ISLAMABAD: The army said on Friday it had inducted indigenously produced A-100 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) into its Corps of Artillery.

“A-100 Rocket has been indigenously developed by Pakistani scientists and engineers. With over 100km range, the rocket is highly effective and potent for interdiction that can effectively disrupt enemy’s mobilisation and assembly,” the ISPR said in a statement.

Pakistan had originally imported a battalion of A100E systems comprising 36 launchers from China in 2009-10 in response to Indian acquisition of Russian 9A52-2T Smerch, a variant of the original Smerch, according to Military Today.

This long-range artillery system, Military Today writes, is capable of attacking important area targets, such as airfields, command centres, radar stations, artillery or missile batteries, concentrations of troops and vehicles.

Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa, speaking at the induction ceremony, said the A-100 rocket system would augment the existing conventional firepower capabilities of the army. He reiterated the army’s resolve to strengthen conventional forces to meet challenges of full-spectrum threat.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2019