New Delhi (EMS). India has deployed its powerful ‘Pinak’ rocket system on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) amid tensions with China. This multi-barrel rocket launcher is completely indigenous, named after ‘Pinak’, the bow of Lord Shiva. It has been prepared by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Pinak can fire 12 rockets in 44 seconds and can hit an enemy position 38 km away with precision. A Pinaka battery with 6 launchers can fire 72 rockets in 44 seconds. Its new avatar makes it even more destroyer, capable of hitting targets more than 75 km away with perfect precision. All the tests related to the new avatar have also been done, only the system is yet to be upgraded.
Pinaka is basically a multi-barrel rocket system. With this, 12 rockets can be fired in just 44 seconds. A single battery of Pinaka system houses 6 launch vehicles, along with a loader system, radar and link with network system and a command post. With one battery, a radius of one km of the target can be completely destroyed. Pinak had shown his mettle even during the Kargil war with Pakistan.
The Pinak rocket system was designed to replace the Russian-origin BM-21 Grads. It has been deployed in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh. Due to its position in the high altitude area, its range becomes slightly more than 38 km. Pinaka’s new avatar can prove to be a game changer during the war. Its range will increase from 38 km to more than 75 km, it will also be a guided version. That is, it has the ability to destroy the enemy’s hideout with 100% accurate target.
The navigation system is directly linked to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. DRDO has successfully tested the guided version of Pinaka. During the range test between 2017 and 2020, it hit the target accurately for a distance of more than 75 km. Its final test was held in February last year. However, due to some technical reasons, the guided version of Pinaka is not yet available for military use. The launcher system will have to be upgraded for the increased range, only then it will be able to hit targets more than 75 km with precision.
In August 2020, the Defense Ministry had signed a deal worth Rs 2,580 crore for the manufacture of Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers for the Army. For this, Larsen & Trubo and Tata Aerospace & Defense have got the contract. State-owned BEML has bagged the contract to supply trucks for rocket launchers. DRDO has successfully transferred the technology of fully indigenous Pinak to the private sector of the country. L&T has won the contract for four of the six new regiments attached to Pinak, while Tata Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing will do the remaining two.
