India begins exporting Pinaka weapon systems to Armenia | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Amid growing global interest in indigenous people multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRL), India has started supplying the highly capable Pinaka missiles to Armenia.
The delivery of the DRDO-developed missile launchers has started around the same time that India has started supplying the Akash air defense missile system to the country.
The first lot of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems have been delivered to Armenia, defense sources told ANI.
The Pinaka missile launchers are a highly capable weapon system with variants capable of striking targets at a range of more than 80 km.
The contract between Indian companies and Armenia for the supply of these weapons was signed about two years ago after extensive negotiations.
Armenia, along with the US and France, is one of the three largest buyers of Indian arms and equipment.
A number of countries from Southeast Asia and Europe have shown interest in the Pinaka missiles of which several variants have been developed in recent times and the Indian military is looking to introduce them on a large scale.
The DRDO also recently conducted a major test of the Pinaka guided missiles produced by Nagpur-based Solar Industry’s Economic Explosives Limited along with government-owned Munitions India Limited.
France has shown interest in purchasing this weapon system.
Named after the divine bow of the Hindu god Shiva, French interest in the missile system was demonstrated earlier this year during a high-level visit by Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan.
India has boosted indigenous systems for export markets and the Center has been able to achieve success three times since 2014. Notably, France is the second largest importer of Indian defense equipment after the US, with many electronic items flowing there from India. .