Chandipur: In a major boost to India’s indigenous artillery firepower, the Defence Research and Development Organisation on Monday successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket at the Integrated Test Range Chandipur.
The advanced rocket was tested for its maximum range of 120 km, during which it executed all planned in-flight manoeuvres and struck the designated target with high precision, defence officials said. Sophisticated range instrumentation tracked the rocket throughout its entire trajectory, confirming mission objectives.
The maiden flight test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120) was conducted successfully at ITR, Chandipur today.
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has congratulated @DRDO_India and other stakeholders on this achievement. pic.twitter.com/SAIL8jj8KI
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) December 29, 2025
According to the Defence Ministry, the successful trial marks a significant milestone in enhancing the Indian Army’s long-range strike capabilities. The guided rocket was fired from the in-service Pinaka launcher, demonstrating the system’s versatility to deploy multiple Pinaka variants of varying ranges from the same platform.
The long-range guided rocket has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with key support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO scientists and engineers on the achievement, describing the development of long-range guided rockets as a “game-changer” for the Armed Forces. He said the system would significantly strengthen India’s deterrence posture and battlefield precision.
The Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket is part of India’s broader push under Aatmanirbhar Bharat to develop advanced, indigenous weapon systems that reduce import dependence while enhancing operational readiness of the Armed Forces.
