Karan M wrote:
We must also note the IA went through a recapitalization of the BM-21 regiments with new vehicles and now the new ammo, that DRDO notes the 22 regiment overall of Pinaka is still there, and that MBRLs have a much higher minimum range than an 155mm Arty gun.
In short, wait for more info, dont jump the gun (pun intended).
Its not my grouse that Pinaka regiment reduction is offset by 155mm Artillery gun increase. For a country our size and ridiculously low holdings, we need both. I am only pointing towards the reduction in Pinaka orders.
I also read the DRDO tech focus that claims that the 22 regiment order is still on. Lt Gen Shankar claims that its not so. Given that DRDO is the OEM and the Lt Gen used to be the user, the former tends to be more optimistic. They keep talking about NAG orders which have never materialized in time or to the extent they wanted.
Its my wish that DRDO's hopes are proved correct, rather than the Lt Gen's fears.
Also, he points to other issues: serial development via Testing-->Induction-->Upgrade route, rather than concurrent engineering. I just hope that we aren't falling back to old, bad habits. The lost artillery decades are too fresh in memory.