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India Today
6 days ago
- India Today
Trials of Extended Range Pinaka launchers conclude, rockets to be inducted soon
A new and more powerful version of the indigenous Pinaka rocket launchers is all set to further boost the Indian Army's attack capabilities after it has completed user trials. The Extended Range Pinaka underwent a successful final test before being commissioned into the the Army relied on Russian multi-barrel rocket launchers such as 'Grad' and 'Smerch', but its attack capabilities strengthened tremendously after the incorporation of the indigenous Pinaka, a new and more powerful version of which is now the Pinaka rocket has a range of 37 kilometres, which has now been extended to about 75 kilometres, making it a versatile weapon for long-range attacks. The rockets were earlier used as area weapons, but with enhanced range and accuracy the extended-range guided Pinaka is now equipped with GPS navigation. That is, once set, it hits its target with utmost precision. The rocket can strike within a radius of about 25 metres of the target, which makes it extremely trajectories and targets of the rockets are programmed before launch. If, for some reason, it deviates from its set direction, the onboard computer and GPS work in tandem to bring it back to the correct also has an inertial navigation system (INS), which takes the rocket to the target even when GPS is jammed or interrupted. A battery of the current Pinaka can devastate an enemy's territory of 10,00,800 metres if fired together. That is only set to improve with the induction of the new Army plans to induct a total of 25 Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers. There are six launchers in one battery and each launcher has 12 tubes. That means a total of 72 rockets in one battery. All of these can be fired in 44 seconds. Soon after the launch, launchers change their location and get ready Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-1 (DPICM) and High Explosive Pre-Fragmented (HEPF) Mk-1 (Enhanced) rockets have also been procured for the Pinaka present, the Indian Army has four Pinaka regiments commissioned. The aim is to increase it to 10 of creating new regiments, the existing 120 mm mortar light regiments are being converted into Pinaka year two light regiments were changed and this year two more are scheduled to follow. The army will have a total of 10 Pinaka regiments in the next two years.- EndsTune InMust Watch
India.com
24-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
Two New Pinaka Rocket Regiments Coming: Why India's Indigenous Artillery Upgrade Is Likely To Rattle China, Pakistan
New Delhi: India's long-term artillery modernisation plan is entering a decisive phase, with the Army set to induct two more regiments of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system. With these additions, the total number of operational Pinaka regiments will rise to 10 by 2026, signaling the gradual replacement of outdated Soviet-era Grad BM-21 systems that have been in service for decades. Designed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this rocket system has already proven its value in operations along the northern and western borders. Its six regiments are currently active in areas facing China and Pakistan. The addition of two more will further strengthen India's deep-strike capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign-origin equipment. Sources in the defense establishment told The New Indian Express that training for the personnel of the upcoming regiments is already underway. Launchers, command posts and support equipment are expected to be delivered by the end of this year. If all goes to plan, the new regiments will be combat-ready by early 2026. Each regiment is equipped with 18 launchers, capable of delivering massive firepower in seconds. Each Pinaka battery can launch up to 72 rockets in just 44 seconds, saturating an area of nearly 1,000 square meters with precision strikes. With a maximum range of 38 kilometres at sea level, extended further in mountainous terrain, the system allows the Army to target enemy positions deep inside hostile territory with minimal response time. Named after Lord Shiva's mythological bow, Pinaka has evolved into a cornerstone of India's indigenous artillery ecosystem. It stands alongside heavy-duty platforms like the Russian-origin Smerch systems and integrates smoothly with Bofors guns, M777 howitzers and upgraded L-70 air defense guns. India's move to expand the Pinaka fleet comes with both strategic and operational implications. The Ministry of Defence had signed a Rs 2,580 crore contract in 2020 with Tata Power, Larsen & Toubro and BEML for manufacturing and supplying six regiments' worth of launchers, vehicles and support systems. Two of those six regiments became operational in 2024, while the remaining four are in the pipeline, including the two now under training. In total, 114 launchers are currently in service across the six active regiments. These are equipped with automated gun aiming and positioning systems (AGAPS) and supported by 330 BEML-supplied vehicles and 45 command posts. The operational experience gained over