The Indian Army is accelerating a shift from the Cold Start Doctrine to a more aggressive Cold Strike doctrine by trialling Rudra All-Arms Brigade formations — integrated, high-autonomy units designed for rapid, multi-domain “sensor-to-shooter” action. The new Rudra model pairs light commando elements with advanced unmanned systems and hybrid loitering-munition / RPAS batteries to enable near-real-time target acquisition and engagement.
At the recently concluded Exercise Akhand Prahar in the desert region near Jaisalmer, the Rudra Brigade of the Indian Army was operationalised. According to a senior Indian commander, the formation symbolises a shift from the older “Cold Start Doctrine” to a new “Cold Strike” doctrine — signalling India’s ambition for even swifter, more precise operations across multiple domains. The Rudra Brigade merges infantry, armour, engineering and air-defence artillery under unified command with an emphasis on rapid mobilisation and multi-domain coordination — land, air and cyber. What the doctrinal shift means.
Key components being showcased include the Bhairav commando battalion, the UAS-driven Shaktibaan artillery regiments (air-artillery), and Divyastra batteries mixing loitering munitions with dual-role RPAS — a configuration intended to reduce dependence on external ISR and speed decision-to-strike cycles. (Local defence reporting and exercise summaries highlight the Rudra Brigade concept and its multi-domain focus.)
Validation of the concept is already underway across multiple formations and terrains: XXI Corps / 36 RAPID has been exercising the model during Exercise Trishul in Rajasthan and Gujarat (early–mid November trials), XII Corps / 12 RAPID (the Golden Axe Division) has run validation moves during Exercise Sentinel at Mahajan/Jaisalmer (late Oct), and Northern Command demonstrated similar integrated, long-range and swarm-drone capabilities during Exercise AstraShakti in Ladakh. These drills have publicly showcased integrated firepower, swarm drones, long-range precision strikes and joint air-land manoeuvres.
Tese moves mark the first phase of a broader transition toward Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) — smaller, agile, self-sufficient combined arms formations optimized for rapid offensive operations and high-tempo multi-domain fights. Officials and analysts cited at recent exercises framed the Rudra/IBG pathway as central to the Army’s future operational posture.
The original Cold Start doctrine envisaged limited, high-speed conventional strikes into Pakistani territory, aimed at avoiding full-scale war and staying below the nuclear threshold. By contrast, this “Cold Strike” evolution appears to emphasise:
– Reduced mobilisation time even further — aiming for near-immediate readiness. – Integration of modern technologies (drones, cyber/ EW) and joint operations across land, air and sea. – More aggressive signalling: the message is that India can now hit fast, deep and with precision rather than simply mobilise quickly.
In effect, Indian military planners appear to be saying: the era of waiting for full mobilisation is over; now the emphasis is on “instant-operational” capability. Implications for Pakistan
For Pakistan, the shift raises several strategic challenges:
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Reduced warning time: If Indian forces can act faster and with less notice, Pakistan’s window to react shrinks — including political, military and diplomatic responses. Escalation-risk dynamics: Pakistan has long considered limited Indian incursions and the risk of entrapment under its nuclear umbrella as its major concern. The change in Indian doctrine may require Pakistan to rethink its threshold calculations. Technological battlefield repositioning: With drones, electronic warfare, multi-domain strike capabilities emphasized by India (see recent drone-centric ‘Cold Start’ exercise) Pakistan may face asymmetric disadvantages if it cannot match India’s tempo and integration. Deterrence credibility pressure: A faster Indian capability may press Pakistan’s deterrence logic harder. Diplomatic and reputational fallout: If India (via Rudra Brigade-led operations) demonstrates credible strike-capability, it may strengthen its deterrence posture, while Pakistan may face heightened pressure.
Strategic calculation for Islamabad
Pakistan’s leadership now has complex trade-offs: It may feel compelled to increase readiness and forward deployment, but that itself raises risks of miscalculation. – Should Pakistan react early to Indian mobilisation—there is risk of provoking the very conflict it seeks to deter. – If Pakistan remains passive, it may find itself facing rapid Indian operations before full defensive posture is in place.
Regional ripple effects
– In South Asia’s security environment, this doctrinal shift further intensifies the India-Pakistan arms and strategy competition. – Other regional actors (notably China) will observe India’s ability to integrate multi-domain operations — relevant given two-front war concerns for India. – Diplomatically, this may spur Pakistan to seek deeper support or balancing from allies or recalibrate its defence partnerships.
What began as an evolution in Indian doctrine — the Cold Start concept — appears now to be undergoing transformation into what might be labelled “Cold Strike”: faster, more precise, more technology-enabled. The operationalisation of the Rudra Brigade during Exercise Akhand Prahar underscores this shift. For Pakistan, the changing dynamics reduce reaction time, increase uncertainty and intensify the deterrence dilemma. The balance in South Asia may therefore be entering a new phase — where the speed, precision and multi-domain integration of forces matter more than sheer mass.
Author is a former DIG GB Police and Director FIA