The defence ministry has cleared an order for indigenous area denial munitions, which will give additional lethality to Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers to take down enemy tanks, armoured vehicles and personnel.

The indigenous Pinaka system is already in service with the Indian Army and has been progressively replacing imports from Russia. It has also bagged orders from Armenia and the new munitions will add to further export potential.

Sources said that the order for almost 6,500 Area Denial Munitions (ADM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been cleared, with the deal expected to cost over Rs 2,500 crore.

The order will be split between the industrial development partners of DRDO – Munitions India Limited (MIL) and Economic Explosive Limited (EEL). The two companies will in the near future present commercial bids and the order will be split 60:40 in favour of the lower bidder.

The ADM munitions are essentially rockets that can drop bomblets over an extended area, which can take down incoming armoured formations.