In a significant boost to India's indigenous defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday successfully carried out the first flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120). The milestone test was conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) located in Chandipur, Odisha.
Precision Strike and Major Defence Approvals
The newly developed rocket was put through its paces, successfully demonstrating a maximum strike range of 120 kilometres. According to reports from news agency PTI, the LRGR 120 performed all planned in-flight manoeuvres and impacted its intended target with what was described as "textbook precision." This successful maiden test marks a critical step in enhancing the Indian Army's deep-strike artillery power.
Coinciding with this technological achievement, the central government gave a substantial push to military modernisation. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared fresh defence procurement proposals worth approximately Rs 79,000 crore. This clearance, known as Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), covers a wide array of advanced systems for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
What the DAC Cleared for the Forces
The high-value approvals are aimed at significantly boosting the combat capability of the armed forces. The cleared proposals include several key systems:
- Advanced loitering munitions for artillery units.
- New low-level lightweight radars.
- Long-range guided rocket ammunition for the Pinaka multiple launch rocket system.
- The Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System Mark-II.
This procurement package is designed to address modern battlefield requirements and fill critical capability gaps.
Significance of the Pinaka LRGR 120 System
The Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120) represents a major leap from earlier versions of the Pinaka rocket system. The "120" in its name denotes its enhanced strike range of around 120 km. Unlike its unguided predecessors, the LRGR variant is equipped with an advanced guidance system, dramatically improving its accuracy against distant targets.
This precision allows the Indian Army to effectively engage high-value targets such as enemy artillery batteries, command centres, and logistical hubs from a safe stand-off distance. A key advantage of the system is its compatibility with existing Pinaka launchers, enabling a capability upgrade without the need to induct an entirely new launch platform.
The guidance system utilises a combination of inertial navigation with mid-course updates and terminal correction, which greatly reduces the Circular Error Probable (CEP) – a measure of a weapon system's precision. By enabling launch units to strike from well behind forward areas, the system significantly improves their survivability on the battlefield.
The development and successful testing of the LRGR 120 underscore India's focused efforts to build self-reliance in long-range, precision firepower. The rocket is slated for deployment across artillery regiments that operate the Pinaka system, thereby strengthening the Army's deep-strike and counter-force capabilities in line with contemporary warfare needs.
