A foreign country has received the first shipment of Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) rockets from India.
A post on the social media site X (formerly Twitter) by Ordnance Factory Ambajri (OFAJ) says that the first shipment of Pinaka Mk-1 enhanced rocket (ER) left on October 5, 2023.
The post said, “OFAJ has successfully made a mark for itself on the global stage for Pinaka Rocket, with the flagging off, of the first consignment of Pinaka Mk I enhanced Rocket against export by Somnath Tripathy, Senior General Manager OFAJ on 5th October, in the presence of all stakeholders.”
OFAJ has successfully made a mark for itself on the global stage for Pinaka Rocket, with the flagging off, of the first consignment of Pinaka Mk I enhanced Rocket against export by Shri Somnath Tripathy, Sr GM/OFAJ on 05.10.2023, in the presence of all stakeholders. pic.twitter.com/SmvYN7tcyV
— PRO, Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (@GmOfaj) October 10, 2023
“This achievement is a testimonial of our craftsmanship and determination, and we are poised to contribute significantly to our Nation’s growth,” said the post more.
Although it wasn’t said in the post, Armenia is probably the country that got the rockets.
As of September of last year, Armenia had placed a secret order for Pinaka launchers, rockets, and other related equipment worth Rs 2,000 crore, or $245 million, from the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
Within 45 kilometers, these Pinaka Mk-1 ER rockets can hit targets on land. A 75-kilometer-range guided Pinaka Mk-2 rocket can hit its target.
Even longer-range rockets are being made. The Pinaka Mk-2 ER will let the Pinaka launcher hit targets more than 120 kilometers away.
According to news sources, Pinaka launchers probably went to Armenia through Iran in July of this year, which made the government of Azerbaijan angry.
Fearing that Armenia and India’s military cooperation would grow, Azerbaijan asked India to rethink its choice to give Armenia deadly weapons.
An additional agreement worth $155 million was made between Armenia and Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited to provide an unknown number of 155mm/52 size advanced towed artillery gun systems.
