Pinaka Mark-II rocket successfully test-fired

JODHPUR: An advanced version of the indigenously developed Pinaka Mark-II rocket was successfully test-fired today from Army's Chandan firing range near Pokhran using a multi-barrel launcher.

"Pinaka Mark-II trials were successfully tested in Pokhran field firing range near Indo-Pak border. Target was successfully hit in Keru area which was situated 55 km from the firing point," said the Defence sources.

Jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Army, this multi-barrel rocket launcher has high operational mobility, flexibility and accuracy as the major characteristics, which give the weapon an edge in modern artillery warfare for the Indian Armed Forces.

According to the sources "the ongoing developmental trials at Pokhran range in western Rajasthan by Army and scientists of DRDO was to test the advance stage of development of Pinaka Mark-II weapon system with upgraded version of software".

The development and trials will continue and the rocket is expected to enter service any time now, they said.

Pinaka-I has already been inducted into the Army and was also put into field testing for assessing its capability during the Kargil war. Its quick reaction time and high rate of fire gives an edge to the Army during low-intensity warlike situation.

The system is capable to incorporate several types of warheads.

"Pinaka Mark-II rocket with a range of more than 60-km is capable of acting as a force-multiplier and was developed to supplement artillery guns and is currently passing through a phase of testing," said the Defence sources.