India Enhances Rocket Artillery with Pinaka LRGR 120 Flight Test

India has successfully conducted the first flight test of its long-range guided version of the Pinaka rocket system. This marks a significant boost to indigenous rocket artillery capabilities.

The defence ministry reported the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120). It was conducted on Monday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha. The rocket was tested to its maximum range of 120 km. It successfully executed planned in-flight manoeuvres. The rocket struck the target with high precision. Defence minister Rajnath Singh hailed the test. He stated that the successful design of long-range guided rockets was crucial. Their development would significantly enhance the capabilities of the armed forces.

Key features of the new rocket

The LRGR 120 is an advanced guided rocket. It is designed for use with the Indian Army’s Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). It extends the system’s strike envelope and improves accuracy. The defence ministry stated that all deployed range instruments successfully tracked the rocket throughout its trajectory. This underscored the robustness of its guidance and control systems. The rocket launched from an in-service Pinaka launcher. This demonstrates the system’s versatility. It also shows its ability to fire different range variants from the same platform.

Indigenous development and DRDO’s role

The Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) designed the new rocket. They collaborated with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL). There was support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI). All are under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This collaborative effort reflects India’s push for self-reliance in advanced munitions and guided weapons technology. The successful test came on the same day the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted initial approval. This approval was for the procurement of military hardware worth ₹79,000 crore. It included long-range guided rocket ammunition for the Pinaka system.

Other indigenous rocket systems of India

India has steadily built a portfolio of indigenous rocket and missile systems to bolster its conventional deterrence and deep-strike capabilities. The original unguided Pinaka Mk-I rockets have a range of about 37–40 km. They are already in service. The extended-range Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced can reportedly reach around 45 km. A guided Pinaka variant has also been developed. It has a range of up to 75 km. This new variant narrows the gap between rocket artillery and tactical missiles.

Also read: India Successfully Tests Indigenous Extended-Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) from INS Kavaratti; Naval Induction Imminent

Indigenous launch vehicles and strategic rocket systems

Beyond battlefield rocket artillery, India has developed a family of indigenous launch vehicles. It has also created strategic systems that highlight its broader rocket technology base. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) are home-grown rockets used by ISRO. This includes the GSLV Mk III, which has been renamed LVM3. These vehicles are used for placing satellites in various orbits. They are also used for flagship missions such as Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan. On the strategic side, India has indigenously developed the Agni series of ballistic missiles. It has also developed the Prithvi series. Although classified as missiles, they rely on advanced rocket propulsion technologies. These technologies are derived from the same national ecosystem that supports projects like Pinaka LRGR 120.

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