India Defence Research and Development Organisation
Pinaka
India's indigenous multi-barrel rocket launcher system, capable of saturating an area with 12 rockets in 44 seconds, first used operationally during the Kargil War and since upgraded with extended-range guided variants.
In service since 1999 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
90
km range
214
mm gun
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to India export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 1999. Status: active · ~200 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 90 km Bottom 8% of artillery systems
- Rate of fire
Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.
- 12 rpm Stronger than 86% of artillery systems
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 12× 214 mm rocket pods
- Caliber
Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters.
- 214 mm
- Max firing range
Maximum range of the main gun or rocket artillery (with assisted/extended-range munitions where noted). Higher extends reach.
- 90 km Stronger than 81% of artillery systems
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 4
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
- Propulsion type
Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…
- Solid-fuel rocket
Munition
Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.
- Caliber
Bore diameter the round is fired from.
- 214 mm
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Units built
Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.
- 200 Stronger than 32% of artillery systems
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 1 Stronger than 17% of artillery systems
Specifications compiled from public Defence Research and Development Organisation and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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What is the range of the Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka? +
The Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka has a maximum range of 90 km.
How many crew does the Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka require? +
The Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka requires a crew of 4.
What is the main armament of the Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka? +
The Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka's primary weapon is the 12× 214 mm rocket pods.
What is the Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka used for? +
The Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka is a artillery & mlrs typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka? +
The Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka cost? +
Defence Research and Development Organisation Pinaka: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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