DRDO successfully test fires Pinaka guided extended range rockets in Pokhran

Pokhran, March 12: Pinaka guided extended range rockets in Rajasthan's Pokhran were successfully test-fired on Monday by The Defence Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO). The two rockets, which were tested using the guided Pinaka system, succeeded in hitting the 90-km mark. The success signals a boost in the efficiency of the Pinaka system, as the rockets had touched the 70-km mark in their last trials, held in May last year.

 

The weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance kit comprising of an advanced navigation and control system. In both the missions, the weapon systems impacted the intended targets with high precision and achieved desired accuracies.

Telemetry Systems tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight path. All the mission objectives have been met. The indigenously developed Guided Pinaka by DRDO will significantly boost the capability of the artillery to make precision hits.

The successful trial of the guided Pinaka has reinforced the technological strength of the country in converting the unguided systems into weapons of high precision and accuracy, he said.

Pinaka has been developed jointly by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, the RCI, and the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, for the Indian Army. The PXE, Chandipur, provided the range and launch support.

The weapon system was most prominently used during the 1999 Kargil War, when the Indian forces had accurately targeted the Pakistani posts stationed at mountain posts.