Armenia is first foreign buyer of Indian Pinaka long-range rocket-artillery system

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is the first foreign buyer of the Indian multi-barrel Pinaka rocket launchers, India Today TV reported after news emerged from the nearly $250 million deal.

India will be sending indigenously developed multi-barrel Pinaka launchers, anti-tank rockets, and other range of ammunitions.

India Today highlighted the deal with Armenia in terms of it being a success for the Indian defense industry.

“The exports of the Indian armaments are taking place amid the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict,” the channel reported.

Pinakais amultiple rocket launcherproduced in India and developed by theDefence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) for theIndian Army. The system has a maximum range of 40km for Mark-I and 60kmfor Mark-I enhanced version,and can fire asalvoof 12rockets in 44 seconds. As of 2019, an upgraded guided missile version of the system has been test-fired, with a range of over 90km.

The name of the weapon is symbolic - The Pinaka isthe celestial bow of the Hindu destroyer deity, Shiva.

Described as a long-range rocket artillery system, the Pinaka works as a group of up to 6 launcher trucks that coordinate their firing attack at a designated target or area.

India has been looking to boost its arms exports and has taken various measures to enhance domestic production under its ‘Make in India’ policy, according toWION.