France’s interest in India’s indigenous Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System has stirred significant attention recently. While this might have surprised many observers, those closely monitoring the French defence landscape know that this interest began as early as 2022, largely in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The defence collaboration between India and France has long been established, and France, already a major arms supplier to India, has worked to further enhance this relationship.
Though many details remain classified, the 2023 India-France defence industrial roadmap signifies this ambition. High-level diplomatic exchanges have further solidified this cooperation, signalling that the collaboration now encompasses more than just exports to India or joint development of French weaponry. It’s also opening doors for New Delhi to supply indigenously made defence systems directly to Paris.
This mutual trust has laid a strong foundation for France to emerge as the second largest defence supplier to India – accounting for over 30 per cent of India’s imports. Additionally, Paris is also one of the largest buyers of Indian defence electronic equipment after the United States. Given India’s battle-tested, advanced, and cost-effective systems like the Pinaka MLRS, France’s interest in diversifying its defence capabilities by evaluating Indian systems comes as little surprise.
Pressures of the Russia-Ukraine war
France’s initial calls for advanced rocket artillery systems came from its Army Chief of Staff, General Pierre Schill, who highlighted the need before the Parliamentary Defence Committee in November 2023. As a follow-up, the French government announced plans to modernise its military arsenal with new, long-range MLRS by May 2024.
For many Western militaries, including France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, the earlier generations of rocket artillery were based on the US-designed High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which entered service in the 1990s and offered a strike range of 15 to 80 km. These systems became integral to France’s first artillery regiment, with Paris using the LRU (Lance-Roquettes Unitaire) version of the HIMARS.
To meet rising demands for artillery and military modernisation in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, President Emmanuel Macron’s administration introduced the Military Programming Law (2024-2030), allocating €600 million for procuring 13 long-range artillery systems by 2030, with another 13 units to be acquired by 2035.
The French defence procurement agency, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), has since been carefully reviewing artillery systems from around the world. It’s paying close attention to HIMARS’ performance in Ukraine, and Pinaka’s role in Armenia’s ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
To replenish artillery supplies, France had transferred six of its LRUs to Ukraine so far, reducing its stockpile significantly, especially given that only about 15 units were modernised post-Cold War. Now, with only nine LRUs remaining, France’s rocket artillery capabilities are considerably limited.
In his 2023 presentation to the defence committee, General Schill specified that France requires an MLRS with modular capabilities, capable of firing a range of missiles with varying ranges—from 120-150 km and even up to 500 km. With the Military Programming Law in effect, France has the legislative and financial framework to proceed with procuring these capabilities.
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France’s options: domestic and international
For now, France’s top choice remains domestically developed systems. Two alliances are competing for the French contract: one between French jet engine maker Safran and European missile manufacturer MBDA, and another between advanced tech company Thales and aerospace company ArianeGroup. However, since France’s tender is open to international bids, American aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin is expected to propose its long-range HIMARS system.
Yet, the high cost of HIMARS has prompted France to consider alternatives. The August 2024 sale of 22 HIMARS units to Australia was valued at nearly $1 billion, which could be prohibitively expensive for French budgets. This makes the Indian-designed Pinaka MLRS, known for its high performance and cost-effectiveness, an attractive option. The Pinaka Mark III, currently under development, is tailored to meet many of France’s specifications, presenting itself as a viable solution.
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From Pinaka Mark 1 to Mark 3
The Pinaka MLRS, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is fully indigenous and first drew international attention with Armenia’s 2023 purchase. Armenia has relied on the Pinaka in its conflict with Azerbaijan, further strengthening India’s position as Armenia’s top defence supplier. France, as Armenia’s second-largest arms supplier, has been observing Pinaka’s performance in the Caucasus closely, offering Paris firsthand insights into New Delhi’s defence technology capabilities.
The origins of the Pinaka system date back to the late 1980s, when the Indian Army needed a modern artillery system to replace the ageing Russian BM-21 Grad system. The Kargil War of 1999 underscored this need, pushing the Indian Army to seek a system capable of accurately targeting enemy positions from a considerable distance. DRDO had already initiated the Pinaka project in 1986, and by the late 1990s, the first-generation Pinaka Mark I, with a range of 40 km, was ready for deployment. Since then, the system has gained a reputation for its reliability, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness, making it a staple in Indian military operations.
Today, the Pinaka has evolved into the Pinaka Mark II, which has a range of up to 60-75 kilometres. Work is also underway on extended-range variants that can potentially reach 90 kilometres or more. A single Pinaka battery, consisting of six launch vehicles, can fire a salvo of 72 rockets in just 44 seconds, covering an area of approximately 1,000 by 800 meters. This makes it highly effective against large formations and entrenched enemy targets.
In addition to its firepower, the Pinaka system features an advanced command and control setup, providing high accuracy—over 90 per cent with single firing and up to 99.99 per cent with dual firing. Its flexibility to launch a range of warheads, from high-explosive fragmentation to anti-personnel and anti-tank munitions, makes it versatile for various mission requirements.
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The future of Pinaka: potential for Western markets
India is now developing even longer-range Pinaka models, including the Pinaka Mark III, which can hit targets as far as 120 km and potentially up to 300 km. In 2021, the Indian Army tasked DRDO with creating a version capable of matching Chinese multiple-barrel rocket systems with ranges close to 300 km along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The new variants of Pinaka are expected to incorporate advanced propulsion systems, possibly using hybrid technologies and updated fuel compositions to extend range without sacrificing accuracy. Enhanced guidance systems with satellite navigation, and eventually AI-enabled capabilities, are also likely, making the Pinaka Mark III an increasingly attractive option.
With its 300 km range, the Pinaka III is particularly appealing for Western partners looking to build up their aerial artillery capabilities. Its cost-effectiveness and robust performance position Pinaka as a competitive option, especially for countries with budget constraints. As seen with Armenia’s adoption and France’s increasing curiosity about it, the system’s battle-proven versatility and advanced capabilities resonate well beyond India’s borders. This signals its potential for future collaborations and sales in Western defence markets, particlularly Paris.
Pinaka’s French affair is here to stay.
The writer is a geopolitics analyst and author. She tweets @swasrao. Views are personal.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
This post was originally published on here
