India tests new version of Pinaka rocket system

India is constantly testing its missiles and rockets amidst an escalation with China on the LAC. Many such successful trials have been conducted within the last two months. Now India has successfully tested the upgraded version of the Pinaka rocket system on Wednesday. The system has been designed indigenously by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It was tested from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur on the Odisha coast.

The DRDO reported that the new rocket system has a longer range than the Pulane variant (MK-1) while it is smaller in size than the earlier one. The new version of the rocket system has been designed and developed by DRDO Laboratories, Armanent, Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune.

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After testing the rocket, DRDO said- “A total of six rockets were tested and all of them managed to complete their mission.” It further stated that all the rockets dropped were monitored by telemetry, reda and electro optical tracking systems (EOTS), which have confirmed its performance.

The Pinaka Mk-1 rockets will now be replaced by the upgraded version of the Pinaka rocket. The old Pinaka Mk-1 had a range of 40 km while its upgraded version can hit targets ranging from 45 to 60 km.

The DRDO tested the MK-2 Pinaka rocket system last year, which ranges between 70–90 km. The improved version of the MK-1 can play an important role in filling this gap as well as targeting near targets. It has been designed keeping in mind the needs of the Indian Army which are using the rocket system on the China border.

China has deployed rocket regiments in the occupied Aksai Chin and the improved version of Pinaka can prove to be extremely helpful to the Indian Army in responding to it.