Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the first batch of Pinaka guided missiles was sent to Armenia from the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) plant in Nagpur.
During the inauguration, Singh flagged off the first export batch of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia under a Rs 2,000 crore defence deal. This follows last year's delivery of unguided Pinaka rockets to Armenia, and represents a decisive upgrade in India's defence exports portfolio.
The shipment confirms reports about Armenia's existing contract for four batteries of the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system. While the agreement covers the launchers themselves, crucial provisions were made for the sustained supply of guided rockets and associated support equipment. The delivery of the Pinaka launchers commenced in July 2023 and was successfully concluded by November 2024.
Between 2022 and 2023, Armenia accounted for a staggering 43% of India's total arms exports. For the 2024-2025 financial period, the two nations solidified this relationship with procurement contracts valued at approximately $600 million.
The new facility manufactures 30mm ammunition and the guided Pinaka rocket system with a strike range of up to 75 kilometres and significantly improved accuracy. Armenia has received three Pinaka variants, including the guided Pinaka. The Armenian Ground Forces was the first to receive the Guided Pinaka, even before the Indian Army.
The Pinaka system represents a critical addition to Armenia's defence capabilities. The multi-barrel rocket launcher system is capable of neutralizing a wide range of area targets such as enemy troops, armoured and soft skin vehicles, communication centers, and air terminal complexes.
This development underscores the deepening strategic partnership between India and Armenia in the defence sector, with both nations benefiting from technology transfer and capacity building initiatives.