The Indian Army is set to raise two additional regiments of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system, boosting its long-range precision strike capabilities. With six Pinaka regiments already deployed along the northern and western borders, the Army’s total Pinaka strength is expected to rise to eight by the end of 2025, and ten by mid-2026.
According to defence sources, troop training for the new regiments is currently underway, with full operational status anticipated in the coming months. Equipment and systems for the remaining two regiments are scheduled for delivery by the end of the year, after which training will commence. Each regiment comprises three batteries, with each battery equipped with six launchers.
A single battery of Pinaka can unleash 72 rockets in just 44 seconds, covering an area of 1000 by 800 metres. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the 214-mm Pinaka MBRL has a strike range of up to 38 km at sea level, which increases significantly in mountainous terrain, making it ideal for high-altitude warfare.
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Out of the current six regiments, two were added under a 2020 order valued at approximately ₹2,580 crore. These include 114 launchers with Automated Gun Aiming & Positioning Systems (AGAPS), 45 Command Posts, and 330 vehicles supplied by Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML), Tata Power Company Ltd. (TPCL), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
Looking ahead, the Army plans to field a total of 22 Pinaka regiments, replacing the ageing Russian-made BM-21 Grad systems. The Pinaka will serve as the mainstay of India’s Rocket Force, working in tandem with artillery assets like the Bofors, M777 Ultra Light Howitzers, and upgraded L-70 air defence guns.
The modernization of artillery is part of the Army’s broader “mediumisation” strategy, targeting standardization around 155mm x 52 calibre guns by 2042. The development of extended-range Pinaka rockets, capable of hitting targets up to 75 km away, is also progressing.
In recent years, the Ministry of Defence has approved major investments in the Pinaka system, including a ₹2,800 crore procurement of 6,400 rockets in 2023 and ₹10,147 crore worth of ammunition contracts in early 2025. The Regiment of Artillery, the second-largest arm of the Army after infantry, continues to play a decisive role in shaping battlefield outcomes with its formidable firepower.
