Source: NIE
Subject: Security
Context: The Indian Army has operationalized its seventh Pinaka regiment and is currently raising an eighth, with plans to reach ten regiments by next year.
About The Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) System:
What it is?
- Pinaka is an indigenous, multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system capable of firing a salvo of 12 rockets in under 44 seconds. It is a high-volume, area-saturation weapon designed to neutralize enemy troop concentrations and infrastructure over large areas.
Developed By: the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE).
Aim:
- The primary objective of the Pinaka system is to provide the Indian Army with deep-strike capability, allowing it to destroy enemy communication hubs, logistics depots, and artillery gun positions well behind the front lines.
Key Features of the System:
- Rapid Fire Capability: A single battery of six launchers can fire 72 rockets in just 44 seconds, covering an area of roughly 1,000 by 800 meters.
- Range Variants: The system is versatile, featuring Mk-I (38 km), Mk-II Extended Range (60 km), and Guided variants (75–90 km).
- High Precision: Guided Pinaka rockets utilize an Integrated Navigation System (INS) combined with GPS/NavIC for pinpoint accuracy.
- Mobility: The launchers are mounted on high-mobility Tatra trucks, allowing for shoot-and-scoot tactics to avoid enemy counter-fire.
- Automation: Equipped with an Automated Gun Aiming and Positioning System (AGAPS) and a computerized fire control system for quick deployment.
- Extreme Weather Resilience: The system is designed to operate in diverse Indian terrains, from the high-altitude cold of Ladakh to the intense heat of the Thar Desert.
Significance:
- The Pinaka system is strategically vital as it reduces India’s dependence on Russian Smerch and Grad systems.
- With the development of the Long-Range Guided Rocket (LRGR), which recently hit targets at 120 km, India is building a formidable Rocket Force capable of matching the integrated artillery networks of the PLA along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
