CENTRE FOR AIR POWER STUDIES - New Delhi - Critical Determinants of Civil-Military Fusion

The concept of CMF comes from China, where the terminology was used to describe comprehensive civil-military coordination to reinforce China’s ambitions of becoming an economic, technological, and military superpower.2 The Chinese military, known as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is often viewed as the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party. [...] Loosening civilian control and forging a direct politico-military line of communication in the form of the Chief of Defence Staff has elevated the military’s role in the Higher Defence Organisation. [...] Correcting the imbalance on both sides would require both an overhaul of military education and the creation of a cadre of civilian defence experts,9 perhaps in the form of an Indian Military Service, to integrate both sides of the CMF equation. [...] Promoting Jointness and Integration Although the concept of CMF focuses on the external outreach of the military, it is crucial to promote internal jointness and integration between the three services. [...] The success of CMF is mainly dependent on jointness and integration within the military, between the military and decision- makers (political leaders), and between the military and innovators (industry and academia).