Indian Army to Expand with Two Additional Pinaka Rocket Regiments to Enhance Strike Capability
The Indian Army is preparing to enhance its long-range precision strike capabilities by establishing two additional regiments of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system. Currently, six Pinaka regiments are deployed along the northern and western borders. By the end of 2025, the total number of Pinaka regiments is expected to increase to eight, reaching ten by the middle of 2026.
Defence sources indicate that troop training for these new regiments is underway, with full operational capability expected shortly. The necessary equipment and systems for the remaining two regiments are set for delivery by the end of the year, after which training will begin. Each regiment consists of three batteries, with each battery having six launchers.
A Pinaka battery can fire 72 rockets within 44 seconds, covering a 1000 by 800 metre area. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the 214-mm Pinaka MBRL can strike targets up to 38 km away at sea level, with an extended range in mountainous regions, making it suitable for high-altitude conflicts.
Among the existing six regiments, two were introduced as part of a 2020 order valued at approximately ₹2,580 crore. This order included 114 launchers equipped with Automated Gun Aiming & Positioning Systems (AGAPS), 45 Command Posts, and 330 vehicles provided by Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML), Tata Power Company Ltd. (TPCL), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
In the future, the Army intends to have a total of 22 Pinaka regiments to replace the older Russian-made BM-21 Grad systems. The Pinaka will become a crucial component of India's Rocket Force, operating alongside artillery units such as the Bofors, M777 Ultra Light Howitzers, and upgraded L-70 air defence guns.
This artillery modernization is part of the Army's comprehensive "mediumisation" strategy, which aims to standardize around 155mm x 52 calibre guns by 2042. There is also ongoing development of extended-range Pinaka rockets, which will be capable of reaching targets up to 75 km away.
In recent years, significant investments have been approved by the Ministry of Defence in the Pinaka system, including a ₹2,800 crore procurement of 6,400 rockets in 2023 and ₹10,147 crore in ammunition contracts slated for early 2025. The Regiment of Artillery remains the second-largest arm of the Army after infantry, playing a critical role in determining battlefield outcomes with its powerful firepower.
