RAWALPINDI: Pakistan successfully conducted the test fire of indigenously developed, nuclear capable Hatf IX (NASR) missile, on Tuesday a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) said.
Hatf IX NASR is a short-range surface to surface multi tube missile. With a range of 60km, it can carry nuclear warheads of appropriate yield, with high accuracy, and possesses shoot and scoot attributes. This quick response system addresses the need to deter evolving threats - especially at shorter ranges.
The test was witnessed by Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (Retd), Chairman NESCOM Irfan Burney, Commander Army Strategic Forces Command Lieutenant General Tariq Nadeem Gilani, senior officers from the strategic forces and scientists and engineers from strategic organisations.
The Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (Retd), termed the NASR Missile as a weapon of peace. He further stated that the test was a major development which will consolidate Pakistan’s deterrence capability at all levels of the threat spectrum, thereby ensuring peace in the region.
The successful test has also been warmly appreciated by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, who have congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding success.
COMMENTS (90)
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@Not so shining Bhindi: It's only Pakistani branded site. In fact it is owned and financed by New York times.
Sign of sickness and living in fear. It is most unsustainable way ahead. Please invest in youth, food, industry, education and health. There are thousands dying daily from food shortage and lack of health facilities. Untimely priorities.
@kanwal: You need to earn food. Get job and do hard work then you will get food.
@IndianDude - I am sure - your country missiles are made on similar strategy keep adding a missile on top of another one!!!!!!!
Yesss, watch out everyone NASR MEANS victory in the battlefield! Pakistan army zindabad
@Roflcopter
So if the large nukes don't deter an attack the small ones will? If you believe that nonsense I have a bridge I can sell you.
To lower cross border tension India is spending millions of dollars in Myanmar to connect India with Thailand and to connect Afghanistan to Iran. Pakistan is spending same amount of money on fireworks to lower cross border tension. Different strategy-different outcome.
Why our neighbours are so worried on what we do all the time. To use 5000 km Agni , our neighbours have to cut its range anyways and who knows how precise Indian technology is.....
Last Diwali, I had a phataka raacket that travelled almost 6 km. This Diwali, i will tie 10 phataka raackets together with each one lighting next one's fuse, i think that will travel close to 60km. It will be nooclear capable phataka raacket because my raacket doesn't care what load you put on it. I will call it phataka-VV.
this is not true . . . these missiles are eating our money and pushing us deep into poverty . . . indian threat is a hoax and farce created by army to keep its business running . . .
@faisal khan: The civilizations that re-invented the tools of others last never progressed, since the tools they invented became obsolete.
There is nothing rocket science about the Hatif IX rocket and its capabilities.
Build your own tools for your own needs, invent the tool whose utility is yet to be discovered, I will applaud then.
@Zeta: Which cave are you living in and having internet.
@Batman
to respond someone has to exist i think :)
WOW WOW "60km" Huge Super Ballistic Nuclear capable missile .
What I see here is a bunch of educated people who with all there knowledge are still nation divided into moderate, mulllahs and the one in between. Come on guys I mean do you guys still think that we are going to prepare a nuke to blow up our own *es out. Atleast apply some common sense to the topic/ news or shows some patriotism if you cannot do in depth research/browsing into the question at hand. Nasr is the height of nuke based missile technology. Making a nuke so tiny that it is as useful as a conventional missile takes alot of R&D and brains. Hats off to the People wo are working day and night to make us a secure nation. and those who think that the world is going to send us to the stone age. Let me them that they might have done this long ago did they have the balls........
@Ulrike from Germany: @Menon: You guys are again mixing the term Tactical Nuclear Warhead with Strategic Nuclear Warhead. This idea is not new, Russians and Americans have their fair share of these Tactical Nukes already. So please get this thing out of your heads that even 1 gram of Uranium can wipe out the whole city.
For more details read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacticalnuclearweapon
Pakistan Army only get 8% of the total budget. All those fellow citizens complaining about solving energy crisis. Well its not the job of the army. Its your failed corrupt government inability to solve any crisis.
