NEW DELHI: In a major boost for the indigenous Pinaka multi-launch artillery rocket systems, the PM-led cabinet committee on security on Wednesday cleared two major deals worth around Rs 10,200 crore for its lethal ammunition.
The two deals are for high-explosive pre-fragmented rocket ammunition at a cost of about Rs 5,700 crore and area denial munitions for around Rs 4,500 crore, which will cater for the 10 Pinaka regiments already ordered by the over 11-lakh strong Army, as was reported by TOI earlier this month.
The high-explosive pre-fragmented rocket ammunition has an extended strike range of 45-km, while the aerial denial munitions can be launched to a distance of 37-km. The area denial munitions have the capability to saturate a target area with multiple bomblets, including anti-tank and anti-personnel minelets.
The two types of ammunition will be produced by the Nagpur-based private sector Solar Group and state-owned Munitions India Ltd in a 60:40 ratio, with the contracts now set to be inked with them within the next few days, sources told TOI.
The Army currently has four Pinaka regiments, with some of the launchers also deployed in high-altitude areas along the northern borders with China, while the other six are in the process of being inducted.
DRDO has developed a variety of ammunition for the Pinaka, including rockets with 45-km extended range and 75-km guided extended range. The plan now underway is to further enhance the range first to 120-km and then to 300-km.
“As soon as we get longer ranges, we might drop plans for other alternate long-range weapons we are looking at and concentrate on it (Pinaka),” Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi had stated earlier this month.