New Delhi: Two days after finalizing a deal with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), the Indian Army has engaged another defence giant, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), to overhaul and upgrade its in-service indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems (MBRLS). The move highlights a renewed emphasis on lifecycle management and the operational readiness of artillery assets.
The big ticket awards concluded, reflect the Army’s move to leverage original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to manage obsolescence, extend service life, and improve the availability of key combat systems.
L&T has secured an order from the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) for the overhaul, upgradation and obsolescence management of Pinaka systems currently deployed with the Indian Army.
In an exchange filing, L&T said the programme aims to enhance long-term operational availability and modernisation of Pinaka regiments through the replacement of outdated components, upgrades to critical sub-systems and sustained technical support to Army Base Workshops (ABWs).
The 510 Army Base Workshop (ABW) of the Corps of EME will carry out the overhaul and upgrade of key electronic and system elements, drawing on in-house domain expertise.
L&T will supply critical spares and support the modernisation of sub-systems, facilitating a shift from conventional maintenance to a structured, lifecycle-based sustenance framework as part of the initiative.
In the initial phase, L&T and 510 ABW will jointly execute a pilot overhaul of the Pinaka launcher and the battery command post. Following the pilot, the remaining systems will be overhauled by 510 ABW, with L&T continuing to provide spares, technical support and quality oversight.
The company said the model is expected to serve as a template for similar lifecycle management and upgrade programmes across other defence platforms, in line with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
