Pinaka Missile System: DRDO conducted two back-to-back tests of Pinaka Missile System on Thursday and Friday in which the missiles were fired from the multiple barrel launchers in a salvo mode. While the first trial which was conducted on Thursday was able to achieve the full range of 75 kilometers, in the second test conducted on Friday, multiple missiles were fired simultaneously in a salvo mode to overwhelm an enemy. Both the tests were conducted at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the Odisha coast, said the ministry of defence.
The mission objective of the second trial was to test low range, functioning of live warhead along with its proximity initiation and salvo launch.
In this test, two Pinaka missiles were launched in salvo mode with 60 seconds interval between two firings.
“Both the missiles were fired to engage a target located at 20 kilometer range and high accuracy was achieved,” the DRDO said after the test.
The missile was integrated with live warhead with proximity fuse and was tracked by multiple range systems such as telemetry, radars, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS), which confirmed the textbook flight performance.
What is Pinaka Missile System?
The Pinaka is an Artillery Missile System capable of striking into enemy territory up to a range of 75 kilometres with high precision.
The test is crucial for Indian Army’s precision strike capability at a long distance as Pinaka MK-II Rocket is modified to work as a missile by integrating with the Navigation, Control and Guidance System to improve the end accuracy and enhance the range.
The Navigation system of the missile is also aided by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
Why this test of Pinaka Missile is important?
The missile was fired from Pinaka launcher system in deployment configuration.
The flight article was tracked by multiple range systems viz. Telemetry, Radars, Electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), etc. which confirmed the text book flight performance.
The missile system has been jointly developed by various DRDO Laboratories such as Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Proof & Experimental Establishment (PXE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
The test was supervised by Director RCI BHVS Narayana Murthy; Director ARDE Dr V Venkateswara Rao; Director ITR Dr BK Das, and Director PXE DK Joshi.
