Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, on Tuesday, underscored the importance of setting up a missile force in the country to counter threats from Pakistan and China, which already have such forces.
The rocket missile force is expected to integrate long-range rockets and missiles under unified command, consisting of systems like Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pralay tactical ballistic missile, and BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
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Addressing a press conference, he said today, rockets and missiles have become intertwined as both are capable of delivering high, decisive impact.
"We are looking towards a rocket missile force because, as you know, Pakistan has established a rocket force, and China has also created such a force. It is the need of the hour that we also establish such a force," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
He pointed out that India has been expanding its long-range strike capabilities with successful tests of the Pinaka system with a range of 120 km.
A few days ago, the DRDO carried out the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket. The rocket was tested for its maximum range of 120 kms.
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"We have also signed several other contracts that will explore ranges up to 150 km, and later we will see it reaching a range of 300-450 km," the Indian Army chief said.
He noted that existing systems such as Pralay and BrahMos will help in building a layered strike capability.
Pralay is an indigenously developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing advanced guidance and navigation to ensure high precision. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.
BrahMos, meanwhile, is a supersonic cruise missile, develped by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, designed for rapid, high-precision strikes across multiple platforms.
