India successfully test fires indigenously-made, enhanced Pinaka rockets

On Friday, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced that it had successfully test-fired enhanced range variations of indigenously developed Pinaka rockets and 122mm Caliber rockets from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

On Thursday and Friday, 25 upgraded Pinaka rockets were launched in rapid succession against targets at various ranges. During the launches, all of the mission objectives were met. The extended range version of the Pinaka Rocket System, according to the ministry of defence, can eliminate targets at distances of up to 45 kilometres.

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An official informed news agency PTI that the 122 mm Caliber rockets were launched using a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL). “All the mission objectives were met during the launches. The enhanced range version of Pinaka Rocket System can destroy targets at distances up to 45 kilometres,” the source said.

According to the official quoted by PTI, the upgraded Pinaka technology was developed to provide extended range performance. Various range devices were used to follow all of the flight components in order to ensure that the rockets struck the target accurately.

Four enhanced-range 122mm Caliber rockets, designed for the Indian Army and capable of destroying targets up to 45 kilometres away, were also test-fired with full instrumentation and accomplished all mission objectives. The old 122mm Grad rockets would be replaced by this improved rocket system.

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Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Nagpur collaborated on the rocket system, with manufacturing support from M/s Economic Explosives Limited in Nagpur.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh thanked the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the industry on the successful launch of the Enhanced Pinaka Rockets.

Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, praised the efforts of the teams engaged in the rockets’ successful trials.