India™s defense ministry looks to purchase $2 billion worth of Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers for six regiments within 18 months, Defense News reported Thursday.
The proposed acquisition came five months after the ministry ordered India-made rocket launchers worth approximately $350 million for two regiments.
Larsen & Toubro and Tata Power SED will provide the launcher systems, while Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. and Ordnance Factories Board will respectively supply the vehicles for the launchers and rocket ammunition.
Tata Power SED and L&T designed and built the Pinaka rocket launcher with India™s defense research and development organization.
An official with the Indian army said the plan to purchase Pinaka Mark-I seeks to meet the army™s operational requirements, replace the Russian-built Smerch and Grad BM-21 rocket launchers as well as reduce reliance on foreign launcher system vendors.
Jayant Damodar Patil, head of defense and aerospace for L&T, said India™s DRDO and industry plan to export the Pinaka Mark-I system, which has a 30-kilometer range.
