Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on November 14, 2024 successfully completed the Flight Tests of guided Pinaka multi-barrel rocket (MBRL) as part of Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) Validation Trials.
Key points
- Twelve (12) rockets from each production agency from two in-service Pinaka launchers upgraded by the launcher production agencies have been tested.
- This enhances the range of the Pinaka to over 75km. The precision strike variant for Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System is a totally indigenous weapon system.
- It was designed and developed by DRDO laboratories and Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Larsen & Toubro.
- The Indian Army has four Pinaka regiments in service and six more are on order. The Pinaka Mk1 has a range of 38 km and several extended ranges are under development.
- It can fire a variety of ammunition. Eventually, the plan is to take up the range to 120 km and then to 300 km.
- France is considering India’s Pinaka for its requirements along with other systems and a team is expected to visit Indian soon to carry out detailed evaluation of the system.
- Armenia became the first export customer for the Pinaka with interest expressed by several countries in the system.
