Pinaka and Smerch Rocket Systems

In News 

• Indian Army has deployed Pinaka and Smerch Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems (MRLS) at a forwarding position near the China border to counter any threat arising across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Both Pinaka and Smerch have 12 rockets in each launcher. 
  • Both these weapon systems (Pinaka and Smerch) are designed to fire a variety of ammunition like high explosives and submunitions against area targets.

About 

• Smerch system: 
  • It is procured from Russia and is the longest range conventional rocket system in Indian army inventory having a maximum range of 90 Km. 
  • A battery of four launchers can fire a salvo of 48 rockets in 40 seconds neutralising an area of 1200m by 1200m.

• Pinaka weapon system:
  • It is an autonomous rocket artillery system that can engage area targets up to 38km at mean sea level. 
    • At these altitudes, the ranges are enhanced significantly which further augments the deep strike capability of the weapon system.
  • It is an indigenously developed multi-barrel rocket launch (MBRL) system developed by DRDO for the Army.
    • It is an artillery missile system, and its development was started in the late 1980s, as an alternative to ‘Grad’, Russia-made multi-barrel rocket launching systems.
  • A battery of six launchers of Pinaka can fire a salvo of 72 rockets in 44 seconds thereby neutralising an area of 1000m by 800m.
  • The upgraded version of the Pinaka ammunition system is already on the production line and can fire up to a range of 75km with superior precision which significantly enhances the existing capability manifolds.

Source: TH