India considering creation of rocket-cum-missile force, says Army chief

India is looking at raising a “rocket-cum-missile” force in view of the evolving regional security situation, with both China and Pakistan having similar units, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference ahead of Army Day, Gen Dwivedi said it is the need of the hour that India also has such a force.

“It is the need of the hour that we also have such a force,” he said.

Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army has been focusing extensively on enhancing its combat capabilities, including the induction of large numbers of drones, missiles and air defence weapons.

At present, missiles and rockets in the Army’s inventory are handled by the Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD) and the artillery regiments.

“We are looking towards a rocket-missile force. Pakistan has established a rocket force, and China has also created one,” Gen Dwivedi said.

China’s People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is considered a potent wing of its military, and China has been steadily enhancing its combat capabilities since 2016.

Gen Dwivedi said the Indian military has also boosted its long-range strike capabilities, citing the induction of BrahMos, Pralay, Pinaka and other similar missiles.

“Rockets and missiles have become interdependent to each other in today’s time. If we want a major impact, then we need both rockets as well as missiles,” he said.

The Army chief said a decision is yet to be taken on whether the proposed “rocket-cum-missile” force will operate under the Army or be placed directly under a higher authority.

“We have to decide whether it will be (operated) at the Army level or it will be directly under the Ministry of Defence or at the level of CDS (Chief of Defence Staff). This is the question which we need to decide,” he said.

He said the force would initially function under the Army’s artillery regiments.

“It may see a different look in terms of the size, scope and the command and control in future,” he said.

Gen Dwivedi also said the Indian Army on Tuesday raised with Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) the issue of sightings of Pakistani drones along border areas in the Jammu sector over the last three days.

The Army chief said major reform measures are underway, including restructuring of the force to review organisational structures, enhance multi-domain combat capability and achieve an optimal “teeth-to-tail” balance.

“We have adopted a spiral development approach centred on organisation rather than equipment alone,” he said.

He said new structures have been created, including Rudra Brigades for high-tempo multi-domain operations and Bhairav Battalions for agility and disruptive effect.

“Similarly Shaktibaan regiments and Divyastra batteries of artillery will use Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and counter-UAS for extended reach and real-time targeting,” he said.

Gen Dwivedi said Ashni platoons and other units currently on the design board will enhance precision, surveillance and strike capabilities at the tactical level.

Highlighting the Army’s focus on enhancing combat readiness, he said the force is steadily progressing towards a “different Indian Army — capable of thinking smart, seeing all, striking deep, moving fast, connecting domains, standing resilient and most importantly, winning together”.

“We are progressing towards integrated structures in the form of theatre commands — a deliberate, consultative and well-synchronised process to which the Indian Army is fully committed,” he said.

He added that the Army is continuing to refine organisational mechanisms to adopt best practices, improve efficiency, enhance outcomes and gradually reorient manpower.

“Warfighting doctrines are being updated to fine-tune multi-domain operations — ability to succeed in all four quadrants,” he said.