Integrated Rocket Force: News & Discussion

[Rakesh]

Starting a new thread on this topic, as the IRF is going to be a major arm of India's future offensive structure.

Starting off with some articles on this topic.

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Is IT TIME for India's Rocket Force?
https://www.neliti.com/publications/327 ... cket-force
By Bimal Monga, Summer 2020

India "Looking At Creating Rocket Force": General Bipin Rawat
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-l ... at-2542323
16 Sept 2021

India’s Coming ‘Rocket Force’
https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/indias- ... ket-force/
By Saurav Jha, 06 Nov 2021

[Rakesh]

Brahmos deployment on India-China border poses no threat to China’s security: Report
https://www.wefornews.com/brahmos-deplo ... ty-report/
15 November 2021

Chinese observers slammed the Indian government’s plan to deploy the BrahMos missile – its most advanced missile – at the India-China border, warning it would add new barriers in talks to peacefully address the border tension and further deteriorate ties, Global Times reported.

These are the tweets the above article is referring to....

https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/sta ... 52551?s=20 ---> Chinese observers slammed India’s plan to deploy BrahMos missile – its most advanced missile – at India-China border, warning it would add new barriers to talks to peacefully address the border tension and further deteriorate ties.

https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/sta ... 15844?s=20 ---> The new Indian weapon would be only of theoretical use while posing no actual threat to China’s security, said Chinese observers.

[Rakesh]

https://twitter.com/SJha1618/status/155 ... dF1uECKNZw ---> Operating from high-altitude bases in Tibet, the PLA Air Force will manage a performance worse than the Rus AF over Ukraine. China will depend on Army MLRS & the PLA Rocket Force. Advantage India if it puts up an 'Integrated Rocket Force' of its own.

[Pratyush]

https://twitter.com/SJha1618/status/155 ... dF1uECKNZw ---> Operating from high-altitude bases in Tibet, the PLA Air Force will manage a performance worse than the Rus AF over Ukraine. China will depend on Army MLRS & the PLA Rocket Force. Advantage India if it puts up an 'Integrated Rocket Force' of its own.

This is not a good place to be. If the PRC builds a substantial tanker fleet. The air base altitude will stop to matter. The rocket force is just a short term solution.

[Prem Kumar]

With CDS Gen Rawat's untimely demise, all this talk of Rocket Force, Theater Commands etc have all come to a standstill. There is no new thinking.

The services are happy doing their usual thing. I think the IAF Chief's repeated MRFA pronouncements would have been nipped in the bud (or at least curtailed), if a Gen Rawat was with us today.

[fanne]

One question that was bothering me was why was Pralay put under SFC? Perhaps to fast track its development and deployment.

[Rakesh]

With CDS Gen Rawat's untimely demise, all this talk of Rocket Force, Theater Commands etc have all come to a standstill. There is no new thinking.

The services are happy doing their usual thing. I think the IAF Chief's repeated MRFA pronouncements would have been nipped in the bud (or at least curtailed), if a Gen Rawat was with us today.

The new CDS has already hit the ground running....

https://twitter.com/TheLegateIN/status/ ... rger-FwmJQ ---> Report: All conventional missile regiments (BrahMos, Pralay and other SSBM) as well as long range MLRS units planned to be placed under a newly created 'Missile Command'.

[Rakesh]

Ramjet technology can counter China’s long-range missiles, beat Himalayan terrain limitation
https://theprint.in/opinion/ramjet-tech ... n/1143131/
26 Sept 2022

[ShauryaT]

We need to invest in MLRS and SSBM for conventional forces. From a value stand point, a Brahmos and/or Nibhay, costs $5m+ and to be used for value appropriate targets. But to sustain a high rate of fire on the battlefield and act as extended artillery we need to lower cost per kilo of destruction and needs are in millions of kilos.

[bala]

sustain a high rate of fire

Is this backward to state we need a high rate of fire. We found the same in automatic rifles which require a 3 shot instead of continuously emptying the clip. I would advocate for precise strike (maybe 3 into the same target just to make sure of the damage). Having advanced detection of the sources and striking them exactly is of higher value than having a high rate of fire.

[Thakur_B]

IRF is going to be as productive as Space Command, Cyber Command and AFSOD have been so far.

Besides, with IAF leading the space command, IN cyber command and IA leading AFSOD, who will lead the IRF.

[Rakesh]

Tri-services Missile Command on anvil as stand-off weapons era dawns

[Rakesh]

After Pralay, defence forces may opt for medium-range ballistic missiles in conventional roles for rocket force
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 105195450/
05 Nov 2023

[Rakesh]

^^^

https://x.com/VivekSi85847001/status/17 ... 57752?s=20 ---> The Indian Army is looking for a 2,000 km range conventional ballistic missile in its arsenal, to strike deep into enemy territory after having the Pralay missile. The army is going to pick one missile from the Agni Series for this role and most probably it will be the Agni Prime.

[Prem Kumar]

Very good news!

