The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday successfully conducted the flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Odisha. According to the Ministry of Defence, the objective of the test was to assess the rocket's specified minimum strike range of 60 kilometres.
The Ministry of Defence said the rocket successfully completed the flight at the prescribed minimum range of 60 kilometres, executed all pre-determined manoeuvres, and accurately struck its designated target while meeting all specified technical parameters.
During the test, modern tracking systems, radars, and telemetry equipment monitored the rocket throughout its flight. According to officials, the rocket followed its planned flight path and demonstrated the expected performance.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army, and the scientists associated with the project on the successful test. He said the achievement reflects India's indigenous design, research, and defence manufacturing capabilities. The Defence Minister added that the development of indigenous defence systems is an important step towards making India self-reliant in the defence sector and will strengthen the country's strategic capability while increasing future defence export opportunities.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the advanced rocket was jointly developed by several DRDO laboratories, including the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), and Research Centre Imarat (RCI).
The Ministry said these laboratories developed the guidance technology that enables the rocket to reach its target with high accuracy over long distances. The test also demonstrated that the rocket can be launched from the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher already in service with the Indian Army, eliminating the need for a separate launching platform for the new system.
The Ministry stated that different-range variants of the Pinaka rocket can be operated from the same launcher, improving both the Army's operational capability and logistical efficiency.
According to the Ministry of Defence, DRDO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, Rajesh Kumar Singh personally supervised the entire test process and coordinated with the scientists and engineers associated with the project.
The Ministry noted that this was not the first test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket. DRDO had earlier successfully conducted the system's first flight test in December 2025, demonstrating its capability at a distance of approximately 120 kilometres. The latest test has validated its precision strike capability at the minimum operational range of 60 kilometres, confirming its suitability for different operational requirements.
