India's Pinaka Rockets: A Controversial Factor in Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict

  •   Fri, Aug 04 2023
  •   By Girish Linganna

August 4, 2023

According to Azerbaijani media outlets, the initial consignment of Pinaka rockets, manufactured in India, has purportedly reached Armenia via road transportation through Iran.

On Wednesday, multiple Twitter users and Azerbaijani publications shared a video displaying a truck transporting defence equipment, claimed to be a shipment of Pinaka rockets, traveling from New Delhi to the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

According to Azerbaijani media outlets, India purportedly transferred the cargo to Armenia through Iran's Bandar Abbas port. Notably, Iran's geographical location places it adjacent to both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Earlier this year, India's decision to sell military equipment to Armenia caught Azerbaijan's attention. President Ilham Aliyev described it as an "unfriendly move."

Yerevan and Baku refer to the capital cities of Armenia and Azerbaijan, respectively. However, it is important to note that Indian defense equipment has not been utilized in any armed conflict between these two cities or nations.

Understanding "Pinaka Rocket Launcher"

Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System {MBRLS}, is an advanced weapon system developed by India's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is often considered as a counterpart to the American HIMARS (High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System). The Pinaka MBRLS is known for its ability to launch multiple rockets simultaneously from a single launcher, providing a rapid and devastating firepower to the Indian Armed Forces. Similarly, the HIMARS, a highly mobile artillery rocket system, offers the United States military similar capabilities. Both these systems have garnered attention and recognition for their effectiveness in modern warfare scenarios, making them significant assets for their respective nations.

The Pinaka system has a special ability to quickly shoot down and evade detection during a multi-pronged drone attack. This helps it effectively defend against such threats.

Back in 1999, during the Kargil War, the Indian Army used the Pinaka system in a combat zone for the first time. It proved its strength by successfully targeting and eliminating positions of the Pakistani intruders in the high mountain ranges.

A year later, the Indian Army officially included the Pinaka system into its ranks.

The latest version of the Pinaka system can shoot rockets up to a distance of 40 kilometers. It consists of six launchers, and each launcher can hold up to 12 rockets at a time.

In addition to the launchers, a complete unit of the Pinaka system includes two "command post" vehicles and six "loader-replenishment" vehicles. These vehicles help with the coordination and reloading of rockets. The system also incorporates a fire control computer, which assists in accurately aiming and firing the rockets, as well as a radar for improved detection and targeting capabilities.

Two command post vehicles serve a vital role in the Pinaka system. These vehicles are responsible for managing and coordinating the operations of the entire system. They provide a centralized command center from which the soldiers can monitor and control the launchers, as well as communicate with other units and assess the battlefield situation.

Deteriorating Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Nagorno-Karabakh is a region located within Azerbaijan, but most of its population is Armenian. Back in the 1980s, when the Soviet Union was facing growing tensions among its republics, Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum and voted to join Armenia. This decision led to a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which came to a halt in 1994 with a ceasefire.

Modern-day Armenia and Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union when it formed in the 1920s

Nagorno-Karabakh is a region in the South Caucasus with a predominantly Armenian population but internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. The area's significance lies in its historical, cultural, and strategic importance to both countries. Armenia views it as the birthplace of Armenian civilization, with religious and cultural sites, while Azerbaijan considers it part of its territory, emphasizing national sovereignty. The control dispute has fuelled a long-standing conflict, causing casualties and displacement. Despite numerous attempts, a peaceful settlement remains elusive, leading to periodic outbreaks of violence and tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is influenced by religious and ethnic differences, with Armenia predominantly Christian and Azerbaijan being mostly Muslim. Turkey supports Azerbaijan due to cultural ties, while Russia's alliance with Armenia further complicates the situation. These factors, along with regional geopolitical dynamics, contribute to the complexity of the conflict.

 

 

 
By Girish Linganna
To submit your article / poem / short story to Daijiworld, please email it to news@daijiworld.com mentioning 'Article/poem submission for daijiworld' in the subject line. Please note the following:

  • The article / poem / short story should be original and previously unpublished in other websites except in the personal blog of the author. We will cross-check the originality of the article, and if found to be copied from another source in whole or in parts without appropriate acknowledgment, the submission will be rejected.
  • The author of the poem / article / short story should include a brief self-introduction limited to 500 characters and his/her recent picture (optional). Pictures relevant to the article may also be sent (optional), provided they are not bound by copyright. Travelogues should be sent along with relevant pictures not sourced from the Internet. Travelogues without relevant pictures will be rejected.
  • In case of a short story / article, the write-up should be at least one-and-a-half pages in word document in Times New Roman font 12 (or, about 700-800 words). Contributors are requested to keep their write-ups limited to a maximum of four pages. Longer write-ups may be sent in parts to publish in installments. Each installment should be sent within a week of the previous installment. A single poem sent for publication should be at least 3/4th of a page in length. Multiple short poems may be submitted for single publication.
  • All submissions should be in Microsoft Word format or text file. Pictures should not be larger than 1000 pixels in width, and of good resolution. Pictures should be attached separately in the mail and may be numbered if the author wants them to be placed in order.
  • Submission of the article / poem / short story does not automatically entail that it would be published. Daijiworld editors will examine each submission and decide on its acceptance/rejection purely based on merit.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to edit the submission if necessary for grammar and spelling, without compromising on the author's tone and message.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to reject submissions without prior notice. Mails/calls on the status of the submission will not be entertained. Contributors are requested to be patient.
  • The article / poem / short story should not be targeted directly or indirectly at any individual/group/community. Daijiworld will not assume responsibility for factual errors in the submission.
  • Once accepted, the article / poem / short story will be published as and when we have space. Publication may take up to four weeks from the date of submission of the write-up, depending on the number of submissions we receive. No author will be published twice in succession or twice within a fortnight.
  • Time-bound articles (example, on Mother's Day) should be sent at least a week in advance. Please specify the occasion as well as the date on which you would like it published while sending the write-up.

Leave a Comment

Title: India's Pinaka Rockets: A Controversial Factor in Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.