Ghauri (strategic ballistic missile system)
Encyclopedia
Pakistan
's missile research and development programme began with the planning stage in early 1987. According to General Mirza Aslam Beg
of the Pakistan Army
, once intelligence information that India was already developing nuclear missiles had been authenticated, then President Zia ul Haq was informed. He then made two decisions: firstly, Pakistan would not develop chemical weapons due to moral principles. Secondly, Pakistan would build short and medium range missiles with appropriate guidance systems. The programme has since spawned several strategic missile systems capable of being armed with conventional or nuclear warheads. Designated the Hatf series, the ballistic
and cruise missile
s have been created by several Pakistani organisations often cooperating or competing with each other.
According to General Beg, the Hatf designation was chosen by personnel at the Pakistan Army
General Headquarters (GHQ) involved with the research and development programme.
, which is widely believed to be a delivery system for tactical nuclear weapon
s.
The Ghauri series are liquid-fuelled ballistic missile
s whose development was headed by the Kahuta Research Laboratories
(KRL). The development is believed to have been led by Abdul Qadeer Khan
. Development of the first two variants, Ghauri I
and Ghauri II
was completed in the 1990s. According to the memoirs of AQ Khan
, the development of the Ghauri III
variant was stopped by Pervez Musharraf
in 2000 with the project being around 50% complete.
The Shaheen series are solid-fuelled ballistic missiles developed by the National Development Complex (NDC), which was founded by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
. The SUPARCO and DESTO organisations were also involved. The electronics were developed by other NESCOM
subsidiaries such as Margalla Electronics
. The Shaheen programme was highly ambitious considering Pakistan's lack of infrastructure. Two Shaheen variants are known to have been completed and made operational, the Shaheen-I
and Shaheen-II
. The Shaheen-III
is believed to be under development.
was revealed in a public test-firing. Early versions had a range of 500 km but later a 700 km variant was tested. In 2007 the Hatf VIII Ra'ad
, an air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) was revealed in a test by the Pakistan Air Force
. It has a stated range of 350 km.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
's missile research and development programme began with the planning stage in early 1987. According to General Mirza Aslam Beg
Mirza Aslam Beg
General Mirza Aslam Beg, SBt, HI, NI, afwc, psc , is a retired four-star general who was the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army succeeding General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, after the latter died in an air crash on 17 August 1988...
of the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
, once intelligence information that India was already developing nuclear missiles had been authenticated, then President Zia ul Haq was informed. He then made two decisions: firstly, Pakistan would not develop chemical weapons due to moral principles. Secondly, Pakistan would build short and medium range missiles with appropriate guidance systems. The programme has since spawned several strategic missile systems capable of being armed with conventional or nuclear warheads. Designated the Hatf series, the ballistic
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
and cruise missile
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
s have been created by several Pakistani organisations often cooperating or competing with each other.
According to General Beg, the Hatf designation was chosen by personnel at the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
General Headquarters (GHQ) involved with the research and development programme.
Battle-field range ballistic missiles
The programme's first project was the Hatf I, a ballistic missile with an inertial guidance system, a range of 80 km and a payload of 500 kg. An improved version designated Hatf II, with the same payload but extended range of 250 km, was produced in 1989. The latest battle-field range system to be produced is the Hatf IX NasrNasr (missile)
The Hatf IX, named Nasr , is a solid fuelled battlefield range ballistic missile system developed by Pakistan. The missile's existence was first reported after a test-firing on 19 April 2011...
, which is widely believed to be a delivery system for tactical nuclear weapon
Tactical nuclear weapon
A tactical nuclear weapon refers to a nuclear weapon which is designed to be used on a battlefield in military situations. This is as opposed to strategic nuclear weapons which are designed to menace large populations, to damage the enemy's ability to wage war, or for general deterrence...
s.
