General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces, visited the Headquarters of the Western Air Command (WAC) today for high-level operational discussions with Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of WAC. The visit underscored the Indian Armed Forces’ commitment to enhancing joint preparedness and synergized air operations in response to evolving security challenges along India’s western borders.
During the visit, General Chauhan interacted with the WAC team, commending their professionalism and pivotal role in the recently concluded Operation Sindoor. The operation, executed on May 8, 2025, was a significant demonstration of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) capabilities, successfully neutralizing critical Pakistani air defense radars and military installations, including a key facility near Lahore, in a mere 23 minutes. The mission, which involved advanced electronic warfare tactics and indigenous technologies like the Akash missile system and Barak-8, was a response to escalating cross-border terror attacks and drone strikes by Pakistan on Indian cities such as Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, and Bhuj.
General Chauhan highlighted the IAF’s critical role in integrated operations, noting that Operation Sindoor marked a milestone in India’s defense capabilities. He emphasized the importance of “jointness and integration” among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, a strategic priority for the Indian military as it faces multifaceted threats from neighboring countries like Pakistan and China. The visit reaffirmed the armed forces’ focus on unified command structures and coherent operational planning across domains, including land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace.
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, who assumed the role of AOC-in-C of WAC on January 1, 2025, briefed the CDS on the command’s ongoing efforts to strengthen India’s airspace defense. Mishra, a seasoned fighter pilot with over 3,000 flying hours, has been instrumental in advancing the IAF’s operational readiness, drawing on his extensive experience in roles such as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations) and Commandant of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).
The discussions also touched on the integration of air defense systems between the IAF and the Indian Army, a key step toward achieving operational synergy. Recent joint exercises like Exercise Kavach and upcoming tri-service formats of Vayu Shakti reflect the military’s commitment to coordinated responses, despite challenges in achieving full jointness, including historical resistance from the IAF due to differing operational priorities.
Operation Sindoor’s success has been attributed to the deployment of MiG-29K fighters, alongside advanced countermeasures like GPS spoofing, jamming, and EMP technologies, which effectively bypassed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defense systems. The operation not only showcased India’s technological prowess but also highlighted the growing role of indigenous innovations, such as the “Indrajaal” drone dome developed by Hyderabad-based Grene Robotics, in countering modern threats like drone swarms.
General Chauhan’s visit comes at a time when India is intensifying efforts to bolster its defense capabilities, with a focus on self-reliance and inter-service collaboration. The CDS reiterated the government’s support for these initiatives, aligning with the broader vision of a unified military command structure to address contemporary security challenges.
