SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a significant expansion of its Pinaka rocket program, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is now exploring the development of an air-to-air variant of the long-range Guided Pinaka, in addition to its ongoing efforts to create an air-launched surface strike weapon system. According to sources cited by idrw.org, DRDO is engaged in discussions with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to adapt the Pinaka, originally designed for the Indian Army, into a versatile missile system capable of meeting the IAF’s operational needs.
The IAF has expressed keen interest in leveraging the 250-300 km range Guided Pinaka, currently under development for the Army, as a cost-effective alternative to imported systems like the Israeli Rampage missile.
The Pinaka, a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system, has been a cornerstone of the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities since its induction following the Kargil War. Developed by DRDO, the system has undergone several upgrades, with the latest variants focusing on extended range and precision guidance. The Guided Pinaka, an evolution of the free-flight Pinaka rocket, incorporates a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) kit, enabling it to achieve enhanced accuracy and strike targets at ranges of up to 75 km in its current form. DRDO is now working on longer-range variants, with plans to extend the Pinaka’s reach to 120 km, 150 km, and eventually 250-300 km, making it a formidable long-range artillery system.
The IAF’s interest in the Pinaka stems from its need for versatile, cost-effective weapon systems that can be integrated with its existing fleet of fighter aircraft, such as the Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, and potentially the indigenous Tejas. The IAF has specifically highlighted the 250-300 km range Guided Pinaka as a candidate for development into an air-launched surface strike weapon system, similar to the Israeli Rampage missile, which India has already procured. The Rampage, a supersonic, long-range air-to-ground missile, is designed for precision strikes against high-value targets, making it a benchmark for the IAF’s requirements.
The Guided Pinaka, currently in the design stage, is being developed as a modular system to ensure compatibility with multiple launch platforms. DRDO is focusing on a design that allows the missile to be launched from truck-based canisters for the Army, while also enabling its adaptation for air-launch with minimal hardware changes. This approach is critical to maintaining cost efficiency and streamlining manufacturing processes, as it ensures that the core design and production lines remain consistent across variants.
An air-launched Pinaka variant would provide the IAF with greater operational flexibility, enabling it to conduct precision strikes against a wide range of targets, including enemy fortifications, command centers, and logistics hubs, at extended ranges. The potential air-to-air variant, if realized, could further expand the IAF’s capabilities, particularly in countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other low-speed aerial threats.
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