The Indian Army is planning to induct long-range suicide drones and rockets to augment its firepower, Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar, Director General of Artillery, said in a statement on Friday.
“We are looking at acquiring loitering munitions of long range for which trials of equipment are under the Mark 3 process”, Lt Gen Kumar said.
The Army is also working to extend the range of the Pinaka rockets to 300 km, the senior Indian Army official said. While the Pinaka Mark-I has a maximum range of 40 kilometres, the Pinaka Mark-II is known to have a range of 90 kilometres.
Lt Gen Kumar also said that DRDO has been tasked to develop hypersonic missiles for the defence forces of the country, which are now looking to induct long-range cruise and ballistic missiles like the 2,000 km range Nirbhay and 400 km range Pralay missiles.
The officer said that the Army had got clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council to get Pralay ballistic missiles and Nirbhay missiles.
Giving details of the missile programme at a press gathering, he said, “Development work is also in progress by DRDO for Hypersonic Missiles … Our missile programme is progressing well at the desired pace, wherein Research & Development is being carried out by DRDO to enhance range, accuracy & lethality of both Ballistic and Cruise Missiles.
“Pinaka has been the success story of Atmanirbharta drive. The equipment has been extensively exploited and has added more punch and lethality to artillery’s arsenal. More Regiments of Pinaka are being inducted,” he said.
