Zarvan
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 54,470
- Reaction score
- 87
- Country
- Location
Nagpur: As Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has put on hold production of Pinaka rockets after accidents were reported this month, it has been learnt that recent batches of this latest weapon system have several issues. The rockets, which otherwise have stated range of 40 kms, could not reach the full distance. It was also reported that some of the rockets had burst in the launcher itself, though no casualties were reported. There were incidences of fire flakes being thrown from the rear. This proved to be a threat for the crew operating the system, say sources.
The case has been referred to a committee which will assess reasons for the failure. Even as OFB had received a bulk production order for the rockets in 2006, the directorate general of quality assurance (DGQA), an agency under Army, is still not confident about the product. The batches began to be dispatched around two years ago.
Now as Pinaka Mark-II is being developed, the future of Pinaka Mark-1 appears to be in doldrums. The OFB has already pumped in Rs500 crore in the production facility. The rockets are made in different stages at ordnance factories in Ambajhari, Bhandara and Chandrapur. Even earlier, there were hiccups delaying the production.
The Pinaka design by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is based on Russia's Smerch rockets. In the normal course, once a defence product has been supplied for 10 successful batches to the Army, then it is the DGQA which takes over. In the defence terms, it is called becoming approved holder of sealed particular (AHSP). It has been reliably learnt that in case of Pinaka, more than 40 batches have been supplied but the AHSP is still with the DRDO and not the DGQA, and the latter is reluctant on the matter.
Transfer of AHSP is like passing on the responsibility. So if the AHSP is passed on to the DGQA from the DRDO, the former will be entirely responsible for the product which becomes its baby. It has been learnt that during several meetings, the DGQA had expressed that it did not have the confidence in Pinaka Mark-1. It was said during a recent meeting that the product still needed some more fine tuning to get the desired efficiency.
If the production of Pinaka Mark-1 is held-up for long, there are chances that the country may look forward to importing Smerch rockets from Russia. It is also feared that there are chances that Mark-II, which is under development, may get a go-ahead, but the issues may hit production of Pinaka Mark-1 which may ultimately be replaced with the Smerch. Though, no final decision has been taken yet, say sources.
In an independent development, it is now being mooted to involve DGQA in the production process at ordnance factories. At present, DGQA only carries out inspection after the product is made. There has always been a friction among ordnance factories and DGQA. Involving the DGQA with the agency is expected to reduce the deviation from quality, say sources.
In A Nutshell
Production of Pinaka rockets put on hold after accidents this month
The rocket has been designed by DRDO and made by OFB
After supplying 10 batches, the baton is passed from DRDO to DGQA
Reluctant DGQA says product not perfect though over 40 batches have been supplied to Army
Production of Pinaka now appears in doldrums
OFB's failure may lead to reverting to imports of Russian Smerch rockets on which Pinaka is based
http://m.timesofindia.com/city/nagpur/Army-reluctant-to-take-over-Pinaka/articleshow/53984720.cms
