India successfully test-fires Guided Pinaka rocket

India on 12 January 2017 successfully test-fired the Guided Pinaka rocket from Integrated Test Range (ITR) launch pad at Chandipur in Odisha. The test-firing of the rocket met all mission objectives.

The Guided Pinaka, also known as Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, evolved from Pinaka Mark-I. It is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit.  The conversion considerably enhanced the range and accuracy of Pinaka.  

The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) Pune, the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) Hyderabad and the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) Hyderabad jointly developed the Guided Pinaka.

About Pinaka

• Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India.

• It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army.

• It has a maximum range of 40 kilometres for Mark-I and 65 kilometres for Mark-II.

• It can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds.

• It is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.

• The system was used during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising enemy positions on the mountain tops.

• Each Pinaka battery consists of six launcher vehicles (each with 12 rockets), six loader-replenishment vehicles, three replenishment vehicles, two Command Post vehicles with a Fire Control computer and the DIGICORA MET radar.