India conducts maiden flight test of 120-km range Pinaka guided rocket

India conducts maiden flight test of 120-km range Pinaka guided rocket

India on Monday conducted the first flight test of the Pinaka long-range guided rocket with a strike range of 120 km, marking a key step in expanding the Army’s rocket artillery capabilities, the Defence Ministry said.

The test was carried out from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha. In a statement, the ministry said, “The rocket was tested for its maximum range of 120 km, demonstrating all in-flight manoeuvres as planned. The LRGR impacted on the target with textbook precision.”

The maiden trial was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation on the same day the defence acquisition council (DAC) granted initial approval for the procurement of defence equipment worth ₹79,000 crore. The proposed acquisitions include long-range guided rocket ammunition for the Army’s Pinaka multiple launch rocket system.

According to the ministry, tracking systems deployed along the test corridor monitored the rocket throughout its entire flight path. The LRGR has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with additional support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat.

The rocket was fired from an in-service Pinaka launcher, demonstrating its operational flexibility and confirming that Pinaka rockets of varying ranges can be launched from the same platform.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO scientists and engineers on the successful test. He said the development and induction of long-range guided rockets would significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the armed forces.