The French Army is evaluating the Indian Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) for its requirements, a senior French Army officer said recently.
The development comes as Paris seeks to acquire a replacement for its unitary rocket launchers (LRU), a French version of the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.
“We are evaluating the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system because we need a system like that,” Asian News International quoted Brigadier General Stephane Richou as saying during his visit to India.
“We are evaluating the system among the other systems offered by the top countries offering such systems. India is among the top countries producing weapons.”
Replacement for LRU
Nine LRUs are being operated by the French, the first of which was bought over a decade ago.
The system is expected to exceed its service life in 2027.
As a replacement, Paris seeks to acquire a total of 10 new systems by 2030 and an additional 13 by 2035, according to Zone Militaire.
The preference is for a sovereign system. However, an off-the-shelf procurement of a foreign system has not been ruled out, the outlet added.
A pair of French consortiums have responded to the initiative, led by MBDA and Thales, whereas the American M142 HIMARS and the Israeli PULS are also being evaluated as potential purchases.
Meanwhile, the consideration of the Pinaka system symbolizes France’s growing military ties with India.
“This is much more than business partnership, and this is cooperation, and this is a common future together,” Brigadier General Richou said.
Pinaka MBRL
Developed as a replacement for the Soviet-origin Grad system in the 1980s-1990s, the Pinaka is one of the few success stories of Indian defense exports.
Ten Pinaka regiments have been operational with the Indian Army since 2000, fielding the basic Pinaka MK1 variant with a range of around 40 kilometers (25 miles).
An upgraded MK 2 is undergoing user trials, featuring an extended range of 75 kilometers (46 miles).
Meanwhile, the Indian government approved the development of two more Pinaka variants earlier this year with ranges of 120 kilometers (74 miles) and 300 kilometers (186 miles).