India increases 6 rocket artillery regiments near Chinese border

To enhance its ability to strike quickly and deeply, the Indian Army will deploy two more regiments of Pinaka multiple rocket launchers (MBRL) in the coming months.

The Indian Army is also expected to receive equipment for two more regiments by the end of this year. Currently, six Pinaka regiments are operational along the northern border with China and the western border with Pakistan.

Pinaka is a domestically developed multiple launch rocket system developed by India. Photo: Sputnik

“Army training is underway for the two regiments which will be fully operational in the next few months,” a source in the defence and security establishment told The Indian Express.

“We also expect that the launchers, equipment and systems for the remaining two units will be delivered by the end of this year and, if everything goes according to plan, they will be operational in the first half of 2026,” the source added.

In artillery terminology, a “unit” is also called a “regiment”. Each regiment has three batteries, and each battery consists of six Pinaka launchers. At the current rate, the number of Pinaka regiments will increase to eight this year and is expected to reach ten by 2026.

“The equipment will be allocated to two other regiments by the end of this year,” the sources said, adding that training for these regiments will begin soon. Initially, the army will train with the older regiments and then independently until they are fully operational.

Pinaka can discharge all 12 214mm rockets it carries in just 44 seconds. Photo: The New Indian Express

A system of six Pinaka launchers can fire 72 rockets in just 44 seconds, destroying enemy targets over an area of 1,000 meters by 800 meters.

The name 'Pinaka' comes from Indian folklore and is known as the bow of Lord Shiva. The Pinaka uses a 214 mm rocket system, along with the Russian Smerch multiple rocket launcher system.

Pinaka, developed in India, can hit targets up to 38 km away, increased to 90 km with the Mark-II ER version, further enhancing the Army's deep strike capability. It is currently one of the most powerful rocket systems in the Army's arsenal.

These systems can deliver massive firepower quickly and accurately against targets deep inside enemy territory. They are gradually replacing the Soviet-supplied BM-21 Grad batteries.

Of the six Pinaka regiments already in service, two are part of an additional order of six regiments placed in 2020. These two regiments are to be raised by 2024.

In August 2020, the Ministry of Defence signed contracts with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML), Tata Power Company Limited (TPCL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to supply these systems to the Artillery Regiment at a cost of approximately Rs 2.58 billion.

The six operational Pinaka regiments currently have 114 launchers equipped with Automatic Gun Sighting and Positioning System (AGAPS), 45 Command Posts supplied by TPCL and L&T and 330 vehicles supplied by BEML.