointness. The recent Ran Samvad, the first tri-service seminar on war, warfare and warfighting, deliberated on preparing for future hybrid warriors (scholar, tech and information warriors) who can read an adversary, code a solution and shape the narrative. In changing times, doctrinal evolution must consider that future wars will be multidomain from the beginning, in which speed and information will decide the outcomes as much as conventional firepower.
Recent procurement has been critical and in alignment with creating seamless jointness. MQ-9B drones deepen persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and precision strikes across land and sea. This deal underpins tri-service employment. The Navy’s Rafale M fighter jet order stabilizes carrier aviation and opens options for maritime strike and fleet air defense. Akashteer, an AI-enabled, automated command and control network for Army air defense, is being integrated with the Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System. This is a standard but important step in advancing jointness.
Creating a modern force
The Army’s Integrated Battle Groups are emerging as all-arms brigades (Rudra) specifically designed to deploy within 12 to 48 hours with armor, infantry, artillery, engineers, loitering munitions and drones tailored to specific areas of confrontation. Momentum is now needed to translate into functioning brigades with joint training, logistics and firepower. The Pralay quasi-ballistic missile completed back-to-back user trials in July 2025, strengthening land-based theater fires. At sea, a carrier-centered maritime posture is being developed. The Rafale M supports near-term air wings while the Navy charts a 15-year capability plan to manage air, subsurface and uncrewed growth.
India’s next step is to place integration and learning at the center of military power. This means establishing a stable and effective jointness that sets common data and interface standards. Despite interservice differences, theater commands should be activated, maybe with initial mandates and expanding authorities assessed over time. PME must raise cadres of technologist-commanders embedded into every field exercise where failure is dealt with through course correction. To make it effective, civil-military fusion is indispensable with the Defence Research and Development Organisation, defense public sector undertakings, private industry and universities for code, data, test ranges and rapid prototyping embedded in education and exercises. A strong industrial complex management base should be tied into this cycle through rapid and repeated trials that keep what works and retire what is outdated. Where change shifts the dynamics of the battlefield, only an adaptive military moves the front.