Pinaka Rockets, MR-SAMs, Giant LPDs: India's Armed Forces Poised for Major Weapon System Upgrade

Rocket launchers for the Army, surface-to-air missiles for the Navy and the Air Force and possibly, a big-ticket moment, a Rs 33,000 crore deal for four LPDs or Landing Platform Dock, an amphibious warfare

vessel, also for the Navy. These are likely to be discussed by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh, and including chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan and the three service chiefs when it meets on November 23.The Defence Procurement Board (DPB), headed by defence secretary R.K. Singh and including the three vice-chiefs, has cleared all three deals, and all three are indigenously-made weapon systems, as part of the Centre's atmanirbharata or self-reliance process. - The Navy and IAF are looking for the MR-SAM, or medium-range surface-to-air missiles, made by Bharat Dynamics. Both are likely to get over 300 of them. It is an anti-aircraft and anti-missile system with a range of about 100 km. Both the navy and the IAF (and also, the Army) have this very proven system. - The very potent Pinaka MBRL or multi-barrelled rocket launcher, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has a range of about 90 km. On the agenda is the Pinaka for the Army, about 1,000 rockets.- The Army's request for special vehicles for air-defence to carry command and control equipment is also on the agenda. The country's air-defence system worked very well during Operation Sindoor, the four days of fighting with Pakistan's armed forces. The LPD order is clearly the big one and Indian shipyards will be fighting to build the four ships, which are the size of a small aircraft-carrier (about 20,000+ tons). They are likely to cost Rs 33,000 crore and means a sure-fire boost for the country's shipbuilding industry. These are usually used for amphibious warfare, but can be supply ships as well. The Cabinet Committee on Security's clearance would be necessary for the LPDs, given the cost. There was some doubt about whether the DAC could take place on October 23 as the Naval Commanders Conference is also happening on the same day. But a decision has been arrived at: both meetings, both important, will take place right after Diwali, on October 23.