India conducts maiden flight test of Pinaka long-range guided rocket at Balasore

Balasore: In a major milestone in India’s precision strike and long-range artillery capability, India successfully conducted the maiden flight test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, in Odisha’s Balasore district, on Monday.

The rocket was tested for its maximum range of 120 km, demonstrating all in-flight manoeuvres as planned. The LRGR impacted the target with textbook precision, a PIB release stated.

The LRGR 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.

The flight trial was coordinated by ITR and Proof and Experimental Establishment. All the deployed range instruments tracked the flight throughout its trajectory.

The rocket has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and the Research Centre Imarat.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and other stakeholders, saying that the successful design and development of long-range guided rockets will boost the capabilities of the Armed Forces, and termed it as a game-changer.

Department of Defence R&D Secretary and DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat witnessed the trial and congratulated all teams for accomplishing the mission objectives.

Govt clears Rs 79,000 crore defence procurement

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Rajnath, earlier in the day approved military procurements worth about Rs 79,000 crore. The meeting, held on Monday, cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for a wide range of systems for the Army, Navy and Air Force, marking a significant boost to India’s defence preparedness.

The council sanctioned procurement of Loiter Munition Systems, Low Level Light Weight Radars, Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition for the Pinaka system, and upgraded Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System Mk II for the Indian Army.

Indian Navy received approval for Bollard Pull Tugs, High Frequency Software Defined Radios, Manpack, and leasing of High Altitude Long Range Remotely Piloted Aircraft System.

For the Indian Air Force, DAC cleared procurement of Automatic Take-off Landing Recording System, Astra Mk II missiles, Full Mission Simulator, and SPICE 1000 Long Range Guidance Kits.