Pinaka rocket deal gets CCS nod: Know all about Army's Rs 10,000 crore project

The first lot of the Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher systems was reportedly supplied to Armenia.

Tthe Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the project to buy over Rs 10,000 crore worth of ammunition for the Indian Army's Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems, according to Times of India.

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on January 13 said that two Pinaka contracts -- one for high explosive pre-fragmented ammunition and another for area denial munitions -- are set to be inked before end of the current fiscal.

The people cited above said the procurement has been given the required go ahead.

The two types of ammunition are being procured for around six Pinaka regiments that the Army plans to deploy to bolster its combat prowess along the northern frontier with China, according to PTI.

The Army already has four regiments of Pinaka rocket systems. While the Pinaka MK-I rocket system has a range of around 40 km, the Pinaka II variant can hit targets at a distance of 60 km.

The Army is enhancing the combat prowess of its artillery units along the frontier with China by procuring an array of weapons systems including an additional batch of 100 K9 Vajra howitzers, swarm drones, loitering munitions and surveillance systems.

What is Pinaka rocket system?

The Pinaka MBRL named after the legendary bow of Lord Shiva, was originally designed to replace the Soviet-era Grad BM-21 rocket launcher. During its first deployment in the Kargil War, it played a crucial role in neutralising enemy positions in challenging terrain.

Developed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), the Pinaka features a free-flight artillery rocket with an impressive range of up to 60 km. The system includes multi-tube launchers capable of firing 12 rockets in quick succession, providing a lethal combination of speed and power. A single salvo can cover a target area of 700 x 500 meters, neutralising multiple targets within seconds. The first lot of the Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher systems was reportedly supplied to Armenia.