Indian MLRS for the French army
French Army LRU combat vehicle
France's Ministry of National Defense plans to upgrade its jet fleet artillery ground forces. The existing multiple launch rocket systems no longer meet modern requirements due to their age and limited characteristics. In the future, they are planned to be replaced by more modern models. The department is currently analyzing the market and studying the options available for order. It has recently become known that the French army is showing interest in the Indian-developed Pinaka MLRS.
Downsizing and obsolescence
The previous program to modernize the French rocket artillery was carried out in the first half of the nineties. At that time, 57 American MLRS of the latest model at that time, the M270 MLRS, were purchased for the ground forces. This fleet of equipment, with minor reductions, remained in service for a decade and a half.
In 2008, France, along with other countries, signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. In accordance with this document, it withdrew from service a number of different projectiles, including missiles MFOM for M270 MLRS. Missile systems that lost their ammunition were transferred to the reserve.
However, they did not abandon the existing combat vehicles. France, Germany and Italy jointly developed a project to modernize the MLRS with a replacement of the fire control system and some other innovations. The new type of FCS, the European Fire Control System (EFCS), blocked the use of missiles with cluster warheads, but improved all the main combat characteristics.
Pinaka MLRS with 214mm rockets
In the early 13s, the French army ordered the modernization of 270 M2014 combat vehicles from the reserve according to a new project. They were received in XNUMX and put into service under the name Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU). Similar MLRS appeared in the Bundeswehr and received the designation MARS II. In Italy, they were called MLRS-I.
According to available data, most of the LRU products are still in service. Several vehicles had to be sent to the reserve due to the exhaustion of their service life or revision of development plans. Two more MLRS were transferred to Ukraine as military aid at the turn of 2022-23. According to the Military Balance 2024 reference book, at the beginning of this year only 9 LRU-type MLRS remained in service.
Replacement issue
The French Ministry of Defense is currently implementing a major program to modernize the ground forces. The purchase of various armored vehicles of modern models and other measures are planned. In particular, several years ago, forecasts appeared in specialized publications about a possible update of the MLRS fleet.
The prerequisites for upgrading rocket artillery are simple and obvious. The equipment that France has was built in the early nineties and is close to exhausting its service life. At the same time, less than a dozen combat vehicles remain in service, and upgrading the fleet using equipment from the reserve makes no sense.
Recently, the top leadership of the military department confirmed the existence of plans to replace the MLRS. Some details of the current selection processes were revealed and one of the systems that could be put into service in the future was named.
Pinaka uses 214mm rockets
A few days ago, a delegation from the French Ministry of Defense visited India. The military of the two countries discussed various issues of cooperation, including in the field of combat vehicles. During the visit, an interesting statement was made by French Brigadier General Stephane Richoux, who heads the International Relations Department at the General Staff of the Ground Forces.
The general confirmed that the department is in the process of searching for a replacement for the existing LRU MLRS. Options for acquiring equipment from various countries are being considered. In particular, the French military has paid attention to the Pinaka product, developed in India.
S. Rishu noted that India is one of the largest developers and manufacturers of weapons in the world. Its latest development in the field of rocket artillery is being considered and compared with proposals from other countries.
The general refrained from making any comments on the prospects of the Indian MLRS in the current competition. At the same time, he noted the importance of military and military-technical cooperation between France and India, and also pointed out the need to continue it.
Indian development
History The Pinaka MLRS began in the 21s when the Indian command decided to develop its own multiple launch rocket system to replace the Soviet BM-XNUMX Grad. The promising model was to show higher characteristics and be produced by Indian industry.
Technique in exercises
Work on the project, called Pinaka (Shiva's bow), began in 1986 and was carried out by the DRDO Defense Development Organization with the participation of several other enterprises. A prototype was built and put to the test in 1992. The next few years were spent on various stages of testing at the proving ground. By the end of the nineties, the MLRS reached military testing. Interestingly, combat use of the new MLRS began at the testing stage. In 1999, two combat vehicles participated in the so-called Kargil War and showed their best side.
For a number of reasons, serial production of the Pinaka Mark I MLRS for the Indian Army was launched only in 2007. Soon after, development of the modernized Pinaka MkII system began. Work on it was completed only in the early twenties. In parallel, various variants of rocket projectiles with different levels of characteristics were developed.
Both versions of the Pinaka MLRS have similar technical appearance and differ mainly in fire control systems and compatible ammunition. They are based on a four-axle Tata chassis and are equipped with a conventional type of cluster launcher. Due to the wheeled chassis, these vehicles are characterized by high agility and mobility.
By now, a whole family of rockets in two calibers has been developed for the Pinaka MLRS. The main caliber is 214 mm - the launcher carries two containers with six guides on each. An Indian version of the 122 mm rocket from the Grad was also created. The installation holds 40 such ammunition.
The first generation of Pinaka 214 mm rockets were about 4,9 meters long and weighed about 280 kg. The range of the early models did not exceed 38 km, but later it was increased to 45 km. In all cases, a 100 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead was used.
Testing of a long-range missile of one of the latest types
The Pinaka Mk II missiles have become slightly longer (5,1-5,2 m) and heavier up to 325 kg. These munitions have trajectory correction means. The flight range has increased first to 70-75 km, and then to 90 km. Two new projectiles are currently being developed. Their range is planned to be increased to 120 and 300 km.
The launcher can carry a package for ERR 122 missiles. In fact, this is an analogue of the latest models of ammunition for the Grad. Such shells have a caliber of 122 mm and a length of 2,9 m with a weight of about 66 kg. The flight range is up to 40 km.
Sight for export
The Pinaka MLRS was initially created only as a replacement for a foreign model with improved characteristics. Subsequently, this project was developed, and its results now differ significantly from the initial plans. To date, DRDO and its partners have created several versions of the combat vehicle and a wide range of ammunition for them. At the same time, the development of the project does not stop, and it is planned to create more advanced shells.
The main customer and operator of the Pinaka systems is currently the Indian Army. Previously, they purchased 180 combat vehicles of the first version to equip 10 regiments, and are currently fulfilling an order for 6 regimental Pinaka Mk II kits. In 2023, several batteries of such MLRS entered service with Armenia.
Now France is becoming a potential customer for the Pinaka systems. Its army is seriously studying the Indian MLRS and does not rule out the possibility of purchasing such equipment. How soon a decision will be made and which foreign multiple launch rocket system will be chosen is still unknown. However, the very fact of the European country's interest in the Indian development speaks volumes.
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