Hemant Kumar Rout By

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Pinaka rocket, which has now transformed into guided Pinaka, was successfully test fired from a defence test facility off Odisha coast on Thursday.

Defence sources said the Mark-II version of Pinaka rocket was test fired from Launch Complex-III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea at about 12:15 PM.

“All the mission objectives were successfully met during the trial. All the radars, electro optical and telemetry systems at Chandipur tracked and monitored the weapon all through the flight path,” said a defence official.

The guided Pinaka has been combinedly developed by Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL).

Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which has evolved from Pinaka Mark-I, is equipped with navigation, guidance and control kit and is converted to a guided Pinaka. This conversion has facilitated enhancement of its strike range and considerably improved its accuracy.

The rocket was fired from a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL). The rocket launcher can fire 12 rockets with 1.2 tonne of high explosives within 44 seconds and destroy a target area of four sq km at a time. The quick reaction time and high rate of fire of the system gives an edge to the Army during a low-intensity conflict situation.

The weapon's capability to incorporate several types of warheads makes it deadly for the enemy as it can even destroy their solid structures and bunkers, the official said.

The performance of earlier version of Pinaka was lauded during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising enemy positions on mountain tops. The Mark-II version of the rocket is expected to be inducted in the armed forces very soon.

ARDE Director Dr KM Rajan, RCI Director BHVS Narayana Murthy, ITR Director Dr BK Das and Director of Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) R Appavuraj monitored the launch operations while the armed forces team witnessed the flight test.

Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Director-General (Missiles and Strategic Systems) Dr G Satheesh Reddy was present during the mission. DRDO Chairman Dr S Christopher congratulated the teams participated in the successful mission.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has also congratulated DRDO, industries involved for development of the rocket and armed forces for the successful flight test of guided Pinaka.