New Delhi: In a bid to augment the Indian Army’s arsenal, the Defence Ministry has approved a Rs 2,800 crore proposal for buying around 6,400 rockets for Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems, as per reports.
According to the sources within the Defence Ministry’s Defence Ministry’s Defence Acquisition Council revealed to a news agency that the recent council meeting cleared the proposal for the acquisition of two types of rockets, designated as Area Denial Munition Type-2 and Type-3.
The Indian Army will procure the rockets exclusively from indigenous sources and two main contenders include the Economic Explosives Limited of Solar Industries and the Munitions India Limited– a key ammunition-producer created by the corporatisation of the erstwhile Ordnance Factories.
Named after the celestial bow of Hindu god Shiva, the indigenous Pinaka weapon system has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The weapon system is one of the first few Indian military systems exported to foreign nations, including Armenia.
Private sector companies Larsen & Toubro, Tata Defence and Economic Explosives Limited involved in the project have set up production lines for the Pinaka system that are being supplied in bulk to the armed forces.
The army has a requirement of 22 regiments of the Pinaka MBRL as part of larger artillery modernisation plans. Pinaka regiments of the Indian Army include launchers with automated gun aiming and positioning systems and command posts.
The recent trials of the Pinaka rockets by the forces in Pokharan firing ranges in Rajasthan showcased multiple successful test firings, underscoring the efficacy and operational readiness of the system.
