Indian Defence Export Milestone: Yantra India Limited Ships First Batch of Gui

Indian Masterminds
Mar 12 2026
Yantra India Limited has shipped its first export consignment of Guided Pinaka rocket pods, reportedly to Armenia
New Delhi: Yantra India Limited Guided Pinaka export marks a major milestone for India’s defence manufacturing sector. The state-owned defence company has shipped its first consignment of Guided Pinaka rocket pods, reportedly destined for Armenia, highlighting India’s growing capabilities in advanced weapons manufacturing and exports.

The development reflects the government’s broader push to turn India into a global hub for defence production under the “Make in India” initiative. With precision-guided rockets capable of hitting targets up to 75 km away, the Guided Pinaka system is seen as a powerful upgrade over earlier variants and a key export product for India’s expanding defence industry.

Details of India Armenia Guided Pinaka Deal

Yantra India Limited (YIL), a defence public sector undertaking under India’s Ministry of Defence, has dispatched its first international shipment of Guided Pinaka rocket pods.

Read also: Made in India, Trusted Worldwide: Defence Minister Flags Off First Export Batch of Guided Pinaka Rockets

The consignment reportedly left the company’s Nagpur manufacturing facility, marking the first time the guided version of the Pinaka rocket system has been exported.

The shipment demonstrates India’s growing confidence in exporting high-technology defence equipment and reinforces the country’s aim to become a major defence exporter.

Industry observers believe this export could open the door for additional international orders for Indian-made rocket systems in the coming years.

What Is the Guided Pinaka Rocket System?

The Guided Pinaka is an upgraded version of India’s Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system.

Key features include:

  • Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • Guidance: Inertial navigation combined with GPS guidance
  • Range: Up to 75 km
  • Launch system: Truck-mounted launchers (usually Tatra vehicles)
  • Pod capacity: Typically six rockets per pod

Unlike earlier unguided rockets, the guided version significantly improves accuracy and strike capability, allowing armed forces to hit specific targets with precision.

Armenia Likely Buyer of the Exported System

Reports from defence industry trackers suggest that Armenia is the likely recipient of the Guided Pinaka rocket pods. Armenia has been actively looking to diversify its defence procurement away from traditional suppliers due to delays in weapons deliveries linked to global geopolitical tensions.

India has recently emerged as a key defence partner for the country, supplying several military systems in the past few years.

If confirmed, the deal would strengthen India–Armenia defence cooperation and expand India’s strategic presence in the global arms market.

India Armenia Guided Pinaka Deal Value and Strategic Importance

The initial shipment is estimated to be worth around ₹200–₹300 crore, forming part of a broader defence contract that could exceed ₹1,000 crore, including training and logistical support.

This export is important for several reasons:

  • It validates the combat readiness and reliability of India’s guided rocket technology.
  • It boosts India’s defence export targets, which the government aims to increase significantly in the coming years.
  • It strengthens the global reputation of Indian defence manufacturers.

Role of Yantra India Limited in India’s Defence Ecosystem

Yantra India Limited was established in 2021 after the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

Headquartered in Nagpur, the company focuses on producing:

  • Ammunition hardware
  • defence equipment components
  • high-precision weapon systems

In recent years, the company has expanded rapidly in the global defence supply chain, with exports crossing ₹320 crore by 2024–25.

The company’s ability to manufacture custom ammunition hardware quickly has helped it secure international orders and improve India’s defence manufacturing profile.

Boost to India’s Defence Export Ambitions

India has set an ambitious goal to dramatically increase defence exports in the coming decade.

Exports like the Guided Pinaka rocket pods show how indigenous weapons systems are gaining interest among foreign militaries.

The success of this shipment could:

  • Encourage more countries to consider Indian rocket artillery systems
  • Increase global trust in Make-in-India defence technology
  • Strengthen India’s strategic partnerships with friendly nations

With continued innovation and production, India’s defence sector could become a significant player in the global arms market.

 

Sports: Armenia’s Arman Tsarukyan defeats UK’s Muhammad Mokaev

News.am, Armenia
Mar 12 2026
Arman Tsarukyan (Armenia), the No. 2-ranked title contender in the lightweight division of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in mixed martial arts (MMA), defeated Dagestani fighter Muhammad Mokaev (UK) at the Hype Brazil tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In the match under grappling rules, Tsarukyan won by a choke hold.


Arman Tsarukyan had last fought in a grappling match on December 30, 2025 in Yerevan.


At the Hype Fighting tournament, Tsarukyan had faced Shara “Bullet” Magomedov (Russia), and the judges had recorded a draw in the 6-minute fight.

https://sport.news.am/eng/news/165010/armenias-arman-tsarukyan-defeats-uks-muhammad-mokaev.html

Pashinyan: Karabakh Armenians should permanently settle in Armenia

Panorama, Armenia
Mar 11 2026

Armenians displaced from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) should receive Armenian citizenship and permanently settle in Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Wednesday, warning against raising unrealistic expectations about a possible return.

Addressing the European Parliament, Pashinyan said the government’s strategy regarding the Artsakh people was “very clear”.

“Our brothers and sisters from Karabakh must receive the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia and settle permanently in Armenia,” he said.

Pashinyan also urged that the emotions of displaced people not be exploited through false hopes.

He said the Armenian government was implementing a housing assistance program for displaced families. According to Pashinyan, 4,886 families have so far become beneficiaries of the program.

“We need as much support as possible from our international partners to solve this problem in a way that contributes to strengthening peace,” he added.

