Overview
- Gen. Upendra Dwivedi said India is looking to raise a rocket‑cum‑missile force, calling it the need of the hour given regional threats.
- A decision is pending on whether the formation will be under the Army, the Defence Ministry, or the Chief of Defence Staff, with an initial placement in artillery suggested.
- He argued rockets and missiles must be employed together for major battlefield effects and pointed to ongoing force restructuring to enable such operations.
- Key systems cited included Pinaka (tested to 120 km with contracts toward 150 km and planned variants to 300–450 km), Pralay (150–500 km), and BrahMos (roughly 290–450 km).
- He noted current rocket and missile assets sit with the Army Air Defence and Artillery, confirmed warnings to Pakistan over drone incursions, said Operation Sindoor remains active, and asserted full readiness.