France is currently engaged in advanced discussions to acquire India’s Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system, according to a report by Reuters. The Pinaka system has been evaluated by French military officials as a potential successor to its existing unitary rocket launchers (LRU), a variant of the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. The French armed forces are facing a reduction in their LRU inventory, having only nine units remaining after sending four to support Ukraine.
Ummalaneni Raja Babu, the director general of missiles and strategic systems at India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation, confirmed to Reuters that while a contract has not yet been finalized, negotiations are ongoing. This development comes on the heels of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris, during which he emphasized the significance of the Pinaka MBRL. Prime Minister Modi reportedly invited French President Emmanuel Macron and the French Army to closely examine the system, highlighting that its acquisition would signify a significant step forward in Indo-French defense cooperation, as stated in a joint declaration from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
The push for a replacement for the LRUs is tied to the French military’s Feux Longue Portée-Terre program, aiming to replace the aging system before its anticipated retirement in 2027. Reports indicate that the French government has earmarked approximately 180 million euros to procure 13 MBRL systems by 2030, with plans to acquire an additional 13 by 2035. French military officials have indicated that the new system must boast a range of 120 to 500 kilometers (75 to 311 miles), which would represent a significant improvement compared to the LRU’s maximum range of 70 kilometers (43 miles).
In addition to the Pinaka, other potential replacements under consideration for France include the American M142 HIMARS, Euro-PULS from Elbit Systems and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, and the South Korean K239 Chunmoo.
The Pinaka system has a proven track record, having been first deployed during the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan while still under trial. Its full-rate production order was initiated in 2007. The original Pinaka Mk 1 has a range of approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles), while the enhanced Mk 2 can strike targets at 75 kilometers (47 miles). Recent developments have also seen approval for the creation of two new variants capable of hitting targets up to 120 kilometers (74 miles) and 300 kilometers (186 miles), respectively.
