A successful flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) was carried out at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur on Wednesday. Developed by two leading institutes of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) located in Pune, this rocket was evaluated for its minimum range of 60 kilometers, achieving precise impact on the designated target, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The Pinaka LRGR, designed to target enemy positions well behind enemy lines, provides a strategic advantage to the armed forces by allowing them to weaken critical targets from a safe distance before engaging in direct combat. Named after the legendary bow of Lord Shiva, the rocket was created through a collaboration between the Armament Research and Development Establishment and the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, both based in Pune. Additional technological assistance was provided by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad and the Research Centre Imarat. The inaugural test of the Pinaka LRGR took place in December of the previous year, where it was assessed at its full range of 120 kilometers.
According to the MoD’s press release, “All deployed range instruments monitored the rocket’s trajectory throughout its flight. It was launched from the operational Pinaka launcher, showcasing its adaptability and enabling the launch of Pinaka variants with different ranges from the same equipment.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the DRDO, the Indian Army, and industry partners for their success, calling it a significant advancement in domestic design and development capabilities for long-range guided rockets. DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh oversaw the trial and expressed his appreciation to all participating teams for successfully meeting the mission goals, as stated in the MoD announcement.
The Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket was effectively tested for a user-defined minimum range of 60 kilometers at the ITR in Chandipur on July 8, 2026, hitting the target with remarkable accuracy, adhering closely to the predicted trajectory.
The Pinaka project was initiated by the DRDO in the late 1980s as a replacement for the Russian Grad multi-barrel rocket launch systems. Following successful tests of the Pinaka Mark-1 in the late 1990s, the system saw its first battlefield deployment during the Kargil War in 1999, leading to the establishment of multiple regiments utilizing this technology.
Primarily functioning as a multi-barrel rocket system (MBRL), the Pinaka can launch a barrage of 12 rockets within 44 seconds. A single Pinaka battery comprises six launch vehicles, along with loader systems, radar, network-based systems, and a command post. This setup allows one battery to effectively neutralize an area measuring one kilometer by one kilometer. To mitigate the risk of becoming targets themselves, especially due to back blast, the launch vehicles are designed for high maneuverability, adhering to the tactical doctrine of “shoot and scoot” in long-range artillery operations.
