India’s Pinaka rockets are back in the news after DRDO successfully test-fired the extended-range version of the homegrown Pinaka rocket off the coast of Odisha on June 24 and 25.
Twenty-five Pinaka Rockets were fired in quick succession against targets at different ranges from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL), according to a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
All the mission objectives were met during the launches. With the enhanced range version, the Pinaka rocket can destroy targets at distances up to 45 km.
?Update : #DRDO successfully test fires 25 Enhanced #Pinaka rocket in quick succession from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off #Odisha coast. Mark-1 Enhanced variant has a max range of 60km. pic.twitter.com/B5Vo3HRTzr
— IDU (@defencealerts) June 25, 2021
The rocket system has been developed jointly by the Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) of the DRDO and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) with manufacturing support from Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur. The development of the latest version of the Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer-range performance.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO and the industry on the successful launch of Pinaka rockets.
DRDO also successfully test-fired enhanced range versions of indigenously developed 122mm Caliber Rocket from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) on June 25 at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
Four enhanced range version of 122mm rockets were test-fired with full instrumentation and they met the complete mission objectives.
These rockets have been developed for Army applications and can destroy targets up to 40 km. This enhanced rocket system would replace the existing 122mm Grad rockets.
