Six Additional Pinaka Regiments to Be Fully Operational by Next Year

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Pinaka

In a major boost to its artillery modernisation efforts, the Indian Army is on track to complete the induction of six additional regiments of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) systems by 2026. The move is expected to significantly enhance India’s firepower along sensitive frontiers with China and Pakistan.

According to defence sources, two of the six regiments have already been inducted and are fully operational. Equipment for two more regiments has been delivered, with troop training currently underway. The remaining launchers are expected to arrive by late 2025 or early 2026, enabling full deployment within the next calendar year.

The expansion follows a Rs 2,580 crore contract awarded in August 2020 to BEML, Tata Power, and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The procurement decision came in the aftermath of the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020, underlining the urgent need to strengthen India’s high-impact artillery capabilities along contested borders.

Pinaka: India’s Indigenous Rocket Artillery

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) is a cutting-edge artillery system designed to deliver rapid and high-volume fire across a wide area. Each regiment comprises three batteries, each equipped with six launchers. A single launcher can fire 12 rockets in just 44 seconds, saturating an area of 1,000 by 800 metres.

The original Pinaka system has a range of up to 38 km, while the Extended Range (ER) variant can engage targets up to 75 km away with improved precision. These capabilities make it ideal for striking enemy formations, supply nodes, and fortifications in a fast-paced conflict scenario.

Once all six new regiments are operational, the Army’s Pinaka inventory will include 114 launchers, 45 command posts, and 330 support vehicles—forming a critical pillar of India’s evolving deterrence posture.

Strategic Significance

Pinaka is gradually replacing the ageing Soviet-era BM-21 Grad systems, some of which are still in service alongside three regiments of the more powerful Russian-origin Smerch launchers. With features such as automated aiming, navigation, and command systems, Pinaka marks a significant technological leap in battlefield agility and survivability.

In 2023, the Ministry of Defence cleared the procurement of 6,400 additional rockets worth Rs 2,800 crore. Earlier this year, contracts exceeding Rs 10,000 crore were signed for new-generation high-explosive and area-denial munitions, further enhancing the system’s lethality.

Team BharatShakti


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