There is a major boost for the private industry as the defence ministry is inking an estimated Rs. 5000 crore deal to manufacture indigenous Pinaka multi barrel rocket launchers for the Army that is likely to generate several hundred jobs in the coming months.
Since 2017, the contract has been in the making. The contract will go to private sector companies L&T and Tata Aerospace and Defence and a significant portion of work will be falling into public sector unit BEML, which supplies trucks for the rocket launchers.
With two regiments already in service, the Pinaka program has been a home grown success story. The technology for manufacturing the systems and ammunition has been successfully transferred to the private sector by the DRDO.
L&T has received the contract for manufacturing of four out of the six new regiments. The other two will be made by Tata Aerospace and Defence. In India, this would be the largest order placed by the Army in the private sector.
