The personnel of Pune based Armament Research andDevelopment Establishment (ARDE) conducted a series of tests of an advancedversion of multi-barrel rocket system Pinaka from a defence base off the Odishacoast on Thursday.
At least three rounds of Pinaka rockets were test-fired froma Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) located at the firing point – II of theProof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at Chandipur here. The tests werecarried out in between 11 am to 12 noon.
The tests termed as sample tests were aimed to assess thestability of rockets in flight as well as accuracy and consistency. Though thesystem can fire rockets with a range of 39-40 km, but this time, sources said,it was tested for nearly 30 km.
A defence official said it was a routine trial and all therounds yielded desired results. “The Pinaka MBRL is capable of acting as aforce-multiplier. The tests were made after some developmental changes in thesystem. We would carry out a few more tests on Friday,” he said adding therocket system would supplement the existing artillery system.
The tests were conducted with logistics supports from thePXE. According to the reports, the rocket launcher, which is also known as theWeapon Area System (WAS) can launch 12 rockets with one tonne of highexplosives within 40 seconds.
“Its quick reaction time and high rate of fire provides thearmy an edge during low-intensity war-like situations. The unguided rocketsystem put under trial here could be used to destroy a higher geographical areawith its salvo of rockets,” said a defence scientist.
Pinaka rocket is a state of the art weapon for destroyingenemy troop concentration areas, communication centres, air terminal complexes,gun or rocket locations and for laying mines by firing rockets with severalwarheads from the launching vehicle.
Last month seven Pinaka rockets were successfully test-firedfrom the same test range. ‘Pinaka’, which has undergone several tough testssince 1995, has already been inducted into the armed forces. It wassuccessfully used during the Kargil war.
Officials of ARDE, PXE and Integrated Test Range (ITR) werepresent during the trials.