The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out the first test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket.The test was carried out at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.
The rocket was tested at its full range of 120 km. During the flight, it performed all planned movements and hit the target with great accuracy. The Defence Ministry said the rocket hit the target exactly as planned. All tracking systems followed the rocket throughout its flight.
The Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket was developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment, with help from the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory. Other DRDO centres, including the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat, also supported the project.
The rocket was launched from the existing Pinaka launcher already used by the Indian Army. This proves that the same launcher can fire different Pinaka rockets with different ranges, making the system more flexible.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO team for the successful test. He said that long-range guided rockets will greatly improve the strength of India’s Armed Forces and called the achievement a major boost for the country’s defence capabilities.