Dikhyaa Mohanty 
n a major milestone in India’s precision strike and long-range artillery capability, India successfully conducted the maiden flight test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, in Odisha’s Balasore district. The rocket was tested for its maximum range of 120 km, demonstrating all in-flight manoeuvres as planned. The LRGR impacted the target with textbook precision, a PIB release stated.
The LRGR was launched from the in-service Pinaka launcher, demonstrating its versatility and providing launch capability of Pinaka variants of different ranges from the same launcher. The flight trial was coordinated by ITR and Proof and Experimental Establishment. All the deployed range instruments tracked the flight throughout its trajectory.
The rocket has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and the Research Centre Imarat. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and other stakeholders, saying that the successful design and development of long-range guided rockets will boost the capabilities of the Armed Forces, and termed it as a game-changer.