PS: Good Job ET for not approving my on-topic comments. You sure reveal your interests / agenda every now and then.
@Faesal: My comment was only to give a simple message that Pakistan is spending far too much money on nuclear toys and its delivery systems which cannot be used and could have been better spent on boosting its economy and reducing poverty in the country. The big question is that how much nuclear arsenal Pakistan needs as a deterrent against India or is it preparing a all out nuclear war between the two countries since the Western sources estimate of these toys to be approximately 120 which is 50 percent more than India ? Mind you that India's expenditure on its defence is 90 percent China centric and Pakistan doesnt figure as a potential threat to its sovereignty. Therefore, Pakistan is actually over spending on its defence requirements which should necessarily be focused on its failing economy. Thank you for reminding the plight of our people below poverty line which is hovering around 30 percent but nevertheless is a huge number but it is Pakistan who should get its priorities right if it doesnt want to reach the stage of my previous comment.
@Truth Hurts: "@let there be peace: Its Indian speciality to terrorise other countries and get back what you deserve! We have developed Hatf IX to teach your army a lesson if they enter Pakistan according to your Cold war doctrine!!"
Your retired airmarshal Asghar Khan has publicly stated that all wars with India were started by Pakistan. Not sure which other country India has supposedly terrorized with its weapons? Bangladesh has almost as many Muslims as Pakistan and no nuclear weapons. Has India ever threatened Bangladesh or tried to take even one inch of their soil?
@Mulheed
Its for wiping out the incoming column lunched by an enemy under doctrine of cold start. BTW NATO had these as part of their doctrine during cold war against Warsaw pact.
I can't understand this fireworks in a country which is under the economic turmoil, people are dying with hunger and there is worst energy crises.
The Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (Retd), termed the NASR Missile as a weapon of peace.
I never knew nuclear missles promoted peace.
@s.ahmad: Excellent! And the people in the nearby cities and villages will be wiped out along with the enemy if attacked with nuclear armed missiles.
Very pathetic a country which is Nuclear Power and have no electricity to meet the demand of energy. It is a need of time to divert our resources to generate energy instead of these missiles and warhead
@Faesal: it's not 70% it should be 95% if you compare with western countries.
@Concerned: Thank you indian. perhaps just like 70% of your people live below poverty line to support defence purchases
How much did this cost?
It is shame that even in this 'enlightened' century, we humans need Atomic weapons to get some respect, and it applies to everyone not just Pakistan.
@Singh, I did read that and my comments still stand
Pakistan needs electricity plants not more missiles. Army budget should be cut and funds transferred to WAPDA.
I am Pakistani and I strongly condemn testing missiles etc when half of our population is uneducated, hungry and surviving on $1 per day. If you call me a traitor then probably more than half of hungry, uneducated Pakistanis who dont give a hoot about this are also traitors.
@Roflcopter: So you mean to say the jihadis have nuclear missile resistance technic or may be having some other strategy? Come on the jihadis will also get killed in this. Don't you know anything about nukes?
all above before claiming about TNW please read this then comment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacticalnuclearweapon
@sane, incorrect.
So it means when indian troops attack jihadi camp inside pak border. The pak army will fire this tactical missile killing Indian troops as well as the jihadies. Correct?
@Khurram: Living things drown; ships sink.
Just for your information, during combat ships are steaming at high speeds and they are almost impossible to target with ballistic missiles. These missiles are for static targets; and that also depends on the sophistication of the navigation system. Merely painting poor quality North Korean rockets do not make you capable of sinking aircraft carriers.
@Yuri Kondratyuk, That's the point, tactical nukes have assured the indian doctrine remains on paper ;).
@let there be peace: Its Indian speciality to terrorise other countries and get back what you deserve! We have developed Hatf IX to teach your army a lesson if they enter Pakistan according to your Cold war doctrine!!
Serioulsy, ET needs to get its act straight before every Pakistani stopts reading it eventually. Way too many unemployed trolls from across get a free pass.perhaps they enjoy more freedom on a Pakistani website than they would on their own ! How tragic!
