In News
- Indian Army has deployed Pinaka and Smerch Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems (MRLS) at a forwarding position near the China border to counter any threat arising across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- Both Pinaka and Smerch have 12 rockets in each launcher.
- Both these weapon systems (Pinaka and Smerch) are designed to fire a variety of ammunition like high explosives and submunitions against area targets.
About
- Smerch system:
- It is procured from Russia and is the longest range conventional rocket system in Indian army inventory having a maximum range of 90 Km.
- A battery of four launchers can fire a salvo of 48 rockets in 40 seconds neutralising an area of 1200m by 1200m.
- Pinaka weapon system:
- It is an autonomous rocket artillery system that can engage area targets up to 38km at mean sea level.
- At these altitudes, the ranges are enhanced significantly which further augments the deep strike capability of the weapon system.
- It is an indigenously developed multi-barrel rocket launch (MBRL) system developed by DRDO for the Army.
- It is an artillery missile system, and its development was started in the late 1980s, as an alternative to ‘Grad’, Russia-made multi-barrel rocket launching systems.
- A battery of six launchers of Pinaka can fire a salvo of 72 rockets in 44 seconds thereby neutralising an area of 1000m by 800m.
- The upgraded version of the Pinaka ammunition system is already on the production line and can fire up to a range of 75km with superior precision which significantly enhances the existing capability manifolds.
- It is an autonomous rocket artillery system that can engage area targets up to 38km at mean sea level.
Source: TH
