Railway
Pinaka, a multi-barrel rocket launcher system used by the Indian Army, was developed by:
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Answer: Option C — DRDO
Detailed Solution
Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The main laboratory involved was the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune. It is named after Pinaka, the bow of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology.
A multiple rocket launcher fires many unguided or guided rockets in a very short time, covering a large area with heavy firepower. It is used to destroy enemy troops, artillery positions, vehicles and supply lines before an attack or during defence.
Features of the Pinaka system:
- Each launcher has 12 rocket tubes and is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.
- A battery of six launchers can fire 72 rockets in about 44 seconds, covering an area of about 1,000 metres by 800 metres.
The Mark-I rockets have a range of about 40 kilometres. The enhanced and guided versions (Pinaka Mk-II and guided Pinaka) have ranges of about 75-90 kilometres, with improved accuracy using navigation guidance. Longer-range versions are under development.
Pinaka was first used in combat during the Kargil War of 1999, where it was effective in destroying Pakistani positions on mountain tops. It is manufactured by Indian companies including Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen and Toubro, Solar Industries and Munitions India Limited. Armenia became the first foreign buyer of Pinaka in 2022, and other countries such as France have shown interest in it.
The Pinaka is part of India's efforts towards self-reliance in defence under "Atmanirbhar Bharat".
Why not the other options?
- ✗ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) develops satellites and launch vehicles, not military rockets.
- ✗HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) makes aircraft and helicopters, such as Tejas and Dhruv.
- ✗BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) makes radars and defence electronics.
Quick tip
Remember: Pinaka = DRDO multi-barrel rocket launcher (ARDE Pune), named after Shiva's bow, used in the Kargil War (1999), exported to Armenia.
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Defence Technology & Missiles — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Defence Technology & Missiles, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's defence technology: the missiles developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and later, their types and ranges, DRDO, defence equipment such as aircraft, tanks, submarines and warships, and military exercises with other countries. Common questions ask what type a missile is (Prithvi is surface-to-surface, Akash is surface-to-air, and Nag is anti-tank), which missile was developed with Russia (BrahMos), and which countries take part in a joint exercise. Lists of exercises and newly inducted equipment change often, so check current affairs as well. Practise the defence technology and missiles questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.