In a big boost for the Indian armed forces, an advanced version of the Pinaka missile was successfully flight testfired from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday. The indigenous Pinaka missile has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

A total of 6 rockets were launched in quick succession and the tests met complete mission objectives. An enhanced version of Pinaka rocket would replace the existing Pinaka Mk-I rockets which are currently under production.

Pinaka MBRS comprises of a free-flight artillery rocket having a maximum range of 38 km with different types of warhead and fuses, a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle and a command post vehicle. There are two pods containing 6 rockets each, capable of firing in salvo mode within 48 seconds. In light of the requirement of the Army for a free flight rocket with enhanced range, ARDE has successfully developed Pinaka Mk-II rocket with 60 km range.

Development of the enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance compared to earlier design with reduced length. The design and development has been carried out by Pune based DRDO laboratories, namely Armament Research and Development Establishment, ARDE and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, HEMRL. Rockets tested have been manufactured by M/s Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur, to whom the technology has been transferred. All the flight articles were tracked by Range instruments such as telemetry, radar and Electro Optical Tracking Systems which confirmed the flight performance.

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