Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat is aiming to set up the first integrated tri-services command for handing the air defence of the entire country by June 2020 which will be headed by an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer.

Sources told India Today TV that the aim is to combine the resources of the three services under one command and activate it to protect the air space of the country.

The initial structure and responsibilities of the air defence command have been prepared and it is aimed that the formation comes into play by June this year, the sources said. The Department of Military Affairs under General Bipin Rawat has been given the mandate to create joint military commands along with theatre commands.

The Chief of Defence Staff is also working on the creation of the joint peninsula command and a logistics command apart from the theatre commands.

The CDS has started discussions with Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane and Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria for finalising the structure and assets of the integrated air defence command, sources said.

The sources said there would not be any creation of additional General-rank post for heading the theatre commands or the other integrated commands and they would be headed by Lt Gen-rank officers of the three services.

Each service has its individual air defence set-up. The air defence command would integrate the air defence and assets of the Army, Air Force and Navy and jointly provide air defence cover to the country.

The Air Force and the Army have been in talks with each other for the integration of their air defence assets and redeployment along with the border areas with Pakistan.