Post Op Sindoor, more lessons learned, need to be incorporated into model: CDS on theaterisation

Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan said on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, that there are some “more lessons” learned by the armed forces in the wake of Operation Sindoor and these should be included in the planned theatricalization model.

“We must have our ISR,” he said during an interaction at India Defense Conclave 2025 hosted by defense think tank Bharat Shakti. [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] After the decisive military operation in May, kinetic operational capabilities all over Pakistan and I think this will be the new normal.

He was asked what the new normal stated by the government means for the Indian army.

“For the armed forces, this must become the new normal for us. This means better operational readiness 24×7, which I think is very, very important. In our air defense, we must be better prepared against UAVs.” [Unmanned Aerial System]”Electronic warfare, this must be the new normal because this is the kind of warfare we expect.”

“We must have our ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] “Kinetic operational capabilities all over Pakistan and I think this is the new normal,” CDS said.

And I hope that, “As we change, the enemy will also change and accept this new normal,” he said.

General Chauhan argued that “we have to be ahead” of the enemy technologically.

“Last time we targeted, maybe we only targeted static targets, in the future we may have to consider engagement of mobile targets,” he said, without elaborating.

He also talked about the role of the CDS and reminded that the top authority has no operational authority.

On the location selection of the recently held Combined Commanders’ Conference, he said that this was the first time it had taken place in eastern India and the location itself was a “message”.

The Joint Commanders Conference 2025 was held by the armed forces in Kolkata, West Bengal, from 15 to 17 September.

Regarding the planned theatricalization, CDS said, “Post Operation Sindoor, there are a few more lessons we have learned, which I need to incorporate into this model we are working on.” he said.

“We have experience of Uri, Balakot, (Operation) Sindoor, Galwan, Doklam, Covid, so we need to combine this special experience, come to an organizational structure that will last throughout all seasons. This should be there,” he said.

According to the theaterization plan, each theater command will include Army, Navy and Air Force units, all of which will operate as a single unit dealing with security issues in a specific geographic area.