India eyes combined rocket-missile force – army chief

An arms upgrade is essential for combat effectiveness, General Upendra Dwivedi has said

India is looking to create a rocket-missile force with weapons that can hit targets at different ranges, the Chief of the Army Staff has said. This force is essential to boost combat effectiveness, General Upendra Dwivedi said at a media briefing ahead of India’s 78th Army Day on January 15.

“It is the need of the hour that we raise such a force,” he said. “Today, rockets and missiles complement each other… We are looking at a rocket-missile force as China and Pakistan have already raised their own rocket forces.”

Dwivedi went on to say: “The faster we organize it, the better it will be for our combat effectiveness.”

Indian Army Chief General Dwivedi Reveals There Were 139 Ceasefire Violations In 2025

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The army chief’s call comes amid reports of drone intrusions in India’s border states. A suspected Pakistani drone was spotted at Jaisalmer in the northwestern state of Rajasthan on Monday night. Drones were also spotted in Jammu, triggering army fire, the Hindustan Times reported.

Dwivedi said India’s director-general of military operations conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart that these drone activities are unacceptable.

Drones played a key role in a brief but intense clash between India and Pakistan in May 2025, when Indian anti-drone systems intercepted more than 300 incoming aircraft.

The proposed force could be built around long-range Pinaka rockets, Pralay missiles, and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, according to Dwivedi.

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In December, New Delhi conducted its first successful flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket, with a maximum strike range of 120 km (975 miles), according to reports.

Pralay is an indigenously developed missile that can carry multiple types of warheads for various targets.

The BrahMos is a long-range, ramjet-powered supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, fighter aircraft, and mobile autonomous launchers. The manufacturer, BrahMos Aerospace, is a joint venture between DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.

New Delhi has been working to accelerate its own efforts to develop advanced bunker-buster capabilities as neighboring Pakistan and China maintain fortified command centers.