Recent conflicts in West Asia and Operation Sindoor have highlighted the growing importance of missiles in modern warfare, both for attack and defence. At the centre of India’s tracking capability is INS Dhruv, a specialised naval vessel that monitors long range missile tests over the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. It gathers telemetry data, tracks hypersonic projectiles and provides early warning. Equipped with advanced radars, it also tracks low earth orbit satellites. Operated by the Navy, NTRO and DRDO, INS Dhruv places India among a select group with such strategic surveillance capability.