The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted development trials of an advanced variant of the domestically manufactured Pinaka rocket system from firing point-II of the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at Chandipur in Orrisa, India.
Carried out by DRDO’s Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) personnel, three rounds of Pinaka rockets were test-fired from a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) during the testing to evaluate the rockets’ stability in flight, accuracy and consistency.
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An unidentified defence official was quoted by The New Indian Express as saying that the Pinaka rocket was capable of acting as a force-multiplier, and all the rounds have yielded desired results.
"The tests were made after some developmental changes in the system," the official said. "We would carry out a few more tests on Friday."
Carried out with logistics support from the PXE, the trials confirmed Pinaka’s ability to fire rockets to a range of 30km, even though the system is capable of launching projectile weapons to a range of 39 to 40km.
The MBRL used for testing has been designed to launch 12 rockets with 1t of high explosives within 40 seconds.
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By GlobalDataAnother defence scientist told the newspaper that the launcher’s quick reaction time and high-rate of fire provides the army with an edge during low-intensity combat situations.
"The unguided rocket system put under trial here could be used to destroy a higher geographical area with its salvo of rockets," the scientist added.
Designed to replace the Indian Army’s ageing Russian-built BM-21 Grad launchers, the Pinaka is capable of destroying the enemy communication centres, air terminal complexes and gun/rocket locations, as well as solid structures and bunkers.
The system features six launcher vehicles of 12 rockets each, as well as two command post vehicles including a fire control computer, Digicora MET radar and six loader/replenishment vehicles with a payload of 100kg.
Image: The Indian Army’s Pinaka multibarrel rocket launch (MBRL) systems. Photo: courtesy of Hemant.rawat1234.
