The Indian Army is poised to enhance its long-range precision strike capabilities by establishing two additional regiments of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system. This decision comes as the Army currently boasts six Pinaka regiments strategically positioned along its northern and western borders. By the end of 2025, this number is expected to swell to eight regiments, reaching a total of ten by mid-2026.
Training for the new regiments has already commenced, with defense sources indicating that these units will achieve full operational status in the near future. The equipment and systems required for the final two regiments are slated for delivery by the year’s end, after which troop training will start. Each regiment will consist of three batteries, and each battery will be armed with six launchers.
Notably, a single battery of the Pinaka system can launch 72 rockets within an impressive time frame of just 44 seconds, covering an expansive area of 1000 by 800 meters. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the 214-mm Pinaka MBRL boasts a strike range of up to 38 kilometers at sea level—this range increases significantly in mountainous terrains, making it particularly suited for high-altitude combat scenarios.
The Army’s current deployment includes two regiments that were added under a 2020 procurement order worth approximately ₹2,580 crore. This acquisition includes 114 launchers outfitted with Automated Gun Aiming & Positioning Systems (AGAPS), 45 Command Posts, and around 330 vehicles supplied by notable manufacturers such as Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML), Tata Power Company Ltd. (TPCL), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
In a forward-looking strategy, the Army intends to ultimately field a total of 22 Pinaka regiments. This is part of a plan to phase out the aging Russian-made BM-21 Grad systems. The Pinaka system will serve as the backbone of India’s Rocket Force, integrating seamlessly with existing artillery assets such as the Bofors, M777 Ultra Light Howitzers, and upgraded L-70 air defense guns.
This modernization initiative is part of a broader “mediumisation” strategy that aims for the Army to standardize around 155mm x 52 caliber guns by 2042. Concurrently, the development of extended-range Pinaka rockets capable of striking targets up to 75 kilometers away is actively progressing.
In recent years, the Ministry of Defence has sanctioned significant investments in the Pinaka system, including a ₹2,800 crore procurement of 6,400 rockets in 2023 and ₹10,147 crore in ammunition contracts anticipated in early 2025. The Regiment of Artillery, which stands as the Army’s second-largest component after infantry, remains crucial in influencing battlefield dynamics through its noteworthy firepower.
