SOURCE: AFI
As India continues to modernize its armed forces amid evolving regional threats, the time has come for the country to develop unmanned multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRLs) firing 122 mm caliber rockets. Such systems, designed with a low battlefield signature and engineered for cost-effective mass deployment, could significantly bolster India’s artillery capabilities while addressing the economic and tactical demands of modern warfare. This need is particularly pressing given the increasing use of unmanned systems globally and India’s own operational requirements along its borders with China and Pakistan.
The 122 mm caliber rocket, widely used in systems like the Soviet-era BM-21 Grad—already in service with the Indian Army—offers a proven platform for delivering high-volume, area-saturation firepower. The Grad, with its 40-tube configuration, can unleash a salvo of rockets covering a wide area, making it ideal for suppressing enemy positions, disrupting troop concentrations, and targeting soft-skinned assets. However, traditional MBRLs like the Grad are manned, bulky, and often emit a significant battlefield signature—through noise, heat, and visual cues—making them vulnerable to counter-battery fire, drones, and precision-guided munitions in today’s sensor-rich battlefields.
An unmanned 122 mm MBRL system would address these vulnerabilities by integrating automation, stealth features, and remote operation capabilities. By removing the crew from the launch platform, such a system could operate in high-threat environments with reduced risk to personnel, while advanced engineering—such as electric or hybrid propulsion, noise-dampening materials, and compact designs—would minimize its battlefield signature during transit and deployment. For instance, a low-profile chassis with a reduced thermal footprint could evade detection by enemy infrared sensors, while autonomous navigation systems, guided by AI and satellite data, would enable the launcher to reposition quickly after firing, avoiding retaliatory strikes.
The economic argument for unmanned MBRLs is equally compelling. India’s artillery modernization program, which includes systems like the indigenous Pinaka MBRL (214 mm caliber) and the Smerch (300 mm caliber) acquired from Russia, has been effective but costly. The Pinaka, while advanced with its precision-guided variants, is a heavier system designed for specific high-value targets, and its rockets are more expensive to produce than the 122 mm caliber rockets used in Grad systems. An unmanned 122 mm MBRL, by contrast, could cater to “mass” requirements—delivering large-scale firepower in scenarios like border skirmishes or defensive operations—while keeping costs low. The 122 mm rocket’s simpler design and widespread production infrastructure, both globally and within India, make it a cost-effective choice for sustained operations.
Such a system would also align with India’s broader push for unmanned and autonomous technologies in defense. The Indian Army has already begun integrating drones, such as the Switch UAV and loitering munitions, into its arsenal, while the DRDO is developing projects like the Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle (AUGV) for surveillance and logistics. An unmanned MBRL would build on this momentum, offering a force multiplier that can be networked with other systems for coordinated strikes. For example, integrating the launcher with real-time battlefield data from drones and satellites could enable rapid, precise salvos, enhancing its effectiveness against time-sensitive targets like enemy artillery or troop movements.
Operationally, unmanned 122 mm MBRLs would be particularly valuable along India’s mountainous borders with China, where the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has seen heightened tensions since the 2020 Galwan clash. The rugged terrain limits the mobility of traditional artillery, but a lightweight, unmanned system could be deployed closer to forward positions, providing rapid fire support without exposing crews to enemy fire. Similarly, in the plains along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, where artillery duels are frequent, the system’s low signature and autonomous operation would reduce the risk of detection and counterattacks.
Developing such a system is well within India’s capabilities. The DRDO, in collaboration with private firms like Tata Advanced Systems and Larsen & Toubro, has the expertise to design an unmanned platform, while ordnance factories and companies like Munitions India Limited can scale up production of 122 mm rockets. The challenge lies in prioritizing this project amid competing demands—such as the development of hypersonic missiles and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)—and ensuring inter-service coordination, as the Indian Army, which operates MBRLs, may need to align with the DRDO and private industry for rapid prototyping.
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