The Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System, Pinaka – Extended Range, was successfully tested at Pokharan range, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) revealed on December 11.
Over the course of the last three days, a total of 24 ‘Pinaka – ER’ rockets were test-fired at different ranges with various warhead capabilities, the DRDO said in a statement, adding that its industry partner has now absorbed the technology to proceed with the series production of the system.
Pinaka – ER is an upgraded version of the Pinaka system that has been in service for the last decade. It is a multi-barrel rocket launcher that can fire a dozen rockets in less than a minute. It is mounted on a truck, and the mobility of the system makes it easy to deploy.
‘Pinaka – ER’ is jointly designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) – Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
The Area Denial Munition (ADM) variants of munition designed by the ARDE and indigenously-developed proximity fuzes for Pinaka were also successfully tested.