In a major boost to India’s indigenous defense capabilities, DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat announced that the Guided Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system can be repurposed to target enemy warships, expanding its operational role beyond conventional land warfare.
Originally developed as a long-range artillery rocket for the Indian Army, the Guided Pinaka has undergone significant upgrades, including precision guidance systems that extend its range to 75–90 kilometers. These enhancements enable highly accurate strikes, making the system adaptable for anti-ship missions in coastal and maritime environments.
Dr. Kamat emphasized that repurposing existing platforms aligns with India’s strategy of developing multi-domain, multi-role systems, maximizing the utility of indigenous technology without requiring entirely new platforms.
If deployed in an anti-ship capacity, the Guided Pinaka could complement India’s BrahMos cruise missiles, offering a layered coastal defense strategy. While BrahMos delivers long-range, high-impact strikes, Pinaka’s cost-effectiveness and volume of fire could overwhelm adversary defenses, complicating naval operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
This adaptation comes amid rising strategic concerns over China’s expanding maritime presence in the IOR and Pakistan’s naval ambitions, underscoring India’s commitment to maintaining a robust, flexible coastal defense posture with indigenous solutions.
The DRDO’s move highlights a broader trend of innovative repurposing of land-based systems for maritime use, enhancing India’s preparedness across multiple theatres of operations.
