Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a Tri-Services seminar on September 30, 2025, emphasizing the need for increased integration and synergy among the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The seminar, held in New Delhi and organized by the Indian Air Force (IAF), centered on "Fostering Greater Jointness - Synergy through Shared Learning in the domain of Inspection and Audits, Aviation Standards and Aerospace Safety".
Singh highlighted the evolving nature of modern warfare, noting that threats are now diverse and multidimensional, ranging from climatic and terrain challenges to cyber warfare and information security. He stressed that jointness has become a fundamental requirement for national security and operational effectiveness, rather than a matter of choice.
Drawing on the example of Operation Sindoor, the Defence Minister underscored the enhanced strength achieved when the Army, Navy, and Air Force work in coordination. He pointed out that the real-time integration of the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) with the Indian Army's Akashteer and the Indian Navy's Trigun during Operation Sindoor served as a testament to the power of joint operations. This integration provided a unified, real-time operational picture, empowering commanders to make timely decisions, enhancing situational awareness, and reducing the risk of fratricide. Singh advocated for making this success the benchmark for all future operations.
Singh called for a unified approach to inspection and safety measures to boost the confidence of soldiers and ensure operational efficiency. He noted that the government's objective is to further promote jointness and integration among the Tri-Services, viewing it as a matter of survival in the rapidly changing security environment. He also emphasized that achieving jointness requires dialogue, understanding, and respect for each other's traditions, and that the services must honor each other's challenges while building new systems together.
The Defence Minister also acknowledged the rapid advancements in technology and the need to adapt the training patterns of the forces accordingly. He mentioned that sheer numbers of soldiers or weapon stockpiles are no longer sufficient in the face of cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, and satellite-based surveillance. Precision-guided weapons, real-time intelligence, and data-driven information have become cornerstones of success in modern conflict.
Furthermore, Singh noted that modern battlefields extend beyond land, sea, and air into outer space and cyberspace, with satellite systems, anti-satellite weapons, and space command centers becoming new instruments of power. He also said that India is making all the equipment in our country that it used to import and that the country is moving fast in the direction of making jet engines in India itself.
