France is interested in acquiring the Indian HIMARS Pinaka Rocket Launcher System

 

After Armenia, France is interested in acquiring the Indian HIMARS Pinaka Rocket Launcher System. This marks a significant milestone in India's export of defense equipment. Armenia selected the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System (MBRLS) to strengthen its defense against Azerbaijan, a system on par with the American HIMARS. Currently, France is assessing the system for its ground forces. French Army’s Brigadier General Stephane Richou, on a visit to India, disclosed the following information.

 “We are assessing Pinaka as we require a system of that nature and analyzing it alongside similar systems from leading countries… This is more than a business alliance, it is collaboration,” Brigadier Richou informed an Indian news agency. Emphasizing that India and France are strategic allies, the visiting French Army officer with a two-star rank mentioned that the two nations are already “sharing equipment” such as Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines. “For us, the Indian defense industry is highly efficient."

 "We are examining the capabilities provided by India, as well as those of the top countries supplying equipment," Brigadier Richou stated. The Pinaka was transported to Armenia through Iran in 2023. Pinaka Mk-1 is a free-flight artillery rocket system for area bombardment with a range of 38 kilometers, rapid response time, and a high firing rate. One Pinaka system launches 12 rockets from a multi-barrel launcher in 44 seconds. 

In comparison, a battery can launch a total of 72 rockets. India created the Pinaka system to replace the Russian GRAD BM-21. In order for an MBRLS to survive in a drone-heavy battlefield, it needs the ability to swiftly fire and retreat. The Pinaka Mk-1 possesses that exact capability.

The launcher's Shoot-and-Scoot feature allows it to avoid enemy counter-battery fire. Pinaka support vehicles have similar mobility and logistics capabilities. The export contract of the Pinaka MBRLS with Armenia was the first of its kind by the Indian Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with almost no import content. This rocket launcher is currently being used by the Indian Army and has been deployed along the borders with China and Pakistan. 

The Pinaka rocket system, named after Lord Shiva's bow, was first used in combat during the 1999 Kargil conflict against Pakistan. The conflicts in the cold Himalayan mountain ranges witnessed Pinaka eliminating Pakistani positions on mountain peaks.

"The main advantage of the Pinaka system is that a single regiment can fire up to 12 rockets in less than a minute in various directions, and then swiftly move to another location," a source knowledgeable about the system informed the EurAsian Times.