MoD inks contracts totalling Rs 10,147 cr for two types of ammo for Pinaka rocket launchers

The two types of ammunition are being procured for nearly 10 Pinaka regiments. The procurement is expected boost the firepower of the Army along its northern borders.

File photo of Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher | ANI

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) Thursday inked contracts totalling Rs 10,147 crore for procurement of ammunition for Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), operated by the Army. The development comes at a time when the Army’s Regiment of Artillery, which operates the Pinaka, is undertaking modernisation efforts.

The procurement of the two types of ammunition will play a crucial role in bolstering the Army’s firepower by enabling precise and long-range strikes.

The contract was signed for Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-1 (DPICM) and High Explosive Pre-Fragmented (HEPF) Mk-1 (Enhanced) rockets with Economic Explosive Limited (EEL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL).

Its specialised warhead allows the ADM Type-1 to deliver a quantum of sub-munitions over a larger area that target mechanised forces, vehicles and personnel to deny area access to the enemy, MoD said in a statement.

It added that HEPF Mk-1 (Enhanced) rockets are an advanced version of in-service HEPF rockets with an enhanced range to strike deep using precision and lethality.

The ammunition is expected to boost the firepower of the Army along its northern borders. The two types of ammunition are being procured for nearly 10 Pinaka regiments. The Army is known to have inducted four Pinaka regiments while the rest are in the process of being inducted. The six new regiments to come will comprise 114 launchers.

Pinaka rockets have an extended range of up to 45 km and guided extended range of up to 75 km. There are plans to further enhance the range of Pinaka rockets to 120 km and then to 300 km.

Contracts for Pinaka ammo were inked after the defence ministry signed a Rs 7,629 crore contract with Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for 100 additional 155 mm/52 calibre K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers. The Regiment of Artillery is also looking to enhance its firepower with an additional batch of swarm drones, loitering munitions and surveillance systems.