Shaheen-II
Encyclopedia
The Shaheen-II is an medium range ballistic missile (MRBM)
developed by NESCOM's National Defence Complex (NDC)
of Pakistan
. The Shaheen missile series is named after a falcon that lives in the mountains of Pakistan
. The missile is considered to be Pakistan's equivalent to the US Pershing II.
, a longer ranged variant of the Shaheen-I missile and currently the most advanced ballistic missile in service with the Pakistani Armed Forces. It uses a two-stage solid propellant
rocket motor designed to carry conventional or nuclear payloads. The missile is stated to have a CEP
of 50 m, achieved through the use of a post separation booster to provide terminal course correction. It is transported and launched by a 6-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL)
. According to U.S. based analysts, a satellite image of a Pakistani missile production facility taken on 5 June 2005 shows fifteen 6-axle TELs being fitted out for the Shaheen 2 missile.
Shaheen-II was successfully test fired for the first time on March 9, 2004. At that time, the National Engineering and Science Commission (NESCOM) chairman Samar Mubarakmand
stated that the missile was a two-stage rocket with diameter of 1.4 m, length of 17.5 m, weight of 25 tons and a range of 2,500 km.
In February 2001 it was reported by Pakistan's Jang
newspaper that the range of Shaheen II had been increased from 2,500 km to 3,500 km.
This re-entry vehicle is unlike that of the Shaheen-I in that it has four moving delta control fins at the rear and small solid/liquid-propellant side thrust motors, which are used to orientate the re-entry vehicle after the booster stage is depleted or before re-entry to improve accuracy by providing stabilization during the terminal phase. This can also be used to fly evasive manoeuvres, making it immensely problematic for existing anti-ballistic missile (ABM)
defence systems to successfully intercept the missile. The Shaheen-II warhead may change its trajectory several times during re-entry and during the terminal phase, effectively preventing ABM radar systems from pre-calculating intercept points. The re-entry vehicle is also stated to utilise a GPS satellite guidance system to provide updates on its position, further improving its accuracy and reducing the CEP
.
Related developments
Related lists
List of missiles
Medium-range ballistic missile
A medium-range ballistic missile , is a type of ballistic missile with medium range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, a medium range missile is defined by having a maximum range of between 1,000 and 3,000 km1...
developed by NESCOM's National Defence Complex (NDC)
National Defence Complex
The National Development Complex , is an aerospace and defense agency of the Ministry of Defence of Government of Pakistan, located in Fateh Jang, Punjab Province of Pakistan. The NDC was founded in 1990 by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Mr...
of Pakistan
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...
. The Shaheen missile series is named after a falcon that lives in the mountains of Pakistan
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...
. The missile is considered to be Pakistan's equivalent to the US Pershing II.
Description
The Shaheen-II is an medium range ballistic missile (MRBM)Medium-range ballistic missile
A medium-range ballistic missile , is a type of ballistic missile with medium range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, a medium range missile is defined by having a maximum range of between 1,000 and 3,000 km1...
, a longer ranged variant of the Shaheen-I missile and currently the most advanced ballistic missile in service with the Pakistani Armed Forces. It uses a two-stage solid propellant
Solid fuel
Solid fuel refers to various types of solid material that are used as fuel to produce energy and provide heating, usually released through combustion....
rocket motor designed to carry conventional or nuclear payloads. The missile is stated to have a CEP
Cep
- Organizations :* Campaign for an English Parliament, a pressure group which seeks the establishment of a devolved English parliament* Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, a dicastery of the Roman Curia...
of 50 m, achieved through the use of a post separation booster to provide terminal course correction. It is transported and launched by a 6-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL)
Transporter erector launcher
A transporter erector launcher is a vehicle with an integrated prime mover that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles. Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles...
. According to U.S. based analysts, a satellite image of a Pakistani missile production facility taken on 5 June 2005 shows fifteen 6-axle TELs being fitted out for the Shaheen 2 missile.
Shaheen-II was successfully test fired for the first time on March 9, 2004. At that time, the National Engineering and Science Commission (NESCOM) chairman Samar Mubarakmand
Samar Mubarakmand
Samar Mubarakmand , , is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, who served as the founding chairman of National Engineering and Scientific Commission from 2001 till 2007. Samar Mubarak-Mand launched the Missile Integration Programme in 1987 which was successfully completed in 2005...
stated that the missile was a two-stage rocket with diameter of 1.4 m, length of 17.5 m, weight of 25 tons and a range of 2,500 km.
In February 2001 it was reported by Pakistan's Jang
Jang
Jang may refer to:*Jang , part of Maloelap Atoll, in the Marshall Islands*Jang, Nepal* Jang, the Tibetan name for Naxi, a county-level district of Luzhou city, Sichuan Province, China....
newspaper that the range of Shaheen II had been increased from 2,500 km to 3,500 km.
Re-entry vehicle
The re-entry vehicle carried by the Shaheen-II missile has a mass of 1050 kg, which includes the mass of a nuclear warhead and a terminal guidance system. The terminal guidance system is most likely a radar correlation terminal seeker, which allows the warhead to achieve a CEP in the range of 30–50 m (similar to the Pershing II missile ).This re-entry vehicle is unlike that of the Shaheen-I in that it has four moving delta control fins at the rear and small solid/liquid-propellant side thrust motors, which are used to orientate the re-entry vehicle after the booster stage is depleted or before re-entry to improve accuracy by providing stabilization during the terminal phase. This can also be used to fly evasive manoeuvres, making it immensely problematic for existing anti-ballistic missile (ABM)
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
defence systems to successfully intercept the missile. The Shaheen-II warhead may change its trajectory several times during re-entry and during the terminal phase, effectively preventing ABM radar systems from pre-calculating intercept points. The re-entry vehicle is also stated to utilise a GPS satellite guidance system to provide updates on its position, further improving its accuracy and reducing the CEP
Cep
- Organizations :* Campaign for an English Parliament, a pressure group which seeks the establishment of a devolved English parliament* Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, a dicastery of the Roman Curia...
.
Future developments
According to Usman Siddique Sidhu, since deployment of the 2,500 km range Shaheen-II, a multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicle (MIRV) warhead system which may be first fielded on the Shaheen-II are under development.See also
- Ballistic missileBallistic missileA 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...
- Solid fuel rocket
Related developments
- Shaheen (missile)
- Shaheen-IIIShaheen-IIIThe 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...
Related lists
List of missiles
External links
- Pakistan’s Long Range Ballistic Missiles: A View From IDEAS
- http://www.sipri.org/contents/expcon/Pakistan.pdf
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/shaheen-2.htm
- How 'Shaheen' Was Developed