DRDO developing Pinaka-MK3: long-range rocket launcher

PINAKA MK-III

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Context

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is equipping India with a formidable new weapon: the Pinaka-MK3, which is currently under development.
This is the third iteration of India’s indigenous air defence system, which is set to greatly enhance the Indian Army’s ability to neutralise aerial threats and counter enemy forces positioned on remote highlands.

Details

Pinaka Multiple Rocket Launcher System

*Feature*	*Pinaka Mk-I*	*Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced*	*Pinaka Mk-II*	*Guided Pinaka*	*Pinaka Mk-III*	*Pinaka Mk-III ER*
Range	37.5 km	45 km	60-75 km	90 km	120 km	300 km
Length	4.88 m	4.72 m	5.17 m	2.91 m	-	-
Rate of Fire	44 seconds	20 seconds (40 rockets)	-	-	-	-
Accuracy	≤ 1.5% range	≤ 60 m and <30 m (CEP)	≤ 1.5% range	-	-	-
Salvo Reload Time	4 minutes	Unknown	-	-	-	-
Warheads	PF, RHE	DPICM	PF, RHE	HEPF, RHE	-	-
Detonation Mechanism	Contact + Delay, Electronic time, and Proximity fuze	Contact and Proximity fuze	Contact + Delay	-	-	-
Guidance	Free flight	INS + SATNAV	Free flight	-	-	-
Flight Stabilization	4 curved fins	6 flat fins	6 flat fins	4 curved fins	-	-
Launcher	Tatra truck	Tatra truck	-	-	-	-

Initiated:December 1986
Development Lead:Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE)
Production Partners:Tata Power SED, Larsen & Toubro, Solar Industries, Yantra India Limited, Munitions India Limited

Battery Composition:Six launchers, six loader-replenishment vehicles, three replenishment vehicles, two Command Post vehicles, and a meteorological radar.
Modes of Operation:Autonomous, Stand-alone, Remote, Manual
Deployment:Integrated with Indian Army's radar and surveillance systems.

Enhanced Accuracy:Collaboration with Israel for trajectory correction.
New Rockets:Development of a 7.2-meter rocket for up to 120 km range.
Exports:Orders from Armenia, interest from Indonesia, Nigeria, and other nations.

Major Rocket Launcher Systems in India

*Rocket Launcher System*	*Developer*	*Range*	*Payload*	*Notable Features*	*Deployment*
Pinaka Mk-I	DRDO	40-48 km	High-Explosive Fragmentation, Incendiary, etc.	Multi-barrel, all-weather operability	Used in Kargil War
Pinaka Mk-II	DRDO	60-90 km	Enhanced warhead payloads	Improved accuracy and range	Deployed at LAC
Pinaka Mk-III	DRDO	120 km	Guided with GPS/INS	Extended range and guided capability	Under development
Pinaka Mk-III ER	DRDO	300 km (proposed)	Under consideration	Long-Range Guided Rocket (LRGR)	Under development
SMERCH	Russia	90 km	Cluster munitions, Thermobaric warheads	300 mm caliber, GPS-aided guidance	Deployed with Indian Army
Prahaar	DRDO	150 km	Conventional and nuclear payloads	Solid-fuel, highly mobile, short-range tactical missile	Tested and inducted
BrahMos	DRDO, BrahMos Aerospace	300-500 km	Conventional warheads	Supersonic, sea-, air-, and land-launched variants	Widely deployed
Akash	DRDO	25-30 km	High-explosive fragmentation warhead	Surface-to-air missile system, multi-target engagement	Deployed with Air Force and Army
Nag (Helina variant)	DRDO	7-20 km (depending on variant)	Tandem high-explosive anti-tank warhead	Fire-and-forget, anti-tank guided missile (ATGM)	Integrated on Rudra and LCH helicopters

Sources:

News9live

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q: Which of the following statements regarding the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system is/are correct?

The Pinaka Mk-II system includes a guided variant with a range of up to 90 km.
The Pinaka Mk-I system was first inducted into the Indian Army in 1994.
The launcher for the Pinaka system is mounted on a Tatra truck, which allows it to operate in multiple modes including autonomous, stand-alone, and remote modes.
The Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced variant was developed to replace the older BM-21 Grad rocket system entirely.

Options:

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 3 only

C. 2 and 4 only

D. 1, 3, and 4 only

Answer: B.