New Delhi, 24th January 2017 (OdishaLIVE Bureau):The Guided PINAKA is successfully test fired from Launch Complex-III, ITR, Chandipur on 24th January 2017 at 12:45PM for further enhanced range. PINAKA Rocket Mark-II, equipped with Navigation, guidance and control kit, is transformed to a guided PINAKA. The conversion has facilitated to enhance the range and improve the accuracy of PINAKA. The Mission met all the objectives. All the Radars, Electro Optical and Telemetry Systems at ITR Chandipur tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight path. The guided PINAKA is developed combinedly by ARDE, Pune, RCI, Hyderabad and DRDL, Hyderabad. ITR, Chandipur provided the range and Launch support.
Dr KM Rajan, Director ARDE, Pune, Shri BHVS Narayana Murthy, Director, RCI, Hyderabad, Dr BK Das, Director, ITR, Chandipur, Shri KPS Murthy, Director HEMRL, Pune and Shri R Appavuraj, Director, PXE, Chandipur monitored the Launch operations. Lt Gen Subrata Saha, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (P&S), Lt Gen PK Srivastava, DG Artillery and other Senior Officers of Army witnessed the launch. Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, SA to RM and DG(MSS), who was present during the launch operations said the success of guided PINAKA has shown the capability of the county in converting unguided systems into precision weapons. Dr S Christopher, Chairman DRDO said it is an example of synergy between Armed Forces and DRDO.
Shri Manohar Parrikar, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri congratulated both Army and DRDO for developing guided PINAKA in a very short span of time.