the last few years has allowed the Army to refine deployment strategies, optimize logistics and increase interoperability with other ground-based firepower assets. The larger objective is phasing out the Grad BM-21 rocket systems of Soviet origin, which first saw combat during the 1969 Sino-Soviet border conflict. Though reliable, the Grad's 1960s-era technology is increasingly unsuited for modern high-precision and high-mobility battlefields. Pinaka's growing presence on India's frontlines reflects shift in military doctrine – one that prioritises speed, indigenous capability and operational independence. As geopolitical tensions remain high along India's northern borders, the Army's push for advanced and domestically developed artillery systems is likely to remain a cornerstone of its defense preparedness through the next decade.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia hits centre of Kramatorsk with Molniya UAV
Russian troops attacked the centre of the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on 9 June, using a Molniya unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Source: Kramatorsk City Council Quote: "As of 14:20, there is no information about casualties. However, the strike damaged several apartment buildings." Details: The full consequences of the attack are still being confirmed. Emergency and utility services are working at the scene of the strike. The wreckage of a Molniya UAV that Russia used to hit Kramatorsk on 9 June 2025. Photo: Serhii Horbatenko on Facebook Also, on the night of 8-9 June, Russian troops attacked an industrial area in Kramatorsk with a Smerch multiple-launch rocket system. The wreckage of a Molniya UAV that Russia used to hit Kramatorsk on 9 June 2025. Photo: Serhii Horbatenko on Facebook Background: On 27 May, Russian troops launched three strikes on a residential area in Kramatorsk, injuring a family and another resident of the city. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
One killed and eight injured in relentless Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast
Russian forces persisted in their attacks on settlements in Donetsk Oblast on Friday 6 June, killing one civilian and injuring eight. Source: Anastasiia Miedviedieva, spokesperson for Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda Details: At 06:30, Russian forces attacked the village of Komar in the Volnovakha district, likely using a Smerch multiple-launch rocket system. A 48-year-old man sustained serious injuries. At 07:10, the village of Novyi Donbas came under Russian attack. A 54-year-old man suffered multiple shrapnel wounds and was hospitalised in a serious condition, Miedviedieva said. Less than an hour later, Russian forces launched an artillery attack on a residential area in Myrnohrad, claiming the life of a 59-year-old man. At 09:00, Russian forces attacked Kostiantynivka with a FAB-250 bomb fitted with an UMPK guidance kit for converting unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions. A 61-year-old resident sustained a blast injury, concussion and brain trauma. Prosecutors reported that five houses in the city had been damaged. At 11:10, Russian troops attacked Myrnohrad again, injuring a 41-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man. Fifty minutes later, they struck again near the local market, injuring two women aged 45 and 48 and a 65-year-old man. All sustained blast and shrapnel injuries and received medical assistance, the spokesperson said. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
New Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Army's tweet including Shaheen Missile catches attention, Pakistan MFA denies use
NEW DELHI: A tweet by Army's Western Command with a video containing the picture of Pakistan's Shaheen nuclear missile on Sunday night caught attention and went viral. The video shared on the official account @westerncomd_IA showed Shaheen as an option among the missiles used against India. But the tweet was subsequently deleted and the sources confirmed that "it was a file footage, used for representational purposes" and people had forgot to put that point in message. The video was put to highlight Operation Sindoor which India launched on May 7 to destroy the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). It was in response to the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. 'Enemy Missiles neutralised. #IndianArmy - impregnable wall of fire,' the Chandimandir based Western Command had put up in its post. The video of the Western Command further showcased the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the Smerch and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems, among the others, as an option opted by the Indian Armed Forces. While the post was deleted on Monday but by then the video went viral on 'X'. Shaheen is a series of Ballistic Missile of Pakistan which can be nuclear tipped. The speculations also included that a Pakistani Shaheen nuclear-capable Shaheen ballistic missile fired on India was shot down by a S-400 air defence system The Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affair came up with a response on Monday and rejected the speculation as 'unfounded allegations'.
