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Air Marshal Dixit: Jointness, Innovation Must Move Together for Defence

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit stated that jointness, Aatmanirbharta, and innovation cannot be viewed as separate pillars and must move together to strengthen India's defence. He spoke at the third edition of Kalam and Kavach, which had the theme "Taking JAI Forward with I²," where JAI stands for Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, and Innovation, and I² stands for Indigenisation and International Collaboration. He emphasized that these are not five separate ideas but are co-dependent, with jointness being fragile without indigenous capabilities and Aatmanirbharta being slow without innovation. He concluded with three takeaways: jointness is a foundation, indigenisation must be matched with innovation and patience, and the innovation pipeline must reach the field.

Key Points: Jointness, Innovation Key for Defence: Air Marshal Dixit

  • Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, and innovation are interlinked
  • Third edition of Kalam and Kavach theme: Taking JAI Forward with I²
  • I² stands for Indigenisation and International Collaboration
  • Jointness is a foundation, not optional
  • Innovation pipeline must reach the field
2 min read

Jointness, innovation must move together: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit emphasizes that jointness, Aatmanirbharta, and innovation are interlinked and must move together to strengthen India's defence capabilities.

"Jointness without indigenous capabilities is very fragile. Aatmanirbharta without innovation is very slow. Innovation without jointness is scattered. All three must move together. - Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit"

New Delhi, May 14

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said that Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation cannot be viewed as separate pillars, stressing that they are interlinked and must move together to strengthen India's defence capabilities.

Speaking at the third edition of Kalam and Kavach, the Air Marshal revealed the theme of the programme: Taking JAI Forward with I².

"It is a pleasure to be here at the third edition of Kalam and Kavach. We are at the crossroads of joint doctrine, planning and capability development for Indian defence forces. It is not only the theme of the conclave, but our daily mandate as headquarters ideas. Forums like this are where policy thinking meets ground reality," he said.

"The theme is 'Taking JAI Forward with I²'. JAI stands for Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, and Innovation; and I² stands for Indigenisation and International Collaboration," he added.

He stressed that JAI and I² are not five separate ideas but are co-dependent on one another.

"These are not five separate ideas; there is a common thread in this. Jointness without indigenous capabilities is very fragile. Aatmanirbharta without innovation is very slow. Innovation without jointness is scattered. All three must move together," he explained.

He added that "Kalam and Kavach" represent the idea and the shield, adding that the conceptual framework being developed at the headquarters is aimed at building stronger "joints" across the defence ecosystem.

"The Kalam and Kavach - the idea and the shield. What we are building in the headquarters, ideas, is the architecture that connects them. We are building strong joints. The direction is set, and the structures are taking shape. The culture is shifting, and with the energy and commitment I feel in this room from the defence forces, industry and our innovators, that the idea we are building will be worthy of those who serve it," he said.

Air Marshal Dixit underlined key takeaways: "Before I conclude, I want to give three takeaways. First, Jointness is not optional; it is a foundation. Second, indigenisation must be matched by innovation and patience. Third, the innovation pipeline must reach the field and not just the showcase," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
As someone who works in defence logistics, I can tell you jointness is easier said than done. The Army, Navy, and Air Force have completely different procurement cycles, training cultures, and even IT systems. Air Marshal Dixit's point about building "strong joints" is crucial - it's not just about doctrine but about changing decades-old mindsets. The I² element with international collaboration is smart too; we can't reinvent the wheel in everything.
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Priya S
Love the "Kalam and Kavach" metaphor - idea and shield together. But let's be honest, India has a habit of having great ideas that die in committee rooms. What gives me hope is that they're talking about "innovation pipeline reaching the field" instead of just showcases. We need more Tejas-type success stories and less "imported from XYZ with a paint job" projects. Still, kudos for putting jointness at the centre of the conversation. 🇮🇳
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James A
Interesting to see India moving towards joint force structures - the US has had unified combatant commands for decades. Air Marshal Dixit's framework seems well thought out, but the real test will be budget allocation and bureaucratic reform. Atmanirbharta is great in principle, but without parallel investment in R&D and private sector participation, innovation will remain slow. Hope the "patience" he mentioned isn't just code for "we'll talk about it again next year."
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Vikram M
As a former Army officer, I've seen firsthand how the three services operate as almost separate fiefdoms. This "Taking JAI Forward" initiative could be a game-changer if implemented properly. I especially appreciate the emphasis on international collaboration alongside indigenisation - countries like Israel and France have shown how you can build domestic capability while leveraging foreign tech transfer. The key will be sustaining momentum beyond one conclave. Well said, Air Marshal! 💪
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