NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry is set to sign a Rs. 10,200 crore deal on Thursday (February 6, 2025) for ammunition for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system. This agreement will be made with Solar Industries from Nagpur and Munitions India Limited (MIL), a public sector company.
Last week, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the Indian Army’s proposal to purchase ammunition, including Area Denial Munitions. The deal will be shared between Solar Industries, the rocket manufacturer, and MIL, which was previously part of the Ordnance Factory Board.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi mentioned in January that the contract for Pinaka weapon system munitions, including Rs 5,700 crore for high-explosive ammunition and Rs 4,500-cr for Area Denial Munitions, would soon be cleared by the government.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also close to testing a 120 kilometer strike version of the Pinaka rocket. The first test is expected to take place in the next financial year.
The rockets approved today have a range of about 45 kilometers, making them effective along both the Pakistan and China borders. The Pinaka is considered one of India's most successful indigenous weapon systems. The Army is fully supportive of it, with plans to focus on the Pinaka instead of other alternative weapons once longer-range versions are available.
Pinaka rockets have also seen success in the export market. Armenia has purchased them, and several European countries, including France, have shown interest.
In the 2025-26 budget, India has allocated Rs 6,81,210 crore for defense, up from Rs 6.22 lakh crore this year, in response to security challenges from China and Pakistan. Of this, Rs 1,80,000 crore will go towards purchasing new weapons, aircraft, warships, and other military equipment.
The total Defence budget represents a 9.53 percent increase from the previous year’s allocation.
Pinaka is a fully indigenous weapon system developed and designed by the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).