NEW DELHI: To extend the range of the indigenous artillery rocket system, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday conducted a successful flight-test of Pinaka long range guided rocket (LRGR) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, in Odisha’s Balasore district.“The rocket was tested for a user defined minimum range of 60 km. Demonstrating all in-flight manoeuvres as planned, the LRGR impacted on the target with textbook precision exactly following the predicted trajectory. All the deployed range instruments tracked the flight throughout its trajectory,” a statement from the defence ministry said.The rocket was launched from the in-service Pinaka launcher demonstrating its versatility and providing launch capability of Pinaka variants of different ranges from the same launcher, it said. The current operational range of Pinaka, already inducted in the Indian Army and deployed along the western and northern borders, has a range of approximately 40 km.Though Wednesday’s flight-test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket had a minimum range of 60km, it can be extended up to 120km, making the system a critical asset for deep-strike operations.These regiments enhance India’s deep-strike artillery capabilities. The Indian Army currently operates around six Pinaka rocket launcher regiments, with plans to significantly expand this to 10 regiments by this year and a long-term goal of 22 regiments, equipping them with newer, longer-range guided versions, replacing older systems.A Pinaka regiment typically consists of 18 launchers, organised into three batteries, with each battery having six launcher vehicles, and each launcher firing 12 rockets. Defence minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, Indian Army and the industry on the successful flight-test, calling it a “major milestone in indigenous design and development capability for long range guided rockets”.Defence secretary and DRDO chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh closely monitored the trials and complimented all the teams. In Jan 2026, defence major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) secured a contract from the Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) for upgrade of Pinaka systems. The L&T order covers the “overhaul, upgrade and obsolescence management” of Pinaka systems already in service.This involves modernising electronic sub-systems and replacing hardware that has reached the end of its operational life. The Pinaka LRGR rocket is designed by Armament Research and Development Establishment in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with support from DRDO’s DRDL and Research Centre Imarat.The flight-trial was coordinated by ITR and Proof & Experimental Establishment. Due to its destructive power, Pinaka is much in demand abroad. Armenia is India’s primary customer that signed a deal worth Rs 2,000 crore (about $250 million) to acquire launch systems, anti-tank rockets, and ammunition. France is in advanced evaluations and talks to procure the system, while several other nations across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South America have expressed interest.
