BrahMos Warheads Made at Nagpur to Be Delivered Today Nagpur: India’s first indigenous warhead for the BrahMos supersonic missile will be delivered from Nagpur on Thursday by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), which specializes in manufacturing propulsion systems for missiles capable of striking targets up to 290 kilometers. The warhead, a critical component of the missile system, will be transported alongside the 100th booster produced by SDAL from its facility. This delivery marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to achieve self-reliance in defense technology, as the warhead will undergo trials at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh, a facility under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The warhead, developed through a technology transfer arrangement with DRDO, represents a breakthrough in indigenous manufacturing. While India has long possessed missile production capabilities, it has historically relied on Russia for warhead technology, a complex and sensitive component of the system. SDAL’s collaboration with DRDO, which initiated its own indigenous warhead development program in 2017-18, has now enabled the country to produce these critical elements domestically. The successful delivery and subsequent trials are expected to pave the way for full-scale production of warheads in India, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. The CEO and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), Jaiteerth Raghavendra Joshi, will oversee the transfer of the warhead to the DRDO facility.#drdo #solar_defence_and_aerospace_limited #defence_research_and_development_organisation #terminal_ballistics_research_laboratory #brahmos_aerospace_private_limited
Army to Get First Batch of Extended Range Pinaka Rockets The Indian Army is set to receive its first batch of extended-range Pinaka rockets from Nagpur-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) on Thursday. A successful proof test of the rockets—capable of striking targets up to 45 kilometers—was conducted on Wednesday, clearing the way for delivery. The proof test involved quality checks on randomly selected samples from the production lot before final induction. Extensive user trials have already been completed, marking the first induction of the extended-range variant into the Indian Army. Existing Pinaka variants have a strike range of under 40 kilometers. Both SDAL and Munitions India Limited (MIL) have secured orders to supply these upgraded systems, with proof tests for MIL’s batch scheduled later this month. Indian manufacturers are already exporting guided variants of the Pinaka rocket, which can strike targets beyond 70 kilometers, to Armenia. These versions are more advanced than the domestic variant being inducted. However, ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran have disrupted deliveries. Indian firms began supplying these systems to Armenia even before their domestic induction. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has complicated logistics, as the primary supply route through Iran has become increasingly uncertain due to the evolving geopolitical situation. As a result, shipments are currently held up in India, awaiting clearance for export. Sources indicated that the last deliveries may have been dispatched in February. The Pinaka rocket system was developed from the Russian Smerch system and was indigenized in 2009. Initially produced by ordnance factories, SDAL has since become the first private sector company to manufacture the system.#indian_army #armenia #solar_defence_and_aerospace_limited #munitions_india_limited #pinaka_rocket
