The maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket was conducted successfully on Monday, with the missile striking its target with “textbook precision”, the defence ministry said.
The test was carried out at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha, where the rocket was evaluated for its maximum range of 120 km, demonstrating all planned in-flight manoeuvres.
“The maiden flight test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120) was conducted successfully at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur today,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to officials, the LRGR was launched from an in-service Pinaka launcher, highlighting the system’s versatility and its ability to fire multiple Pinaka variants of different ranges from the same platform. All deployed range instruments tracked the rocket throughout its trajectory.
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The long-range guided rocket has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat.
The flight trial was coordinated by the Integrated Test Range and the Proof and Experimental Establishment.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO on the successful test, saying the design and development of long-range guided rockets would significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the armed forces.
He described the achievement as a “game changer”, the ministry said.
Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat witnessed the trial and congratulated the teams involved for meeting all mission objectives.
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