Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi on Wednesday reaffirmed the Indian Navy’s commitment to jointness and integration among the three services, describing theatre commands as the “ultimate goal” of military reform. Speaking at the concluding session of the inaugural tri-service seminar RAN Samwad-2025 at the Army War College in Madhya Pradesh, he also cautioned about the growing risks posed by technology-driven grey zone activities at sea.
Push for Integration
Admiral Tripathi said the Navy is propelling ahead with the vision of unified planning, a common battlespace picture, and integrated operations with the Army and Air Force. “We are committed to synergising our command, control, communications, and combat capability with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Full stop. Period,” he declared.
He highlighted the Navy’s efforts to strengthen cross-pollination across services, citing that his personal staff includes an Army Aide-de-Camp, while the Air Chief is assisted by a Naval Flag Lieutenant. “Integration begins at the human level,” he noted.
Leadership in a Complex Battlespace
Calling leadership the critical driver of successful integration, Admiral Tripathi stressed that the Navy is investing in building teams capable of operating in “an information-dense environment” under compressed timelines. “Future readiness will not be defined by technology alone, but by our ability to harness technology and human potential concurrently,” he said.
Grey Zone Activities and Maritime Ambiguity
The Naval Chief warned that the lines between peace and conflict are increasingly blurred, particularly in the maritime domain. “The seas, once called global commons, are now the front line of grey zone activities, and technology is accelerating this trend,” he remarked.
He pointed to fishing fleets equipped with satellite communication and sensors, research vessels with advanced sonar, and even autonomous boats capable of launching missiles as examples of civilian-looking assets with military potential. “It is conceivable that seemingly innocuous fishing vessels could carry out major offensive actions in the near future,” he cautioned.
Debate Over Theatrisation
Admiral Tripathi’s remarks came a day after Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh urged caution against rushing into theatre commands, warning of possible disruption in operational efficiency. While the exact structure of India’s proposed theatre commands remains undecided, plans reportedly include two land-based commands to counter Pakistan and China, and a maritime theatre command.
Despite the debate, Admiral Tripathi described theatrisation as the “ultimate goal,” underlining that the Navy remains committed to building a “combat-ready, credible, cohesive, and future-ready force.”