I really wish 1 day we built a missile that could feed our poor people, could curb poverty, could give religious Torrance and respect for 1 another regardless of our believes , could light our houses, could give us clean water or any water for that matter, could uphold the law, could improve our standard of living, could give us education. No there is no such missile what times are we living in have we learned nothing from USSR was there any shortage of nukes and missiles there, no but because the real strength the welfare of human being was not there and it collapsed. We will become history and not some that our future generations would be proud off if we don't act now. The only power after Allah (S.W.T) is the power of people in Pakistan and Youth please be warned you are loosing this country every day bits by bits act now for the welfare of people educate them to the best of ur abilities, Try to set up your own small business with little investment make sure you pay your taxes, who so ever is a technical person try to come wit a innovative idea to overcome major challenges to common people make societies and keep ensure that your society is free from any rubbish & Crime.These are just small steps for a big revolution.
Congrats Pakistan
@Roflcopter:
What you failed to notice is, that Indian doctrine is on paper and needs minimum resources. And countering the doctrine costs Pak money and resources.
TRIBUNE is so biased and jealous news papers that it did not cover any thing about Yom e Takbeer may 28 day of pakistan became certified member of nuc club what a shame E,T what shame.
@Nand lol Pakistan is capable of shooting down drones with other means. This is not a surface to air missile.
To all those who thinks that these short range missiles are the answer to india's cold start doctrine(if there is any), they are forgetting that if they use these nuclear capable missiles on indian army india will retaliate in fully flexed manner with its own nuclear missiles wiping out the key cities of pakistan and its air bases. So,it is stupidity on pakistan's part to even consider bombing indian military with nuclear missile because it will be considered an attack on indian state any government whether UPA or NDA will reply in same manner no matter what the outcome is. Pakistan can use its conventional force against indian military in the time of conflict but using nuclear missile even if it is a short range changes the whole ball game.
@Nand, There are many other ways to shoot down the drones, no matter what the warhead, a missile like this is not needed to shoot down a drone or fighter jet.
I hope one day we use our tax money to the development of education rather than developiong weapons with no use.
@Batman: Replace the nuclear warhead with conventional warhead and shoot the drones. That will be Pakistan's achievement to stop the drones.
i have not had my lunch yet and I don't think this test fire will help me get one either
It is step forward for Pakistan. This one launcher can launch four missiles at a time which is different than previous technologies and it could be upgraded to Submarine launched so to increase its capability. Its main advantage is short range forward base destruction and if Pakistan Navy will use it in the sea then the whole whole fleet of Attacking vessels could be drowned and it is vital for example One missile in enough to destroy the Whole of Aircraft carriers in a certain radius of the sea. If used by Pakistan Navy Forward Vessels then it would be a great Deterrent.
Notice how indian trolls are completely ignoring the fact that these short range tactical nukes completely negate indian cold start doctrine.
So many Indians with Pakistani Names have infiltrated on ET overtime and I am sick and tired of these Petty people who are degrading Pakistan on our forums.
@Mulheed: Well it is a Multi Tube Missile different from others. Cannot you see in the picture that in the past one launcher was used for One Missile but now Pakistan have acquired the technology that multiple missiles could be fired from one launcher and it is evident from the picture as well. It is a short range deterrent and it is a good step towards deterrence capabilities of Pakistan.
A short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) is a ballistic missile with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapons. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost and ease of configuration. In modern terminology, SRBMs are part of the wider grouping of theatre ballistic missiles, which includes any ballistic missile with a range of less than 3,500 km.
India also have Agni & Shaurya in her SRBM arsenal. There is nothing wrong with Pakistan developing their own.
Agni (missile) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni_missile
Shaurya (missile) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaurya_missile
This 60 km range battle field missile is ment to be used with Tactical Nukes - not Strategic - to stop advancing armor divisions enetering into the country. Many strategic planners in New Delhi has long been of the opinion that there exist a loophole in the Pakistani deterrance at shorter ranges which can be exploited in the Indian Cold Start Doctrine to capture Pakistani territory.
