Pinaka artillery can launch 72 rockets in 44 seconds

In the aftermath of the devastating Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that took the lives of 26 people, India’s military resolve is under sharp global focus. This comes at a time when New Delhi has suspended a crucial treaty that supplies water to four-fifths of Pakistani agricultural lands, fuelling growing geopolitical concerns between the two nuclear powers. India has categorically accused Pakistan of involvement in the terror attack, which marks the worst such assault on civilians in India in nearly two decades. Islamabad has denied the allegations.

India has taken a clear stand that sustained cross-border terrorism by Pakistan, targeting Jammu and Kashmir, impedes its rights under the Indus Water Treaty.

Admist rising tensions, the operational readiness of India’s indigenous Pinaka rocket artillery system sends a powerful message of deterrence to Pakistan. The Indian Army had tested the Pinaka artillery system before the April 22 attack.    

What is India’s Pinaka artillery? 

The Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL), an uber-sophisticated indigenous rocket artillery system, has emerged as a powerful example of India’s deterrence capability and defence manufacturing prowess, particularly relevant in the tense security environment in light of the terror attack.

Designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pinaka not only strengthens India’s artillery capabilities but also signifies a major milestone in reducing dependency on foreign defence equipment.

Produced by a consortium of top Indian defence manufacturers, prominently including Tata Advanced Systems and Larsen & Toubro, the Pinaka system exemplifies successful public-private collaboration. India’s domestic industry has now achieved the capacity to manufacture over 5,000 Pinaka rockets annually, a crucial advantage in sustaining extended military operations without external support.

Internationally, Pinaka has already made its mark, successfully securing exports to Armenia. Additionally, it has generated interest from other nations, notably France, showcasing India’s growing credibility as a reliable defence exporter. This global attention emphasises the increasing recognition of India’s defence manufacturing quality and the competitive performance of Indian-made military technology on the world stage.

Rising India-Pakistan Border Tensions | Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher specifications

At the operational level, Pinaka boasts impressive specifications. Capable of launching 72 rockets in just 44 seconds, each salvo can deliver up to seven tonnes of explosives across enemy positions at distances up to 60 kilometres.

The advanced Pinaka Mk-II Extended Range (ER) variant extends this capability further to 90 kilometres, with DRDO continuing to push boundaries by developing variants reaching distances of 120, 150, and even 200 kilometres.

Precision is another hallmark of the Pinaka system, leveraging integrated GPS and inertial navigation systems, ensuring highly accurate strikes while significantly reducing collateral damage.

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With successful firing practice recently conducted at Pokharan Field Firing Ranges and further such activities scheduled in the near future, Pinaka’s growing operational track record further bolsters India’s indigenous defence story.

India’s continued emphasis on innovation and indigenisation in defence manufacturing, represented robustly by systems like Pinaka, not only boosts national security but also positions the country as a credible global player in the competitive defence export market.