Is Pinaka rocket system a game changer in war.The Pinaka rocket system, which provides quick firepower, accuracy, and adaptability on the battlefield, has had a tremendous impact on modern combat. Its effective use in pivotal battles highlights its significance in India’s defense repertoire.
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) created the powerful Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) for the Indian Army.
How powerful is the Pinaka missile?
Firepower and Range:
1. The Mark-I and Mark-I Enhanced versions of the Pinaka system have a maximum range of 40 and 60 kilometers, respectively.
2. In under 44 seconds, it can fire a salvo of 12 high-explosive (HE) rockets.
3. A variety of warheads, such as pre-fragmented high explosives, anti-tank bomblets, and anti-personnel mines, can be installed on the rockets.
Accuracy and Effect:
1. When Pinaka was used in the 1999 Kargil War, it successfully neutralized Pakistani forces above the mountains.
2. A range of more than 90 kilometers has been tested for its guided form.
Utilization and Portability:
1. Pinaka gives the system mobility since it is installed on a Tatra truck.
2. Multiple launcher vehicles, loader-replenishment vehicles, and command posts make up each Pinaka battery.
Manufacturing and Improvements:
The average annual production rate of Pinaka rockets is 1,000 rockets.
2. A more sophisticated version that has better precision and range is being developed.
How many Pinaka missiles does India have?
10 Pinaka regiments, each outfitted with the base-variant Pinaka Mk-11, are now in service with the Indian Army. Furthermore, user testing for an improved version, the Pinaka Mk-2, has concluded, but production has not yet started. Additionally, two longer-range Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) with ranges of 120 and 300 kilometers have been approved by the Indian Army. These advancements show India’s dedication to improving its artillery capabilities.
Which company makes Pinaka rockets?
The Indian defense company Yantra India Limited, with its headquarters located in Nagpur, manufactures the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL). Its research and manufacturing have also engaged Larsen & Toubro and the Tata Group. Economic Explosives Limited (EEL) is the company that makes the rockets, which is a huge step forward for the private sector in India.
Is the Pinaka rocket system a game changer in war? How fast is the Pinaka rocket?
The multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka (MBRL) has remarkable speed capabilities:
Rocket Speed: Pinaka rockets accelerate to a speed of about Mach 4.
Mobility of the Launcher: When placed on a Tatra truck, the launcher itself can travel at a speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
The Pinaka system’s mobility, deployment, and quick rocket speed combine to make it a formidable weapon on the battlefield.
Let’s contrast the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of India’s Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) with a comparable device from another nation:
High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS:
Origin: HIMARS was created in the US and has become well-known as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.
1. HIMARS is made up of a medium-sized tactical truck that can hold six GPS-guided rockets measuring 227 millimeters.
2. The maximum launch distance for these rockets is more than 43 miles (69 kilometers).
3. The rocket, called the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), has 160,000 prefabricated tungsten shards and 200 pounds of high-explosive material.
4. Its warhead has an extremely lethal circular error of probability (CEP) of six feet when using GPS guidance.
5. HIMARS can avoid counter-battery fire by using a “shoot and scoot” feature.
6. Counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) are another capability that allows them to identify and disable drones.
Range:
1. The HIMARS range increases from 15 kilometers to more than 499 kilometers when using tactical missiles.
Adaptability and durability:
1. HIMARS’s mobility enables it to change positions before rockets reach their targets, reducing the chance of counter-battery fire, while its broad shooting footprint allows for early detection by counter-battery radars.
2. Russia has not been successful in taking down any HIMARS systems in Ukraine.
Pinaka:
Origin: The Pinaka rocket system, created in India, is meant to take the place of the antiquated Grad BM-21 rocket system.
1. Pinaka is a free-flight artillery rocket system; the Mk-I version has a range of 38 kilometers, while the Mk-I Enhanced version has a range of 60 kilometers.
2. In under 44 seconds, it can launch a volley of 12 high-explosive (HE) rockets.
3. For mobility, the system is installed on a Tatra truck.
4. Pinaka effectively destroyed Pakistani positions on mountains during the Kargil War.
5. Pinaka is less expensive than other systems; each system costs ₹2.3 crore (US$290,000), whereas the M270 costs ₹19.5 crore (US$2.4 million).
Current Progress:
1. There is work underway to build an improved variation with increased accuracy and range.
2. A refined guided missile variant that can go more than 90 kilometers has been put through testing.
- It consists of a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle, and a command post vehicle.
- The launcher system is supported on four hydraulically actuated outriggers at the time of firing.
- It has a range of 60 to 75 kilometres.
- The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.
The Pinaka is one of the first indigenous weapon systems that India has supplied to friendly nations, such as Armenia. It was developed to replace the Grad system, which was originally from Soviet Union.
Since 2000, the Indian Army has deployed ten Pinaka regiments, each carrying the base-variant Pinaka Mk-1.
Production of the longer-range Pinaka Mk-2 has not yet started, although user trials have concluded.