DRDO successfully tests 120-km strike range Pinaka rockets

India's journey towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing has been a long and strategic one, driven by geopolitical realities and the imperative to secure its borders. Historically, India has been one of the world's largest importers of defence equipment, a dependency that often came with strategic vulnerabilities and significant financial outflows. Recognizing this, successive governments have pushed for greater indigenization, culminating in recent initiatives like 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) and 'Make in India' in Defence.

The recent successful test of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system with an enhanced strike range of 120 km by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) marks a significant milestone in this pursuit. This advanced variant, now officially referred to as Long Range Guided Rockets-120, demonstrates India's growing prowess in developing sophisticated weapon systems domestically. Concurrently, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), India's apex defence procurement body, cleared procurement proposals worth a substantial Rs 79,000 crore. Crucially, these proposals include the acquisition of these very Long Range Guided Rockets-120, signaling a clear intent to integrate these indigenous capabilities into the Indian Armed Forces promptly.

Key stakeholders in this development include the **Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)**, the primary entity responsible for the design, development, and successful testing of the Pinaka system. Their role is pivotal in driving India's technological advancements in defence. The **Ministry of Defence (MoD)**, under which the DAC operates, sets the overall policy direction and provides the financial and administrative framework for such projects. The **Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)**, chaired by the Defence Minister, is responsible for according Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for all capital acquisitions for the Indian Armed Forces, ensuring that procurements align with strategic requirements and promote indigenization. The **Indian Army** is the ultimate beneficiary and end-user of the Pinaka system, providing crucial operational feedback and defining performance parameters. Beyond government entities, private and public sector defence manufacturers, such as Larsen & Toubro and Tata Advanced Systems, play a critical role as production partners, translating DRDO's prototypes into deployable systems, thereby strengthening the domestic defence industrial base.

This development holds immense significance for India. Firstly, it substantially enhances India's **defence preparedness** by providing the Indian Army with a potent, long-range conventional strike capability that can neutralize enemy targets with precision. The 120 km range significantly increases the stand-off distance, improving the safety of friendly forces. Secondly, it is a powerful testament to the success of the **'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative in defence**, reducing India's reliance on foreign imports and bolstering self-reliance. This strategic autonomy is vital in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, ensuring that India's defence capabilities are not subject to external pressures or sanctions. Economically, indigenous manufacturing creates jobs, fosters technological innovation, and drives growth in ancillary industries, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that supply components. It also conserves valuable foreign exchange that would otherwise be spent on imports.

Historically, India's quest for self-sufficiency in missile technology gained significant momentum with the **Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)**, launched in 1983, which led to the development of iconic missiles like Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, and Nag. The Pinaka project, initiated in the late 1980s, continued this legacy, evolving from its initial 40 km range to the current 120 km guided variant, showcasing a continuous improvement cycle in indigenous defence R&D. This evolution underscores a consistent national policy thrust towards building a robust domestic defence industrial ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the successful integration of the Long Range Guided Rockets-120 into the Indian Army will likely spur further investment in advanced research and development within DRDO. It is expected to encourage greater collaboration between DRDO, academia, and the private sector, fostering a more dynamic and innovative defence ecosystem. This could potentially position India as a net exporter of defence equipment in the future, aligning with the ambitious targets set by the **Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020**, which aims for a defence manufacturing turnover of $25 billion, including exports of $5 billion, by 2025. While no direct constitutional article specifically mandates indigenous defence production, the Union List (Seventh Schedule, List I, Entry 2) grants the Union government exclusive power over 'Naval, military and air forces; any other armed forces of the Union,' implicitly underscoring the central government's responsibility for national defence and security, which is best served by self-reliance in critical defence technologies. This development is a crucial step towards realizing India's strategic goals of becoming a major defence power and a net security provider in the region.