India successfully conducts third test fire of Pinaka guided missile at Pokhran

India on Tuesday successfully carried out the third trial of indigenously developed Pinaka guided rocket system at Pokhran desert in Rajasthan. The weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance kit comprising of an advanced navigation and control system. 

Pinaka, the multiple rocket launcher being used by the Indian Army, is capable of firing a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds. The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. Pinaka was used extensively during the Kargil War to destroy enemy positions on the mountain tops.

Each Pinaka battery consists of six launcher vehicles, each with 12 rockets; six loader-replenishment vehicles; three replenishment vehicles; two Command Post vehicle (one stand by) with a Fire Control computer, and the DIGICORA MET radar. A battery of six launchers is capable of neutralising an area of 1,000 m × 800 m.

The battery which is generally deployed by Army has a total of 72 rockets, which can be fired in 44 seconds. Each launcher can be used to fire rockets in a different direction too. The system has a fire control computer too, which provides it the flexibility to fire all the rockets in one go or only a few.

The weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance kit comprising of an advanced navigation and control system.

"The indigenously developed guided Pinaka, developed by DRDO, will significantly boost the capability of the artillery to make precision hits," the Defence Ministry said.

About the tests, it said the weapon systems impacted the intended targets with high precision and achieved desired accuracies.

"Telemetry systems tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight path. All the mission objectives have been met," the ministry said. 

With PTI Inputs