Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D’Cunha Assesses First Strike Brigade's Capability Enhancements and Role in Operation Sindoor
Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, who serves as the Director General of Army Air Defence, recently visited the First Strike Brigade to evaluate advancements in capability and assess operational readiness. Lt Gen D’Cunha, a distinguished officer from Goa commissioned in 1988, holds a PhD in Management and is recognized for his proficiency in missile systems and leading air defence units.
During his visit, he praised the professionalism of the brigade and its pivotal role in Operation Sindoor. This precision strike operation, executed in May 2025, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in 26 casualties. The operation highlighted India's increasing self-sufficiency in defence technology.
The First Strike Brigade, a component of the Indian Army’s I Corps based in Mathura, has played a critical role in adjusting to changing strategic priorities. The I Corps, originally established in 1965, was repositioned to the northern sector in 2021 due to escalating tensions with China. Since its redeployment, it has sustained a formidable presence along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, with a force of nearly 500 tanks and 50,000 troops.
Operation Sindoor was a landmark event for India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, as the First Strike Brigade utilized indigenous systems developed under Project Kusha. These systems are crafted to address multi-domain challenges and enhance India's precision strike capabilities. The mission successfully resulted in the destruction of nine terrorist targets in Pakistan and the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The visit by Lt Gen D’Cunha is perceived as a significant endorsement of the Army’s transformation strategy aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap. Military analysts emphasize the importance of this visit amid evolving regional threats and India's ambition to establish a future-ready military force.
Supporting such operations, the Southern Command and Sudarshan Chakra Corps continue to be integral in shaping India’s defence posture within an increasingly unstable regional environment.
