The Indian Army has awarded a ₹29.3-billion ($35 million) contract to domestic defense firm NIBE for the supply of a long-range multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s deep-strike artillery capabilities. The acquisition supports New Delhi’s push to combine indigenous manufacturing with proven foreign technology under the country’s defense modernization drive.
The system is derived from Elbit Systems’ Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS), a modular rocket artillery platform capable of engaging targets at ranges of up to 300 kilometers. In August, NIBE signed a strategic agreement with Elbit Systems to manufacture the PULS system in India, covering domestic production, exports, and technology transfer, enabling Indian industry to absorb critical know-how.
This program represents the first internationally sourced MRL system to be produced within India, significantly expanding the country’s technical expertise in advanced rocket artillery. Beyond meeting Indian Army requirements, the initiative positions India as a potential global supplier of long-range rocket launcher systems, supporting export ambitions in the defense sector.
The induction of the PULS-based MRL is expected to greatly enhance the Army’s deep-strike capability, an area where India has traditionally had limited reach. While India continues to develop indigenous systems such as the Pinaka long-range guided rocket, recently tested to 120 kilometers, the PULS offers broader flexibility. Its universal launcher can fire 122mm, 160mm, and 306mm rockets, along with Predator Hawk tactical ballistic missiles reaching 300 kilometers, deliver sub-5-meter accuracy, and deploy loitering munitions at ranges of up to 100 kilometers.
