Indian Army to Raise Two Fresh Pinaka Regiments to Enhance Deep Strike Firepower

As a bold step to enhance its long-range precision strike capability, the Indian Army is on the verge of inducting two more regiments of the indigenously developed Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system. With six regiments already inducted across strategic north and west frontlines, the number is likely to increase to eight by the end of 2025, and then on to ten by mid-2026.

Training of staff for the new regiments is currently underway, with full operational deployment scheduled in the next few months. The required equipment and systems will be delivered by the end of this year, after which the second phase of training will begin. Each regiment will have three batteries, and each battery will be equipped with six launchers.

Developed and designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the 214-mm Pinaka system is capable of firing 72 rockets within 44 seconds, in effect, saturating a 1,000 x 800-meter zone. Though its typical range at sea level is approximately 38 km, it increases remarkably in high-altitude environments, for which it is best suited for mountain operations.

The Indian Army has been actively increasing its Pinaka arsenal, two of the present six regiments being a part of a ₹2,580 crore procurement agreement in 2020. The order comprised 114 launchers equipped with Automated Gun Aiming & Positioning Systems (AGAPS), 45 Command Posts, and 330 support vehicles supplied by prime Indian defence manufacturers such as BEML, Tata Power, and L&T.

In the long term, the Army intends to induct 22 Pinaka regiments, replacing the old Russian-origin BM-21 Grad systems one by one. The updated Pinaka will form a central part of India's Rocket Force, augmenting current artillery like the Bofors, M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers, and the upgraded L-70 air defence guns.

This artillery modernisation aligns with the Army’s broader “mediumisation” strategy, aimed at transitioning to a uniform standard of 155mm x 52 calibre guns by 2042. Parallel efforts are also underway to enhance the range of Pinaka rockets, with newer versions expected to strike targets as far as 75 km.

Recent government approvals by the Ministry of Defence reflect the strong intent of the government to pursue this initiative. Specific among them are a ₹2,800 crore 2023 contract for the procurement of 6,400 Pinaka rockets, and a ₹10,147 crore ammunition contract approved in early 2025.

As the Regiment of Artillery — the second-largest combat arm after infantry — remains a key player in contemporary warfare, the growing Pinaka ecosystem is set to provide unparalleled firepower, mobility, and deterrence.

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