Why in News
The Indian Army is enhancing its artillery capabilities with a focus on Pinaka rockets and developing extended range rockets.
There is a move to diversify the vendor base for 155mm artillery shells to build resilient supply chains.
Strategies learned from the Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza conflict are influencing these military upgrades.
Pinaka Rockets
The Pinaka, a Multi-Barrel Rocket-Launcher (MBRL) system named after Shiva’s bow, can fire a salvo of 12 rockets over a period of 44 seconds.
The development of the Pinaka was started by the DRDO in the late 1980s
Came in as an alternative to the Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher systems of Russian make called the ‘Grad’, which are still used by some regiments.
After successful tests of Pinaka Mark-1 in the late 1990, it was first used successfully in the battlefield during the 1999 Kargil War.
Current version is equipped with advanced technology to enhance its strength.
The metal weight is lesser compared to the earlier version.
Pinaka can fire various types of ammunition, enhancing its battlefield effectiveness.
Existing tested system can achieve a range of up to 45km which is a big feat for the Indian Army.
Trials for guided extended range Pinaka rockets are ongoing, aiming to increase their range to 75 km and improve precision.
COMMENTS