Pinaka Rocket converted to a Guided Pinaka was successfully test-fired by DRDO from Chandipur on Thursday | Photo: Ministry of Defense
The Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) has carried out a successful test of a Guided Pinaka system.
According to a defense ministry statement, “The Pinaka Rocket converted to a Guided Pinaka was successfully test-fired from Launch Complex-III, ITR, Chandipur today. The Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which evolved from Pinaka Mark-I is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit and has been transformed to a Guided Pinaka. This conversion has considerably enhanced the range and accuracy of Pinaka. The test-firing has met all mission objectives. The radars, electro-optical and telemetry systems at Chandipur tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight-path.”
The defense ministry said the Guided Pinaka is developed jointly by Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) Pune, Research Centre Imarat (RCI) Hyderabad and Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) Hyderabad, and Test Range (ITR) Chandipur provided the range and launch support.
Dr. K.M. Rajan, Director ARDE, Pune, Shri B.H.V.S. Narayana Murthy, Director, RCI, Hyderabad, Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ITR, Chandipur and Shri R. Appavuraj, Director, Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE), Chandipur monitored the launch operations. The Scientific Adviser to the Defense Minister, Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, and an armed forces team was also present during the test firing.
