Image Source - Sputnik India
Pakistan’s strategic missile program has undergone significant development in recent years, with a focus on enhancing the range, accuracy, and payload capacity of its medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs). Pakistan’s deterrence strategy relies on crucial MRBMs, including the Ghauri-I, Ghauri-II, Ababeel, Shaheen-II, and Shaheen-III, to safeguard national security interests.
Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile Arsenal
The Ghauri-I (Hatf-5) is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) developed by Pakistan with a range of 1,500 km. It has a mass of 15,850 kg and measures 15.90 m in length and 1.35 m in diameter. The missile is equipped with a warhead that can be either High Explosive (HE) or Nuclear Explosive (NE), weighing 750 kg. The blast yield of the warhead ranges from 12 kilotons of TNT (50 TJ) to 35 kilotons of TNT (150 TJ). The missile uses a liquid-propellant, with TM-185 20%Gasoline 80% Kerosene as fuel and AK-27I 73% HNO3, 27% N2O4 as the oxidizer. The fuel capacity of the missile is 12,912 kg. The operational range of the missile is 1,350–1,500 kilometers, and it reached a flight altitude of 350 km in its first test flight. The guidance system of the missile is Inertial, Terminal, BeiDou, with an accuracy of 190 m CEP. The payload of the missile is 600-700 kg, and it can be guided using an INS system. The warhead can be either conventional or nuclear.
The Ghauri-II is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) developed by Pakistan. It has a range of 2,000-2,300 km and a maximum firing range of 2,300 km. The missile measures 26 m in length and 2.0 m in diameter. It is equipped with a High Explosive (HE) warhead that weighs 1,500 kg. The Ghauri-II uses a two-stage engine and a confidential liquid-propellant. Its operational range is 1,500–2,000 kilometres and it uses an Inertial, Terminal guidance system. The Ghauri-II missile has a payload of 800-1,000 kg, an accuracy (CEP) of 50-100 m, and can be guided using an INS/GPS. The warhead can be either conventional or nuclear, and the missile is currently deployed.
The Ababeel is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) developed by Pakistan. It has a range of 2,200 km and measures 21.5 meters in length and 1.7 meters in diameter. The missile is equipped with a warhead that can be either conventional or nuclear, weighing 700 kg. The Ababeel uses a solid-fuel propellant and has a payload of multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV). The missile has a payload of 1,200 kg, an accuracy (CEP) of 30-50 m, and can be guided using an INS/GPS. The missile is currently deployed.
The Shaheen-II is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) developed by Pakistan. It has a range of 2,500 km and measures 17.2 m in length and 1.4 m in diameter. The launch weight of the missile is 23,600 kg and it carries a single warhead weighing over 700 kg. The warhead can be a 12 – 35 kT nuclear, HE, submunitions, or chemical. The missile uses a single-stage liquid propellant for propulsion. The Shaheen-II missile has a payload of 1,500 kg, an accuracy (CEP) of 20-40 m, and can be guided using an INS/GPS. The warhead can be either conventional or nuclear, and the missile is currently deployed.
The Shaheen-III is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) developed by Pakistan. It has a range of 2,750 km and measures 19.3 m in length and 1.4 m in diameter. The missile is equipped with a High Explosive (HE) or Nuclear Explosive (NE) warhead, with a blast yield of over 50 kilotons of TNT (210 TJ). The missile uses a multi-stage engine and a solid-fuel propellant. Its operational range is 2,750 kilometers. The Shaheen-III missile has a payload of 1,800 kg, an accuracy (CEP) of 10-30 m, and can be guided using an INS/GPS. The warhead can be either conventional or nuclear, and the missile is currently deployed.