One of the most underrated & lesser known weapon system of the Indian Army, the Pinaka MLRS (multiple launch rocket system).
This is a medium ranged rocket artillery, developed indigenously by DRDO and is being used successfully by the Indian Army since over 2 decades. Not many people know about this weapon system in the thick of many fancy systems around, but lets uncover some facts.
- Pinaka’s development was completed in-house by DRDO, TATA & L&T with minimal involvement from foreign support.
- 1981, Indian Army cited a need for a longer ranged rocket artillery.
- In 1983 army drafted the General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR), a desired spec sheet for the rockets.
- 1986 saw the commencement of development of Pinaka.
- In 1994 the development completed & after testing for 4 years, the Pinaka was inducted in the service in 1998 just before the Kargil conflict.
- This rocket system played an elemental role during the Kargil Conflict with its precision and devastating strikes, neutralising enemies sitting on mountain tops which were deemed too risky for the ground troops to be put into action. This battle proven system, then gained Army’s confidence & Army decided to induct it in much larger numbers.
But what it actually is ?
- Pinaka is a form of Rocket Artillery. Unlike conventional artillery (howitzers & mortars), Pinaka & in general rocket artillery employs “shoot-and-scoot” (alternatively, fire-and-move) technique.
- It is an artillery tactic of firing at a target and then immediately moving away from the location from where the shots were fired to avoid counter-battery fire from enemy artillery.
- Unlike a Bofors or ATAGS howitzer which can sustain fire for longer duration of time, firing comparatively cheap 50 kg shells at ranges of 40 km, Pinaka provides a bigger punch with 12 rockets, each having 100 kg warhead, out to greater ranges.
Pic: ATAGS Howitzer, conventional artillery.
- There are 12 rockets mounted in “barrels” on the back of a TATRA truck. The launcher can move in traverse & elevation, thus targeting a wide spectrum of area.
Pic: Pinaka launcher truck
- There are 6 such launcher trucks (total 72 rockets), 6 loader-replenishment vehicles, 3 replenishment vehicles, 2 Command Post vehicle (one stand by) with a Fire Control computer, and the DIGICORA MET radar. This constitutes one “battery” of Pinaka MLRS
Pic: Pinaka loader-replenishment vehicle
Pic: Pinaka replenishment vehicle
- The first Pinaka regiment was raised on February 2000. Each regiment consists of three such batteries of six Pinakas each, plus reserves.
- The Indian Army has plans to operate a total of 10 regiments by 2022 and increase this to 22 within the next 10 years.
- All of the 72 rockets can be fired in 44 seconds, completely annihilating an area of 1 square kilometer. Rockets can also be fired in “bursts” or in single shot mode in different directions.
- In contingency, each launcher truck can fire autonomously too with its local fire control system.
- The 5 meter long rockets are 214 mm in diameter & weigh 276 kg each, including a 100 kg warhead. It can be fired from 7 km upto a maximum engagement range of 42 km. 5000 such rockets are being produced every year.
Pic: Pinaka standalone Rocket
- ARDE developed the Mark II version of Pinaka. The Mark II version is equipped with a navigation, guidance, control kit and has considerably enhanced the range and accuracy of the missile. The range is 75 km.
- The CEP (circular error probable), i.e the circle of error in which the rocket falls on the target is 60 to 80 meters.
- 4 days prior of writing this answer, DRDO tested an extended range version at a range of 90 km.
Pic: Pinaka Mark II extended range test.
- Currently DRDO is developing a Mark III version. This 7.2-meter rocket can reach a distance of 120 km and carry a 250 kg payload will be developed. These new rockets can be fired in 44 seconds, have a maximum speed of Mach 4.7, rise to an altitude of 40 km before hitting its target at Mach 1.8.
- It’ll be integrated with Searcher UAVs & Sigma 30 artillery navigation and pointing system is designed for high-precision firing at short notice.
Pic: Searcher UAV
Pinaka will be the backbone of rocket artillery in future & once integrated with UAVs & longer ranged rockets, it will prove to be one of the the most fearsome weapons in the battlefield.
Hyder Ali & Tipu Sultan would be proud if they would be alive today seeing the development of rocket artillery to this extent from somewhere they started 200 years back.
Footnotes:
Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher - Wikipedia