The Pinaka Rocket converted to a Guided Pinaka was successfully test-fired from Launch Complex-III, ITR, Chandipur on January 12, 2017. The Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which evolved from Pinaka Mark-I is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit and has been transformed to a Guided Pinaka. This conversion has considerably enhanced the range and accuracy of Pinaka. The test-firing has met all mission objectives. The radars, electro-optical and telemetry systems at Chandipur tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight path. The Guided Pinaka is developed jointly by ARDE Pune, RCI Hyderabad and DRDL Hyderabad. ITR Chandipur provided the range and launch support.

Dr K.M. Rajan, Director of ARDE, B.H.V.S. Narayana Murthy, Director of RCI, Dr B.K. Das, Director of ITR, and R. Appavuraj, Director, PXE, Chandipur, monitored the launch operations. An armed forces team witnessed the flight test. Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, was present during the test-firing.