India tests Pinaka long-range guided rocket
India on Dec. 29 conducted the first successful flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket, validating a maximum strike range of 120 kilometers during a trial at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, according to an official statement issued in New Delhi.
The maiden test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket, designated LRGR 120, was carried out on Dec. 29, 2025, and demonstrated all planned in-flight maneuvers before striking its designated target with what Indian officials described as textbook precision. The rocket was launched from an in-service Pinaka launcher, confirming compatibility with existing launch platforms.
According to the statement released by Defence Research and Development Organisation, all deployed range instrumentation tracked the rocket throughout its full trajectory, validating guidance, control, and performance parameters at the system’s maximum advertised range.
The LRGR 120 has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment in association with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat. Trial coordination was handled by the Integrated Test Range and the Proof & Experimental Establishment.
The test launch was conducted using a standard Pinaka launcher already in service with the Indian Army. Officials said this configuration demonstrates the launcher’s ability to fire multiple Pinaka variants of differing ranges without modification, a key requirement for operational flexibility.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh acknowledged the successful trial and congratulated DRDO teams involved in the program. He stated that the design and development of long-range guided rockets strengthens the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces and described the system as a game changer for the country’s artillery forces.
The test was also witnessed by Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, who congratulated the participating teams for meeting all mission objectives during the maiden flight.
The Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket is part of India’s broader Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher family, which has progressively evolved from unguided rockets into guided variants with extended range and improved accuracy. The LRGR 120 represents the longest-range guided version tested to date within the Pinaka program.
Indian officials emphasized that the trial validated the rocket’s guidance, navigation, and control systems at extended ranges while maintaining accuracy against designated targets.
The Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, located on India’s eastern coast, is routinely used for developmental and user trials of missile and rocket systems. The successful LRGR 120 test adds to a series of recent Indian artillery and missile trials conducted at the facility.
