India's DRDO successfully tests Pinaka long‑range guided rocket at 60 km

On 8 July 2026, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a flight test of the Pinaka Long‑Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. The rocket was validated for a user‑defined minimum range of 60 km, executing all planned in‑flight manoeuvres and striking the target with textbook precision.

The LRGR was designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and the Research Centre Imarat. It was launched from an in‑service Pinaka launcher, demonstrating that the same platform can fire rockets of varying ranges, simplifying logistics and enhancing battlefield flexibility. The system can engage targets up to 120 km and can carry multiple warhead types.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army and industry partners, calling the trial a major milestone in indigenous design and development under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the project for induction, positioning the LRGR as a cost‑effective precision‑strike capability for India’s artillery arsenal.