The only way to real change of power is consolidation and street struggle

Dear opposition community,


I am sure that almost all of you have the same desire: to get rid of these authorities. But it is necessary to understand that only this rash is not enough. Every citizen of Armenia needs unity and street struggle before the elections. Otherwise, CP will falsify your wishes and doesn’t care about each of your votes. In order to keep those votes and to implement them, a broad mobilization and street fight is needed before and after the elections.


Recently, CP was unnecessarily excited by an American IRI poll, in which, according to the data that reached me, the number of those who refused the survey was extremely large. Experts note that a certain part of people usually refuse to participate in this or that survey. In the case of the latest IRI Armenia survey, that number is almost twice as high (the vast majority of callers (10/7) refused to speak at all).


This proves that people live in an atmosphere of fear, disappointment and uncertainty. That people no longer expect anything and have no faith. This indicates that a large part of people is afraid, avoids or considers it pointless to even give their opinion to public opinion polls.


And in this case, who has a guarantee that the government, built on falsehoods and fed on lies, will tolerate the contents of the ballot box after handing over the homeland? Who is the naïve oppositionist who, after eight years of disasters, repression, political prisoners and a divisive atmosphere of hatred, is ready to believe in electoral victory?


It turned out that the way to win the elections goes through the process of expressing no confidence in the Prime Minister with a legal and united struggle.


If CP does not have the post of prime minister after 10 days, it will gather 1.7% of votes in the elections. The picture is almost the same in post-Soviet and Eastern European countries. For us, it’s even scarier.


Artak Zakaryan, member of the RPA Executive Body




Irony of fate. a victory speech and an Iranian strike

Ironically, last night, at the very moment when US President Trump’s speech, in which he spoke about the destruction of Iran’s military potential and the victory of his country, was broadcast live on Israeli TV channels, the footage of the same speech featured a running line about the Iranian missile attack.


Footage from Israel this morning shows that the Iranian missile attack caused serious damage in that country, as the Iranian side used heavy missiles with tons of warheads.


Yesterday, the news that another air defense radar inside Israel was out of order as a result of an attack by the Lebanese “Hezballah” is another indicator that the point targeting of Israeli and American air defense radars is a new tactic used by Iran in this war, for which Tehran’s opponents were clearly not prepared.


Iranologist Vardan Voskanyan




Aliyev signed a “historic” law regarding Nakhichevan

Azeri president Ilham Aliyev signed a “historic” law regarding Nakhichevan, Azerbaijani media reports.


According to reports, it is about the law “On Approving Amendments to the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan”.


Before the implementation of these changes, it was stated in the preamble of the “constitution” of Nakhichevan that “the foundations of the region’s autonomy were laid by international treaties: the Treaty of Moscow of March 16, 1921 and the Treaty of Kars of October 13, 1921.”


Those agreements confirmed that Nakhichevan is a part of Azerbaijan, and its territorial borders were specified.


In the new edition, it is emphasized that Nakhichevan is an “inseparable part” of Azerbaijan.


Thus, “references to international agreements” are removed from the “constitution” of Nakhichevan.

Information about being RA citizens among conscripts in Iran

The RA embassy in Iran continues to work in emergency mode. With the support of the embassy, ​​the second person with RA citizenship returned to Armenia on March 9.


On average, the RA Embassy in Iran receives about 20-25 calls every day, which mainly refer to the possibility of crossing the Armenia-Iran border. The border crossings from Iran to Armenia and from Armenia to Iran were carried out in a normal manner.


Due to communication restrictions, the Embassy of Armenia in Iran continuously assists in the transfer of information about Armenians there to their relatives.

As a result of the developments in Iran, there is no information about the Armenian citizens among those demobilized.


Foreign citizens also continue to apply to the embassy in order to receive information on the possibilities of entering the Republic of Armenia. They are provided with appropriate clarifications and necessary directions.


At the same time, the embassy continues to provide the necessary assistance to the diplomats of a number of diplomatic missions accredited in Iran and their family members in order to facilitate their return through the territory of Armenia.

Actions against Iran are not over yet. Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the military offensive against Iran is “not over yet,” saying the operation “demeans” Iran’s spiritual leadership. This is reported by AFP.


“We strive to force the Iranian people to throw off the yoke of dictatorship. After all, it depends on him. But there is no doubt that with the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones, and we are not done yet,” Netanyahu said during a visit to the National Health Management Center on Monday evening, according to a statement released on Tuesday.

Asbarez: Toronto Community Invests Over $15 Million in New Center

The Armenian Community of Toronto has reached what it called “a historic turning point” announcing the acquisition of a new move-in-ready institutional facility for $15.05 million (Canadian).

In a statement published on social media the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto Board of Directors said that the “acquisition stands as the largest financial investment in the history of the Toronto-Armenian community. It represents a decisive commitment to long-term stability, providing the infrastructure necessary to ensure the future of our growing community.”

“This facility will also house the Grades 7–12 students of A.R.S. Armenian Private School, thereby unlocking essential capacity within our existing buildings to expand our Kindergarten and Elementary programs. This strategic realignment addresses years of enrollment limitations and ensures that every child seeking a trilingual education has a place to grow and thrive,” the announcement explained.

“This milestone marks a new era of academic excellence and cultural preservation. By securing this state-of-the-art facility, the community is ensuring a stable, thriving, and sustainable future for Armenian-Canadians for generations to come,” the ACC Board said.

Civil Contract holds board meeting to discuss drafting of Armenia’s proposed n

Armenia10:22, 11 March 2026
Read the article in: فارسیArmenian:

The ruling Civil Contract party convened a Board meeting on March 10. According to a press release, the session was chaired by Minister of Economy and Vice Chairman of the Board, Gevorg Papoyan.

Issues related to the drafting of the proposed new Constitution of Armenia were discussed.

Read the article in: فارسیArmenian:

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