New Delhi: The Indian Army is set to significantly enhance its artillery firepower with the commencement of mass production of the Guided Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system. This development marks a pivotal moment in the modernization of India’s artillery forces, aiming to bolster its operational capabilities in both conventional and asymmetric warfare scenarios.
Strategic Enhancement:
- Range and Precision: The Guided Pinaka rocket launcher, an upgraded version of the previously successful Pinaka system, promises an extended range of up to 75 kilometers, with its accuracy enhanced through advanced guidance systems. This will allow the Indian Army to strike targets with greater precision over longer distances.
- Operational Flexibility: The introduction of guided rockets into the Pinaka system introduces a new level of operational flexibility. The ability to adjust trajectories mid-flight for pinpoint accuracy provides a strategic advantage in dynamic combat environments.
With the green light for mass production, companies like Economic Explosives Limited and Munitions India Limited are gearing up to meet the demand. This involves not only the production of the rocket launchers but also the integration of sophisticated navigation, guidance, and control kits into the rockets.
The Indian Army has plans to operate a total of 22 regiments of Pinaka by expanding from the current four to ten regiments in the near future. This includes equipping these formations with the new guided variant to replace older, less accurate systems.
The success and capabilities of the Pinaka system have not gone unnoticed internationally. Countries like France have shown interest, in evaluating the Pinaka for potential integration into their forces, highlighting the system’s reputation for cost-effectiveness and performance.
The guided Pinaka missiles are equipped with state-of-the-art guidance kits comprising advanced navigation and control systems, which significantly improve the system’s circular error probability (CEP), ensuring that the rockets land closer to their intended targets.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also developing variants with even greater range capabilities, aiming for rockets that can reach 120 km and beyond, further enhancing Pinaka’s utility in modern warfare.