Rajnath Singh calls for greater jointness among armed forces, cites Operation Sindoor as benchmark for future warfare
New Delhi, September 30. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has again underscored the critical importance of jointness among India’s armed forces, declaring that integration is no longer optional but a matter of national survival in the face of evolving threats.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Subroto Park, New Delhi, on September 30, Singh urged the services to embrace synergy, interoperability, and shared learning to strengthen operational effectiveness across all domains of warfare.
The seminar, themed ‘Fostering Greater Jointness – Synergy through Shared Learning in the Domain of Inspection and Audits, Aviation Standards and Aerospace Safety’, brought together top military leadership, veterans, and representatives from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Border Security Force (BSF), and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Operation Sindoor as a model of success
Highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor, Singh said the tri-services synergy produced a unified, real-time operational picture, enabling timely decisions, enhanced situational awareness, and minimising the risk of fratricide.
“This is the living example of jointness delivering decisive results, and this success must become the benchmark for all future operations,” he stated.
He emphasised the crucial role of the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), the Army’s Akashteer, and the Navy’s Trigun, which together formed the joint operational backbone during the operation.
Jointness as a strategic necessity
Calling jointness a “fundamental requirement” for national security, Rajnath Singh argued that while the Army, Navy, and Air Force can operate independently, modern warfare increasingly spans land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, making interoperability indispensable.
“Collaborative strength has become the true guarantor of victory,” he said.
He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the recent Combined Commanders’ Conference in Kolkata, where jointness and integration were identified as central to India’s defence preparedness. Singh noted that the government’s objective is to ensure India’s armed forces remain among the world’s finest while simultaneously becoming pioneers of future-ready systems.
Digital transformation in defence logistics
The Defence Minister lauded the strides made by the services in automating logistics. He cited the Army’s Computerised Inventory Control Group (CICG), the IAF’s Integrated Materials Management Online System (IMMOLS), and the Navy’s Integrated Logistics Management System as transformative tools that introduced accountability and transparency.
He announced that work has commenced on a Tri-Services Logistics Application that will integrate these systems, allowing shared visibility of stocks, optimised resource use, and reduced duplication in procurement.
Breaking down institutional silos
Singh pointed out that historically, each service developed its own operational practices, inspection frameworks, and audit systems. While these were based on unique geographies and challenges, the lessons remained siloed.
“If the Army developed something, it stayed with the Army. If the Navy or Air Force developed something, it remained within their own walls,” he said, calling this compartmentalisation a limitation.
He stressed that today’s threats demand openness and collective learning.
“No single service can operate in isolation. Interoperability and jointness are now essential for success in any conflict,” he observed.
Harmonising standards and preserving uniqueness
In domains such as aviation safety and cyber defence, Rajnath Singh warned that divergence in standards could be disastrous. He emphasised the need for harmonised processes to close vulnerabilities, while also recognising that integration must not erase the distinctiveness of each force.
“The cold of the Himalayas is not the same as the heat of the desert. The Navy’s challenges differ from those of the Army and Air Force. Our task is to create a shared baseline that builds interoperability and trust without erasing uniqueness,” he explained.
A call for cultural change
Singh said structural reform must be accompanied by a change in mindset. He urged senior military leadership to communicate the value of integration to their teams and overcome institutional silos through dialogue and mutual respect.
“Every service must feel understood, and every tradition must be honoured as we build new systems together,” he stressed.
Encouraging the services to study international best practices, Singh underlined that India’s solutions must be context-specific.
“We can learn from others, but our answers must be Indian answers shaped by our geography, needs, and culture,” he said.
Government’s commitment to integration
Reiterating the government’s support for jointness, Rajnath Singh called upon all stakeholders, including the ICG, BSF, and DGCA, to actively pursue integration.
“Only when our armed forces operate in unison, in harmony, and in perfect coordination can we counter adversaries across all domains and lead India to new heights of glory,” he affirmed.
Earlier in the day, Singh paid tribute to Lieutenant General Raju Baijal, Director General of the Territorial Army, who passed away on September 30 morning.
Key outcomes of the seminar
The seminar concluded with consensus on the need for greater commonality in inspection processes and avenues to enhance interoperability in aviation. Discussions on joint aerospace safety underlined the importance of a unified approach to safety standards and addressing emerging threats.
The event was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and Director General (Inspection and Safety) Air Marshal Makarand Ranade, alongside senior officials from the armed forces, ICG, BSF, DGCA, and veterans.
