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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha, validating its minimum strike range of 60 km with high precision. Earlier trials had already demonstrated its maximum strike range of 120 km.

What is the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR)?

The Pinaka LRGR is an indigenously developed precision-guided artillery rocket designed to engage enemy positions, artillery batteries, bunkers, logistics hubs and other high-value targets deep inside hostile territory from a stand-off distance. It is the latest guided variant of the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system, significantly enhancing the Indian Army's long-range precision strike capability.

The rocket has an operational strike range of 60–120 km, providing flexibility to accurately engage targets at varying distances.

Key Features

A major achievement of the recent test was the successful engagement of a target at the minimum operational range of 60 km. Unlike long-range firing, striking closer targets requires the rocket to shed excess energy and execute steep in-flight manoeuvres, demonstrating the system's precision and confirming the absence of any significant dead zone within its operational envelope.

The Pinaka LRGR was launched from an existing in-service Pinaka launcher, proving that the same launcher platform can deploy different variants of the Pinaka rocket family without requiring separate launch systems. This enhances operational flexibility and reduces logistics requirements.

The truck-mounted launcher offers excellent battlefield mobility and employs the "shoot-and-scoot" concept, enabling rapid firing followed by immediate relocation to avoid enemy counter-battery fire.

Each Pinaka launcher can fire 12 rockets in about 44 seconds, while a battery of six launchers can launch 72 rockets, saturating nearly one square kilometre with concentrated firepower.

Development

The Pinaka LRGR has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL). Technical support was also provided by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), all laboratories under the DRDO.