India’s artillery capabilities are steadily expanding with the induction of additional Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher regiments, reflecting a broader and long-term plan to significantly enhance firepower along sensitive frontiers.
The Indian Army has now operationalised its seventh Pinaka regiment, strengthening its deployment along key areas such as the India–Pakistan border and the Line of Actual Control. These regiments are designed to deliver rapid and high-intensity firepower, improving operational readiness in regions marked by persistent tensions.
According to defence sources, an eighth regiment is currently being equipped and is expected to become operational by the end of the year. The expansion is set to continue, with plans to induct two more regiments next year, which would bring the total to ten. In the longer term, the Army aims to deploy as many as 22 Pinaka regiments, including more advanced and extended-range variants.
This acceleration in artillery modernisation follows the 2020 Galwan Valley standoff, after which the focus on strengthening long-range strike capabilities intensified. As part of this push, contracts worth approximately Rs 2,580 crore were awarded to major defence manufacturers, including Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Tata Power SED (now part of Tata Advanced Systems), and Larsen & Toubro, for the supply of multiple regiments.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Pinaka system has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s artillery framework. Earlier versions of the system had a strike range of around 40 kilometres, while newer variants, such as the guided and long-range guided versions, can strike targets up to 90 kilometres away, significantly enhancing deep-strike capabilities.
The Pinaka system is designed for rapid, high-volume firepower delivery in all weather conditions. Each launcher is equipped with two pods containing six rockets each and can fire a full salvo of 12 rockets in under a minute. This ability to deliver intense firepower quickly makes it particularly effective against time-sensitive and high-value targets.
With continued induction and technological upgrades, the Pinaka system is set to play a central role in India’s evolving military strategy, combining speed, range, and precision to strengthen deterrence and battlefield effectiveness in the years ahead.
