Under emergency procurement powers, the Indian Army has signed a ₹293 crore contract with private defence manufacturer NIBE Limited, in collaboration with Israel, for the supply of an advanced long-range rocket launcher system with strike capabilities of 150 km and 300 km. The system, Suryastra, is India’s first Made in India universal multi-calibre rocket launcher, capable of executing precision surface-to-surface strikes at ranges extending up to 300 km. In July 2025, the defence manufacturer has signed a Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA) with Israeli defence major Elbit Systems to manufacture the advanced universal rocket launcher system (SURYA) in India. This marks the first time a high-precision rocket launcher system with strike capability up to 300 km is being produced domestically, supporting the government’s thrust on Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Recently, DRDO chairman Samir V. Kamat said they will soon begin manufacturing new variants of the Pinaka rocket system with extended ranges of 120 km and 300 km.

Source: The Hindu January 04, 2026 05:22 UTC