The Indian Army is moving toward a significant overhaul of its rocket artillery framework by replacing ageing Grad launchers with expanded deployments of the indigenous Pinaka MBRL. Plans suggest the Pinaka fleet could grow to around 22 regiments, marking a major upgrade in India’s artillery firepower and operational flexibility.
This shift underscores a transition in doctrine, where precision and extended range are taking precedence over traditional volume-based rocket barrages. Consequently, an earlier DRDO-led effort to develop an indigenous 122mm rocket system—supported by ARDE, HEMRL, and industrial partners—has seen reduced priority despite successful trials and improved range performance.
The primary factor influencing this decision is the enhanced capability of the Pinaka system. With its 214mm rockets, Pinaka delivers superior range, firepower, and accuracy, particularly in its guided configurations. While the 122mm system offered affordability and incremental improvements over the Grad, its precision at longer ranges was not considered adequate for modern combat scenarios.
Recent battlefield lessons, especially from conflicts like Ukraine, have reinforced the importance of precision-guided artillery over massed unguided fire. Advanced surveillance, counter-battery radars, and hardened targets have reduced the effectiveness of traditional saturation tactics, making accurate, targeted strikes more valuable.
The Army is also aligning its modernization goals with systems comparable to HIMARS, emphasizing mobility, precision, and long-range engagement. At the same time, logistical considerations are driving efforts to simplify ammunition supply chains by limiting the number of calibers in service, with a focus on standardizing around systems like Pinaka rather than introducing additional variants.
