Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, on Saturday, outlined what he called the core of India’s future combat power — JAI, a concept built on three pillars: Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Innovation.
Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal near Hyderabad, General Chauhan said India’s military strength will increasingly depend on integrated structures, joint operations and the national pursuit of self-reliance in defence. He said these three elements together will shape how India fights and prevails in future conflicts.
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Explaining the concept, the CDS said 'Jointness' signifies fighting as one nation and one force, 'Atmanirbharta' represents trusted platforms and systems made not only for India but for the world, and 'Innovation' reflects the need to think ahead and stay ahead of the curve. “These three pillars will shape the future of India’s combat power,” he said, adding that JAI also forms the first word of “Jai Hind”.
"You (new officers) also join the Air Force at a moment when a new normal has firmly taken shape. An era defined by a high degree of operational preparedness, 24x7, 365 days. The intensity of operations may have ebbed, but Operation Sindoor continues," the CDS said.
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Without naming Pakistan, he referred to developments around India that indicate institutional fragility and reactive adjustments, contrasting them with India’s robust institutions, democratic stability and the professionalism of its armed forces. He stressed that wars are not won by rhetoric but by purposeful action.
Highlighting the changing character of warfare, the CDS said war and warfare are on the cusp of a major revolution. Traditional domains will remain contested and often brutal, he said, but future battles in new domains will be smart, swift and shaped by intellect, innovation and initiative. In air warfare in particular, technology is not just an enabler but a decisive factor, where even a single disruptive system can tilt the operational balance.
He said the armed forces are relentlessly pursuing new concepts and capabilities, including artificial intelligence-driven data fusion, autonomous and unmanned systems, and operations in the cognitive domain, to remain ready and relevant.
General Chauhan reviewed the Combined Graduation Parade of the 216 Course, marking the successful completion of pre-commissioning training of Flight Cadets from the flying and ground duty branches of the Indian Air Force. He conferred the President’s Commission on the graduating cadets.
A total of 244 Flight Cadets — including 215 men and 29 women — graduated during the ceremony. Officers from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and trainees from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were also awarded wings or brevets on successful completion of their training.
The parade featured a synchronised flypast by Pilatus PC-7, Hawk, Kiran and Chetak aircraft, along with displays by the Akash Ganga team and the Air Warrior Drill Team, and concluded with a special flypast led by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.
