India has achieved another milestone in strengthening its indigenous defence capabilities with the successful flight-test of the Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The trial was conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, marking a significant advancement in the country’s long-range precision strike capabilities.
The advanced guided rocket was successfully tested for a user-defined minimum range of 60 kilometres, demonstrating the effectiveness and reliability of the latest variant of the Pinaka weapon system. The successful trial is expected to further enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces while reinforcing India’s push towards self-reliance in defence technology.
The Pinaka LRGR has been developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL). The project also received technical support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), highlighting the coordinated efforts of multiple DRDO laboratories in advancing indigenous defence systems.
During the test, the rocket was launched using the existing Pinaka launcher, demonstrating the platform’s flexibility to accommodate different variants of Pinaka rockets with varying operational ranges. This compatibility allows the Indian Army to deploy upgraded munitions without requiring significant modifications to existing launcher systems, improving operational efficiency and reducing logistical challenges.
The successful flight-test underlines India’s growing expertise in designing and developing sophisticated guided rocket systems capable of delivering accurate and long-range firepower. The enhanced Pinaka system is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening the Army’s artillery capabilities by providing greater precision, improved range, and higher battlefield effectiveness.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army, and the industry partners associated with the programme for the successful trial. He described the achievement as a major milestone in India’s indigenous defence research and development journey and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting self-reliance under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
The latest success further adds to India’s expanding portfolio of home-grown defence technologies and reflects the country’s sustained focus on modernising its armed forces with advanced indigenous weapon systems. As the Pinaka programme continues to evolve, it is expected to become an even more formidable component of India’s long-range artillery capabilities.
