What is Pinaka-MK3?

What is Pinaka?        

• Pinaka is a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL).
• It is designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a laboratory of the DRDO.
• It delivers lethal and responsive fire against a variety of area targets, such as exposed enemy troops, armoured and soft-skin vehicles, communication centres, air terminal complexes, and fuel and ammunition dumps.
• Features:
  • It consists of a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle, and a command post vehicle.
  • The rocket launcher hastwo pods containing six rockets each and can neutralise an area of 700 × 500 square metres within 48 seconds. 
  • The 214 mm Pinaka rocket features a payload of 100 kilograms (220 pounds), with the option of a range of warheads such as anti-tank mines and blast-cum-pre-fragmented high explosives.
  • The launcher system is supported on four hydraulically-actuated outriggers at the time of firing. 
  • The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.
  • India already has several versions of the Pinaka rocket launcher system.
  • The range of the Pinaka Mk-1 is 48 kilometers, the Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced has a range of 60 kilometres and the Pinaka Mk-II has a range of 90 kilometer.

About Pinaka-MK3:

• The advanced version follows in the footsteps of the original Pinaka system.
• DRDO is working on two variants of the Pinaka-MK3 rocket launcher.
  • The first variant is expected to have a range of 120 kilometres or even more.
  • The range of the subsequent variants will be 300 kilometers.
• The speed of the Pinaka-MK3 is 5757.70 kilometres per hour.
• It can attack distant enemies and air attacks.
• It can operate in any weather, making it an all-weather equipment.