DRDO successfully test fires Guided PINAKA

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on 24 January 2017 successfully test fired the Guided PINAKA from Launch Complex-III at ITR, Chandipur.

Guided PINAKA is the enhanced version of PINAKA Rocket Mark-II which has been equipped with navigation, guidance and control kit.

Highlights of the Guided PINAKA
• The conversion from PINAKA Rocket Mark-II to Guided PINAKA facilitated the enhancement in the range and improvement in the accuracy of PINAKA.
• The flight of this upgraded rocket was tracked and monitored by Radars, Electro Optical and Telemetry Systems at ITR Chandipur.
• The guided version of Pinaka was developed jointly by Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune and Imarat and Defence Research and Development Laboratory, the Hyderabad-based Research Centre.
• However, ITR Chandipur provided the range and launch support for the rocket.
• It has reinforced the technological strength in converting unguided systems into weapons of high precision.
• Its first successful test flight was conducted on 12 January 2017 itself.

Presently, India is operating two regiments of PINAKA and has already ordered for two more regiments. In 2016, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared a proposal for six additional regiments at a cost of around Rs 14633 crore.