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The DRDO on Wednesday said it successfully test-fired a new version of the Pinaka rocket system. The rocket took off from the coast of Chandipur, Odisha. The premier military research organisation said that it launched a total of six rockets. They were in quick succession and the tests met "complete mission objectives". The DRDO said the enhanced version of the Pinaka rocket system would replace the existing Pinaka Mk-I rockets. Further, they are currently under production.
Enhanced version of PINAKA Rocket System, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been successfully flight tested from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha today on 04 November 2020. pic.twitter.com/DcGkA9VXFg
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) November 4, 2020
In the last two months, India has test-fired a number of missiles. This includes a new version of the surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos and an anti-radiation missile named Rudram-1. The Pinaka rockets have a range of around 37 km.
Officials said that this rocket has the state-of-the-art directional system, due to which it can accurately identify and target the target. The Pune-based DRDO laboratory, the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and the High Energy Material Research Laboratory have designed and developed it.
Difference
Now, as far as the rocket goes, the only change comes in the range of the rockets. Most of the other things remain the same. For example, the rockets under production are not the launchers or subsystems, these are basically area weapons. The GRAD BM 21 has a range upto 30 km or the firepower of one BM 21 GRAD delivers 720 rockets in one single volley, but has 20km range.
The Pinaka, on the other hand, can deliver only 72 rockets in one volley. But, its range is over 50 km. While some say, that the accuracy is not a pinpoint, that the number of rockets it delivers shows its effectiveness, some disagree. The new Pinaka could be a game-changer for Indian defense.