MoD inks Rs 10K crore contracts with local firms

The Ministry of Defence on Thursday signed contracts worth Rs 10,147 crore with two Indian companies — Economic Explosives Limited (EEL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL) — for the procurement of two types of ammunition for the Indian Army’s Pinaka rocket launcher. The ammunition includes high-explosive and area denial munitions.

Last month, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the procurement of indigenous ammunition for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system.

While four Pinaka regiments have already been inducted —some deployed along the northern borders with China — six more regiments are being operationalised. This expansion is expected to enhance the Army’s firepower and versatility, particularly in high-altitude combat scenarios.

The Pinaka system can deliver high-explosive rounds with a strike range of 45 km, while area-denial munitions, designed to saturate target zones with bomblets, including anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, have a range of 37 km.