What is Pinaka-MK3?

What is Pinaka?

• Pinaka is a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL).
• It is designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a laboratory of the DRDO.
• It delivers lethal and responsive fire against a variety of area targets, such as exposed enemy troops, armoured and soft-skin vehicles, communication centres, air terminal complexes, and fuel and ammunition dumps.
• Features:
  • It consists of a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle, and a command post vehicle.
  • The rocket launcher has two pods containing six rockets each and can neutralise an area of 700 × 500 square metres within 48 seconds. 
  • The 214mm Pinaka rocket features a payload of 100 kilograms (220 pounds), with the option of a range of warheads such as anti-tank mines and blast-cum-pre-fragmented high explosives.
  • The launcher system is supported on four hydraulically actuated outriggers at the time of firing. 
  • The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.
• India already has several versions of the Pinaka rocket launcher system.
  • The range of the Pinaka Mk-1 is 48 kilometers, the Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced has a range of 60 kilometres and the Pinaka Mk-II has a range of 90 kilometer.

About Pinaka-MK3:

• The advanced version follows in the footsteps of the original Pinaka system.
• DRDO is working on two variants of the Pinaka-MK3 rocket launcher.
  • The first variant is expected to have a range of 120 kilometres or even more.
  • The range of the subsequent variants will be 300 kilometers.
• The speed of the Pinaka-MK3 is 5757.70 kilometres per hour.
• It has the capability to attack distant enemies and air attacks.

It can operate in any weather, making it an all-weather equipment.

Q1: What is the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?

DRDO is the R&D wing of Ministry of Defence, Govt of India, with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems, while equipping our armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment in accordance with requirements laid down by the three Services. DRDO was formed in 1958 by merging the then-existing Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).

Source: DRDO developing Pinaka-MK3, long-range rocket launcher to boost India’s strike range to 300 km