Army to form two regiments under Pinaka

The Indian Army is planning to raise and deploy two new regiments of Pinaka Multi Launch Rocket Systems, which would greatly improve its long-range offensive artillery capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) created these long-range vectors that are capable of quickly and accurately delivering a large amount of firepower deep into hostile territory.

The completion of these regiments’ raising is expected to occur this year, according to reliable sources. According to reports, “in the next six to nine months, the Indian Army will be raising two new regiments of Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket Systems that are developed and produced domestically.” Personnel in these regiments are now undergoing training.

Although the original goal was to raise these regiments by 2024, there are rumors that two of them are already in the process of raising and will be finished in the next months.

Because to the ongoing tensions along the LAC, precautionary deployments have been made ever since the Eastern Ladakh standoff in May 2020. The 214-mm multi-barrel rocket launch system will be stationed on the northern frontiers with China as part of the six authorized Pinaka regiments in the midst of the current border standoff. Four Pinaka regiments are now in operation by the Indian Army on the northern border with China and the western border with Pakistan.

A regiment is another name for a unit in artillery, and each regiment consists of three batteries of six Pinaka launchers. An enemy’s assets within a 1000 m by 800 m area may be neutralized in 44 seconds by a salvo of 72 rockets fired by a battery of six Pinaka launchers. Additionally, a more advanced Pinaka ammo variant can hit targets up to 75 kilometers away with exceptional accuracy.

The top decision-making authority inside the defense ministry, the Defence Acquisition Council, authorized the creation of six more Pinaka regiments in 2018. For its delivery to the Artillery Regiment, contracts were inked in 2020 with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML), as well as private sector companies Tata Power Company Limited and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), at an estimated cost of Rs 2580 crore.

Pinaka will be added to the Army’s long-range offensive deployment along the northern frontiers, enhancing the capabilities of improved L-70 air defense systems and artillery such Bofors and Ultra Light Howitzer M777.

These six Pinaka Regiments will consist of 330 vehicles to be purchased from BEML, 45 command posts to be acquired from TPCL and L&T, and 114 launchers equipped with Automated Gun Aiming & Positioning System (AGAPS).

The Indian Army wants to have 22 regiments of Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launch systems, outfitted with automated gun-aiming and positioning systems, command posts, and other equipment, as part of the long-term objective to phase out outdated Grad BM-21 rocket systems, which are of Russian origin.

The Pinaka, an indigenously produced long-range rocket artillery, is expected to become the core of the Indian Army’s armament arsenal.

Personnel training

There are three batteries of six Pinaka launchers per artilley.

A volley of 72 rockets may be fired by one battery in 44 seconds.

An improved Pinaka round can hit targets up to 75 kilometers away with exceptional accuracy.

Currently, the Army maintains four Pinaka regiments at the borders with Pakistan and China to the north.

This year, deployment will be finished.

enhances already-existing weaponry such as the Howitzer and Bofors

contracts inked in 2020 for around Rs. 2580 crore

There are 114 launchers, 45 command posts, and 330 vehicles in six regiments.

Goal: Grad BM-21 rocket systems for Pinaka to be phased out