Air Marshal Kapoor Evaluates Command Readiness at SWAC Gandhinagar Headquarters
Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who leads the South Western Air Command (SWAC), conducted an inspection of the Advanced Headquarters in Gandhinagar today. His visit was aimed at evaluating the operational readiness of the air units under his command. A significant focus was placed on current mission preparedness and enhancing joint operations with the Indian Army, particularly following the recent Operation Sindoor.
During his visit, Air Marshal Kapoor engaged with Air Force personnel and senior staff, commending them for their swift response capabilities and professional conduct in recent operations. He also engaged in a strategic dialogue with Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, the head of the Southern Command, to discuss integrated combat strategies and collaboration between services in high-risk environments.
Although largely classified, Operation Sindoor is believed to have involved coordinated precision strikes and intelligence-driven missions along India's western front. This operation highlighted the success of joint planning between the Indian Air Force and the Army. Officials report that both commands are now working to establish protocols for efficient coordination in multi-domain operations.
Air Marshal Kapoor, with his experience as a seasoned fighter pilot and former Defence Attaché to Pakistan, brings a strategic geopolitical perspective to India's regional defense planning. Lieutenant General Seth, who took the helm of the Southern Command in Pune in July 2024, has a notable track record with the XXI Strike Corps and previous roles at Army headquarters.
Their meeting aligns with India's ongoing efforts to update its joint warfare strategy, as outlined in the Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations. This doctrine calls for integrated responses across land, air, maritime, space, and cyber domains to handle increasingly complex security challenges.
This visit is anticipated to foster further joint planning initiatives and readiness evaluations, enhancing India's deterrence capabilities in a region characterized by persistent external threats and unstable borders.
