Pinaka rockets

GS PAPER III: Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

Context: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test-fired enhanced range versions of indigenously-developed Pinaka rockets and 122mm Caliber rockets from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

ENHANCED PINAKA ROCKET

• It is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• The enhanced Pinaka along with guidance Pinaka will cover the range between 60 to 90 kilometres.
• It would replace the existing Pinaka Mk-1 rockets, which had a range of 36 km.
• It will be deployed by the Indian Army.
• The enhanced Pinaka has been developed to counter the People’s Liberation Army threat in East Ladakh with the Chinese deploying large number of rocket regiments in support of artillery guns.
• The enhanced Pinaka and guided Pinaka have both been cleared for deployment on the borders.

PINAKA ROCKET

• 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 multi-barrel rocket systems was started by the DRDO in the late 1980s, as an alternative to the Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher systems of Russian make called like the ‘Grad’.
• The navigation system of Guided Pinaka missile is also aided by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

IRNSS                     

Caliber rockets

• Enhanced range version of 122mm Caliber rockets, developed for the Indian Army can destroy targets up to 40km, they would replace the existing 122mm Grad rockets.
• The rocket system has been developed jointly by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) with manufacturing support from M/s Economic Explosives Limited in Nagpur.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-successfully-test-fires-pinaka-rockets-can-destroy-targets-up-to-45km-101624664939787.html