SECURITY AND DEFENCE  

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Context: India’s military posture in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh has added an offensive punch with the Army deploying Pinaka and Smerch long range, multi-barrel rocket launch systems as well as BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles in the region.

Smerch

• It is procured from Russia.
• It is the longest range conventional rocket system in the Army’s inventory with a maximum range of 90 km.
• These give Army the ability to hit targets deep inside China in case of any misadventure.

Pinaka

• It is an indigenously designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
• It has a range of 38 km.
• A battery of six launchers of Pinaka can fire a salvo of 72 rockets in 44 seconds, thereby neutralising an area of 1000mX800m.
• The upgraded version of the Pinaka ammunition systems were already in production line and could fire up to a range of 75 km with superior precision.
• Both Pinaka and Smerch have 12 rockets in each launcher.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rocket-systems-brahmos-add-offensive-punch-along-lac-in-tawang-sector/article37132832.ece