India has completed the flight-test of its advanced guided weapon system, Pinaka, as part of Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) validation trials. The tests assessed the system’s range, accuracy, consistency, and rate of fire for multiple target engagement in a salvo mode.
The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) conducted the tests in three phases at different field firing ranges. Twelve rockets from each production agency from two in-service Pinaka launchers upgraded by the launcher production agencies were tested.
The Pinaka system, named after Lord Shiva’s divine bow, was a replacement for the Russian Grad BM-21 rocket launcher for the Indian Army during the 1999 Kargil War. It was developed by Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), which comes under the DRDO.
The system comprises a free-flight artillery rocket with a maximum range of 38 km, with different types of warheads and fuzes. It comes with a multi-tube launcher vehicle, a replenishment-cum-loader vehicle, a replenishment vehicle, and a command post vehicle.
The multi-barrel rocket system has two pods containing 6 rockets each, capable of firing all 12 rockets in salvo mode within 44 seconds, neutralizing a target area of 700 x 500 meters. For the Indian Army’s specific requirement of a free flight rocket with enhanced range, ARDE has successfully developed the Pinaka Mk-II rocket with a 60-km range. The existing launch vehicle and ground systems of Pinaka MBRS are used for the Mk-II, with minor modifications for firing this new rocket.
The current version of the Pinaka system is a guided one, allowing it to increase its range nearly double of what the first version was. The DRDO is working on a guided Pinaka system capable of ranges greater than 120 km, 150 km, and 200 km to counter China’s long-range guided rocket systems.
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Source: NDTV
