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| Photo Credit: ANI
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR–120) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Odisha’s Chandipur on Monday (December 29, 2025).
Earlier in the day, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the planned procurement proposals worth ₹79,000 crore, including Long Range Guided Rockets-120. Later in the evening, the DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the LRGR.
The Defence Ministry said that the test marked a major milestone in India’s indigenous rocket artillery programme.
The LRGR–120 was flight-tested for its maximum range of 120 km, during which it demonstrated all planned in-flight manoeuvres and achieved a direct hit on the designated target with textbook precision. All range instruments deployed at ITR tracked the rocket throughout its entire trajectory, validating its performance parameters.
The long-range guided rocket has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), in association with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI). The flight trial was coordinated by the Integrated Test Range and the Proof & Experimental Establishment (P&EE), the Ministry sources said.
The LRGR was launched from the in-service Pinaka launcher, demonstrating the system’s versatility and its ability to fire multiple variants of Pinaka rockets with different ranges from the same launcher.
Congratulating DRDO on the successful test, the Defence Minister said the design and development of long-range guided rockets would significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces, describing it as a “game changer.”
Defence R&D secretary and DRDO chairman Dr Samir V. Kamat, who witnessed the trial, also congratulated the teams involved for successfully meeting all mission objectives.
Published – December 29, 2025 10:09 pm IST