India deploys Pinaka, Smerch rocket system on China border

New Delhi, Oct 22: In a huge development, the Indian Army has deployed Pinaka and Smerch Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems (MRLS) at a forwarding position near the China border to counter any threat arising across on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

 

Notably, the Pinaka weapon system is an autonomous rocket artillery system that can engage area targets up to 38km at mean sea level. At these altitudes, the ranges are enhanced significantly which further augments the deep strike capability of the weapon system. A battery of six launchers of Pinaka can fire a salvo of 72 rockets in 44 seconds thereby neutralising an area of 1000m by 800m.

 

 

The system is devloped by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and it is a state of art, completely autonomous weapon system, which can engage targets up to 38 kilometres at mean sea level and at higher altitudes.

 

 

On the other hand, the Smerch system is the longest range conventional rocket system in Indian army inventory having a maximum range of 90 Km. A battery of four launchers can fire a salvo of 48 rockets in 40 seconds neutralising an area of 1200m by 1200m.

 

Pinaka is named after the bow of Lord Shiva. Both these weapon systems (Pinaka and Smerch) are designed to fire a variety of ammunition like high explosives and submunitions against area targets. The upgraded version of the Pinaka ammunition system is already on the production line and can fire up to a range of 75km with superior precision which significantly enhances the existing capability manifolds.

 

 

The quick response and high accuracy of these weapon systems ensure the delivery of a large volume of fire against critical and time-sensitive enemy targets, within a very short time.