Short and medium range ballistic missiles
The first of Pakistan's larger missile systems, the Hatf III Ghaznavi with a range of 600 km and payload of 500 kg, was first tested in July 1997 and is stated to have been a major break-through. It had a two-stage solid fuel rocket motor and a more advanced terminal guidance system with an on-board computer. Five different types of warhead have been designed for the missile and they can be delivered with a claimed Circular Error Probability (CEP) of 0.1% at 600 km. The Ghaznavi is believed to have been based on the Chinese M-11 missile but it has been claimed that the Ghaznavi's guidance system was developed entirely in Pakistan.The Ghauri series are liquid-fuelled ballistic missile
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
s whose development was headed by the Kahuta Research Laboratories
Kahuta Research Laboratories
The Khan Research Laboratories ,, formerly known as Engineering Research Laboratories , is a multi-program Pakistan's weapons science and engineering research and development institute and nuclear research facility...
(KRL). The development is believed to have been led by Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan , also known in Pakistan as Mohsin-e-Pakistan , D.Eng, Sc.D, HI, NI , FPAS; more widely known as Dr. A. Q...
. Development of the first two variants, Ghauri I
Ghauri (missile)
The Hatf V, named Ghauri , is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by Kahuta Research Laboratories of Pakistan. Powered by a single stage liquid fuel rocket motor, the missile has an optimum range of 1,500 km and can carry a payload of 700 kg...
and Ghauri II
Ghauri-II
The Ghauri-II is a medium-range ballistic missile . A longer ranged variant of the Ghauri-I, it was developed by increasing the length of the motor assembly and using improved propellants...
was completed in the 1990s. According to the memoirs of AQ Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan , also known in Pakistan as Mohsin-e-Pakistan , D.Eng, Sc.D, HI, NI , FPAS; more widely known as Dr. A. Q...
, the development of the Ghauri III
Ghauri-III
The Ghauri-III is an intermediate-range ballistic missile being developed by Pakistan. Based on the previous Ghauri I and II missiles, it has three liquid fuel rocket stages. Currently its range is longer than any other ballistic missile in Pakistan's arsenal. The Ghauri-III reportedly started...
variant was stopped by Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
in 2000 with the project being around 50% complete.
The Shaheen series are solid-fuelled ballistic missiles developed by the National Development Complex (NDC), which was founded by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, , is an administrative governmental and autonomous science and technology governmental department of Pakistan, responsible for development of nuclear energy and development of nuclear power sector in Pakistan...
. The SUPARCO and DESTO organisations were also involved. The electronics were developed by other NESCOM
National Engineering and Scientific Commission
National Engineering and Scientific Commission is a civilian controlled Pakistani scientific and research organization carrying out research in many engineering and scientific areas including information technology, fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering,...
subsidiaries such as Margalla Electronics
Margalla Electronics
Margalla Electronics is an electronics defence company located at Margalla Hills in Islamabad, Pakistan. This company is involved in research and development for electronic equipment for Pakistan armed forces. ME was founded and established by noted Pakistan nuclear Scientist dr. Samar Mubarakmand...
. The Shaheen programme was highly ambitious considering Pakistan's lack of infrastructure. Two Shaheen variants are known to have been completed and made operational, the Shaheen-I
Shaheen-I
The Shaheen missile series, named after a species of falcon found in the mountains of Pakistan, was developed by NESCOM's National Defence Complex of Pakistan...
and Shaheen-II
Shaheen-II
The Shaheen-II is an medium range ballistic missile developed by NESCOM's National Defence Complex of Pakistan. The Shaheen missile series is named after a falcon that lives in the mountains of Pakistan...
. The Shaheen-III
Shaheen-III
The Shaheen III is a Pakistani intermediate-range ballistic missile speculated to be in development with a range of 4000-4500 km. It is a member of the solid-fueled Shaheen series missile family and is envisioned to replace the less advanced liquid-fueled Ghauri-III system whose development was...
is believed to be under development.
Cruise missiles
In 2005 the Hatf VII Babur ground-launched cruise missileCruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
was revealed in a public test-firing. Early versions had a range of 500 km but later a 700 km variant was tested. In 2007 the Hatf VIII Ra'ad
Ra'ad
The Ra'ad is an air-launched cruise missile developed by Pakistan and operational with the Pakistan Air Force . Though initially launched from a PAF Dassault Mirage III ROSE combat aircraft during testing, the missile is planned to be integrated with and launched from other PAF platforms such as...
, an air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) was revealed in a test by the Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
. It has a stated range of 350 km.