With Pinaka, Pralay and BrahMos at core, India needs its own dedicated 'Rocket Force Command', says army chief

General Dwivedi said the Army is steadily expanding its long-range strike capabilities.

• India's Army chief urges creation of dedicated rocket and missile force.
• Army expanding long-range strike with Pinaka, Pralay, and BrahMos systems
• Pakistan to establish its own Rocket Force Command, inspired by China's model.

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India's Army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, has underlined the need for the country to establish a dedicated rocket and missile force, calling it a strategic necessity in the current security environment.

Speaking to the media during his annual Army Day press conference, he said modern warfare has blurred the distinction between rockets and missiles, with both now capable of delivering decisive impact. Given that Pakistan and China have already created specialised rocket forces, he said it is essential for India to move in the same direction.

General Upendra Dwivedi said the Army is steadily expanding its long-range strike capabilities. He pointed to successful tests of the indigenous Pinaka system with a range of 120 km, and said additional contracts have been signed to extend its reach to 150 km in the near term. Over time, the Army is looking at ranges of 300 to 450 km, alongside existing systems such as Pralay and BrahMos, to build a credible and layered strike capability.

Responding to a question on Operation Sindoor, the Army chief dismissed suggestions of military-level nuclear signalling during recent tensions. He said nuclear issues did not feature in talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs), and any nuclear rhetoric originated from political voices or public discourse in Pakistan, not its armed forces.

General Dwivedi said India's actions during the operation demonstrated that the space for conventional military responses remains viable. He noted that the Army deliberately expanded this conventional space through calibrated and sustained operations, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the scale of firing and manoeuvres during the 88-hour period showed that Indian forces were fully mobilised and prepared to launch ground operations if Pakistan had escalated further, adding that significant losses were inflicted on Pakistani personnel during the engagement.

The remarks come amid reports that Pakistan is moving to create a dedicated Rocket Force Command to bolster its long-range strike capabilities. According to media reports citing intelligence sources, the proposal has received approval at the level of Pakistan's senior military leadership and is expected to be formalised in the coming months. The planned force is said to be inspired by China's Rocket Force, which was established in 2015 as part of Beijing's broader military modernisation programme, and is aimed at strengthening missile-based deterrence following setbacks suffered by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.