1 unit of Pralay (120) was ordered in Dec 2022
2 more units (250) were in advanced stages of procurement in April 2023. Don't know if orders have been placed

Hopefully the 370 Pralays get inducted ASAP & parallel orders of Agni-P-conventional get progressed too. We need these in the 1000s. Both missiles are ready. I hope the IA inducts them as-is & does not ask for "modifications", which typically means a multi-year delay

Nothing will deter the Panda better than the likelihood of a massive retaliatory conventional strike

[Rakesh]

Bingo! You hit the nail on the head with regards to retaliatory strikes. While other platforms / systems are important; a massive and capable - with an assured retaliatory capability - will give the PRC a moment of pause. No point in teaching India a lesson, if you are going to face an equal amount of damage.

After General Rawat’s untimely death, it appeared that the Integrated Rocket Force was put on the back burner. Happy to see that it is on track. And of all our local military R&D endeavours…our missile programs have enjoyed the greatest acceptance with the services.

P.S. India’s Integrated Rocket Force needs to be distinct from the Strategic Forces Command and have only a conventional role.

[Prem Kumar]

On cue, Pralay was tested a short while ago. Encouraging signs that induction is imminent

Look forward to the day that user-tests happen from their production-stocks (like Brahmos)

[Rakesh]

On cue, Pralay was tested a short while ago. Encouraging signs that induction is imminent

Look forward to the day that user-tests happen from their production-stocks (like Brahmos)

https://x.com/VivekSi85847001/status/17 ... 00455?s=20 ---> India's DRDO successfully test fired the Pralay Short Range Ballistic Missile today at 9:50 am from Abdul Kalam Island near Coast of Odisha. The missile testing range was up to 475 km. The Pralay is a Surface to Surface missile with range up to 500 km depend on warhead.

[Rakesh]

Indian Rocket Force’s 1500 km Missile Threatens China’s Vital Interests Much Beyond the Border
https://www.defencenews.in/2023/11/indi ... he-border/
07 Nov 2023

[Rakesh]

India developing hypersonic missiles; Army looking to induct long-range rockets, loitering munitions, Pralay, Nirbhay missiles: Top official
https://aninews.in/news/national/genera ... 927190725/
27 Sept 2024

[Rakesh]

India tests Pralay quasi-ballistic missile twice for conventional precision strikes
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 976785.cms
29 July 2025

Below article is from 2017, but a very good info sheet on the missile.

PRALAY: India’s New Under Development Conventional Strike Surface-to-Surface Missile
https://delhidefencereview.com/2017/06/ ... e-missile/
13 June 2017

[uddu]

250 for IA and 120 for IAF on order.

Amid conflict, India approves 120 Pralay missiles for armed forces along China border
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/i ... 2022-12-25
25 Dec 2022

"The project to create a rocket force has received a boost as the proposal to buy around 120 Pralay ballistic missiles has been cleared by a high-level defence ministry meeting," top government sources told India Today. The missiles are now being mass-produced and are expected to be ready for operational service in the near future, they said.

[Rakesh]

Army signs deal to procure long-range rocket launchers Suryastra
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ ... 468168.ece
03 Jan 2026

It has signed a ₹293 crore contract with NIBE Limited, backed by Israeli technology, for an advanced long-range rocket launcher system, in collaboration with Israel, with strike capabilities of 150 km and 300 km

https://x.com/IXGguy/status/2007720054293704986?s=20 ---> IDDM - Israeli Designed, Developed and Manufactured.

[Rakesh]

^^^
Indian Army Places Rs 293-Crore Emergency Order for PULS Rocket Systems
https://bharatshakti.in/indian-army-pla ... e_vignette
03 Jan 2026

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Indrani1_Roy/status/20079 ... 92884?s=20 ---> Atmanirbharta!

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/BharatShaktiBSI/status/20 ... 08334?s=20 ---> Why Pralay Missile is a game changer for the Indian Army. Watch @nitingokhale speak with Lieutenant General VK Saxena (retd).

[Rakesh]

^^^
Indian Army Places Rs 293-Crore Emergency Order for PULS Rocket Systems
https://bharatshakti.in/indian-army-pla ... e_vignette
03 Jan 2026

https://x.com/Defencematrix1/status/200 ... 64210?s=20 ---> Now coming to the Argument of why go for PULS when we have Prahar. So below are the pictures of Prahar, PULS and Pinaka LRGR. With Prahar, max range you can hit is 150 km, max 6 missiles can be carried with 250 kg of warhead, missile's weight is almost 1,300 kg. The vehicle is a 12x12 heavy, the newer version i.e Pranaash will have 200km of range.

Second is PULS, now for similar 150 km range the rocket is EXTRAA with weight of 570 kg warhead is around 120 kg, and 8 rockets can carried on a 6x6 truck. Even in Pinaka LRGR, you can carry 8 rockets and get a range of 120 km on a 8x8 truck. Now, for the similar range system, how will you use a 12x12 heavy vehicle to launch 1,300 kg missile as rocket artillery? This is a shoot and scoot system, can you do that with massive 12x12 truck?
That's why Pinka LRGR makes more sense.

Even in PULS you can launch 4 predator hawk missile 800kg from same launcher which is a 6X6 truck and reach a range of 300 km range with 140 kg warhead. So it makes sense to develop Pinaka LRGR with higher ranges than to use Prahaar for the same purpose.