Defence News India: India’s apex defence research and development organisation DRDO successfully tested an enhanced version of indigenous Pinaka Rocket System from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday.
“Enhanced version of PINAKA Rocket System, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been successfully flight-tested from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha today,” the DRDO said in a tweet.
“Development of Enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance compared to an earlier design with a reduced length,” the defence ministry said.
The design and development of this advanced version of Pinaka rocket system has been carried out by Pune based DRDO laboratories, namely Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
READ: Indian Air Force receives 3 more Rafale fighters
The initial version of Pinaka rocket system has an effective range of around 37 kilometers.
A total of six rockets were launched in quick succession and the tests met complete mission objectives.
READ: Tejas: India’s defence manufacturer Dynamatic Tech delivers key component to HAL
Pinaka rockets by Solar Group’s Economic Explosives Limited (EEL)
These Pinaka rockets were manufactured by Nagpur based Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), part of Solar Group led by Satyanarayan Nandlal Nuwal.
The DRDO transferred the technology and know-how to the Nagpur based company under its policy to boost domestic manufacturing of defence equipments and ammunition.
READ: Brahmos Missile: India’s Sukhoi jet flew 4,000 kms before sinking a ship in Bay of Bengal
All the flight articles were tracked by Range instruments such as telemetry, radar and Electro-Optical Tracking Systems which confirmed the flight performance, said the ministry.
The enhanced version of the Pinaka rocket would replace the existing Pinaka Mark-I rockets which are in the service of Indian Army.
READ: India’s Nag anti-tank missile clears final user trial, ready for Ladakh deployment
