The Union Defence Ministry has endorsed contracts worth Rs 2580 crores with Indian companies to procure Pinaka rocket launchers for six Army regiments under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The contract has been signed with Tata Power Company Ltd (TPCL) and engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) while defence public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) will also be part of the project. The BEML will supply the vehicles on which the rocket launchers will be mounted.
The six Pinaka Regiments comprise of 114 Launchers with automated gun aiming & positioning system (AGAPS) and 45 command posts to be procured from M/s TPCL and M/s L & T, and 330 vehicles to be provided from M/s BEML.
It is said that missile regiment is scheduled to be operationalized by 2024. Also, the weapon system will have 70 per cent indigenous content.
“This is a flagship project showcasing public-private partnership under the aegis of government of India (DRDO & MoD) enabling ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in cutting edge defence technologies,” the ministry said.
