In a significant development for India’s indigenous Pinaka multi-launch artillery rocket systems, the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved two major deals worth approximately Rs 10,200 crore for advanced ammunition. The deals include high-explosive pre-fragmented rocket ammunition worth Rs 5,700 crore and area denial munitions worth Rs 4,500 crore. These will support the 10 Pinaka regiments already ordered by the Indian Army, which has over 11 lakh personnel.

The advanced ammunition for the Pinaka system boasts impressive capabilities. The high-explosive pre-fragmented rocket ammunition can strike targets up to 45 kilometres away. The area denial munitions have a range of 37 kilometres and can blanket a target area with multiple bomblets, including anti-tank and anti-personnel minelets.

The ammunition will be produced in a 60:40 ratio by the private sector company Solar Group, based in Nagpur, and the state-run Munitions India Ltd. The contracts for this procurement are expected to be finalised within the coming days.

The Indian Army currently operates four Pinaka regiments, with some of the launchers stationed in high-altitude regions along the northern border with China. The remaining six regiments are in the process of being inducted.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed several types of ammunition for the Pinaka system, including rockets with an extended range of 45 km and 75 km guided extended range. There are plans to further enhance the range of these rockets, aiming first for 120 km and eventually up to 300 km.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi mentioned earlier this month, "As soon as we get longer ranges, we might drop plans for other alternate long-range weapons we are looking at and concentrate on it (Pinaka)."