India To Export Pinaka Rocket System To Armenia In $250 M Deal
India has reportedly bagged a $250 Million order from Armenia to export Pinaka multi-barrel rocket systems and a range of ammunition.
This is the first reported export order for the indigenously developed Pinaka system, which fires artillery salvos up to a range of 60 km. The Pinaka – developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and manufactured by Tata and L&T – is an operational weapon system used by the Indian Army. It can fire a salvo of 12 high-explosive rockets in 44 seconds.
India’s weapons package for Armenia, which is locked in a prolonged conflict with Azerbaijan, is under a Government-to-Government deal signed earlier in September. The weapons package includes launchers, missiles and other ammunition, including anti-tank weaponry.
This is not the first export of military equipment by India to Armenia. In 2020, it won a competition to supply four Swathi radars to Armenia for an estimated Rs 350 Crore ($43 Million). These are weapon locating radars which can track incoming artillery projectiles and pinpoint the location of enemy gun positions for counter-action. This radar is being used by the Indian Army on both the Northern and Western fronts.
New variants of the Pinaka are under development to provide guidance to rockets up to an extended range of 90 km. This variant was first tested in 2019. The existing Mk 1 and 2 variants have a bombardment range of 40 and 60 km respectively.
The Pinaka order is a shot in the arm for India’s objective to increase Defence exports to Rs 35,000 Crore from the existing figure of Rs 13,000 Crore by 2025.
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