India Successfully Tests Pinaka Long‑Range Guided Rocket at 60 km Minimum Range

On 8 July 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, validating its performance at a user-defined minimum range of 60 km. This marks a major milestone in India’s indigenous rocket artillery capability.

A guided rocket is a traditional artillery rocket fitted with a guidance assembly (GPS, inertial navigation, or laser seekers).

Essentially, guided rockets in rocket artillery are precision‑strike weapons that combine the high‑volume firepower of traditional rockets with modern guidance systems, allowing them to hit targets with accuracy measured in meters rather than kilometers. They bridge the gap between unguided artillery rockets and tactical missiles, offering armies flexible, cost‑effective precision firepower.

Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) Successfully Tested

Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) was successfully tested for a user defined minimum range of 60 km at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur on 08 July 2026. During the trial, LRGR impacted on the target with textbook precision exactly following the predicted… pic.twitter.com/c8daYom3rw

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) July 8, 2026

• Date & Location: 8 July 2026, Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
• System Tested: Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR).
• Range Validated: Minimum operational range of 60 km.
• Performance: Executed all planned in‑flight manoeuvres and struck the designated target with precision.

Development & Design

• Lead Agency: Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE)
• Collaborators: High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI)
• Launcher: Fired from the in‑service Pinaka launcher, demonstrating compatibility across Pinaka variants

Strategic Significance

• Operational Flexibility: Validating minimum range ensures rockets can be deployed in close‑support missions as well as long‑range strikes
• Indigenous Capability: Strengthens India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative
• Force Multiplier: Enhances the Indian Army’s precision strike capability with guided rockets that minimize collateral damage
• Versatility: Same launcher can deploy multiple Pinaka variants, simplifying logistics and battlefield adaptability

Official Statements

• Defence Ministry: Confirmed successful validation of LRGR’s minimum range and precision strike capability
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: Congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army, and industry partners, calling it “a major milestone in indigenous design and development capability for long‑range guided rockets.”

Broader Impact

• Army Modernisation: Pinaka LRGR adds depth to India’s artillery arsenal, complementing systems like Pinaka Mk‑II
• Strategic Deterrence: Demonstrates India’s ability to deliver precision strikes at varying ranges
• Industry Collaboration: Reflects synergy between DRDO labs and defence industry partners in advancing rocket technology