This missile is considered to be more deadly then longer range missiles because as it lower the nuclear threshold (for tactical nukes). The Americans had at one point deployed similar short range battlefield nukes in East-Europe against the Sovjets - to underscore the will to go all out nuclear against a larger invading force. It is called an effective deterrance.
Good Job!!!!!!!!! Congratulations for making Pakistan more secured, but dont forget to grow some eatable grass as well. This missile Slap to those who say that we are failed state!
@Shyam, you don't need nuclear capable missiles to shoot drones.
@Moise:
Considering next door our sole enemy may not be a valid theory any more, we are surrounded by more than 50 hidden and exhibited enemies which are fully deployed and mobilized. Are we waiting to be crushed and then to respond?? They are tightening circle around us!!
@Nand: @Mulheed: @Abbas: 60Km?
It is for tactical nukes; in response to India's cold start doctrine. In case of war if Indian troops move into Pakistan in large number, such tactical nukes will be used against Indian troops in hope of stopping their advancement. In other words, Pakistan's military is sure they will lose any war with Indian army, and so they are developing such tactics. Basically it is an advanced form of suicide bombing (Pakistan's specialty).
Maybe you can use this to shoot down a drone
Just because a missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads does not mean it will actually be equipped with them. The NASR is more likely to be utilized as a means of targeting static Indian military infrastructure close to the border with conventional warheads - a more accurate substitute to an MBRL.
The attached image shows that, compared to the last test, the launch vehicle now carries 4 NASR missiles.
The world is in awe of your mighty powers as a nation (sarcasm). Now, for your next trick... why don't you take some of that dwindling foreign aid you are about to lose forever and put it to good use while you have it. It will be fun (sarcasm) to watch you try to sell all your fancy toys when you finally go down in flames.
a nuke on top of a rocket that can travel just 60km is suicidal! the fallout will kill the launch party, you have to be deep inside enemy territory to launch it and if used as a defence strike against advancing troops will surely draw a larger nuke towards our assets. stop burning my tax rupees here and use that amount to burn more FO so that we can have more electricity, hence more growth, more jobs. unless of course, we don't want to prosper which is always on the cards...
Are we short of BREADS or BOMBS?
@ khaleel khaja They are not for use. They serve as a deterrent. Regarding being wiped off, I have to quote Napoleon "The fear to be conquered is sure of defeat". We need to come out of paradigm of making decisions based on fear. The fear of being bombed to stone age has already handicapped us.
Whenever going gets tough in negotiations with US, N. Korea does similar things.
One should read this column about Khan & his rifle: http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1101534019&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20120529
@Mulheed: Ever heard of the term Tactical Nuke? These small range Nuclear Warheads are not meant to wipe out cities. Instead their role is to wipe out enemy bases or a strategic point which is too hard to be conquered.
chill out guys..having short and medium range missiles is part of new defence doctrine. where invading army is usually the target..
Chinese trash
Please cut all this crap and invest on food, electricity, health and education.
Am I reading this correct. A range of 60Km? If fired from Karachi, it will not even reach Hyderabad. CONGRATULATIONS PAKISTAN.
Good Job!!!!!!!!! Now some R&D investment in consumer products would be highly appreciated.
@Rana: No need. Enemy lives next door.
India: We tested Agni V of 5000 km range. Pak: We will test our Haft, Babur, Ghaznvi, Osama of 50-300 km range till the sum of range becomes 5000 km.
Amazed at the comments here. Lots of missile and no food on my table. Pakistan zindabad
I am at a loss as to the need for such a short range missile being nuclear armed. Firing a nuclear warhead 60 km from launch is suicidal.
having short range attack capability is a gr8 step forward , however i whould rather want to see the NASR fired from submarine .....
With a range of 60km ???
Congratulations for making Pakistan more secured, but dont forget to grow some eatable grass as well.
Good job! Go for some long awaited ICBM's now.
Long live Pakistan. Long live Pakistan Army
All missiles are capable to carry nuclear warheads. Nuclear capable has become a cheap word. Pakistan will be wiped out by world powers if we use it against any country. They are fit only to eat away national wealth keeping the people eternally poor.
Slap to those who say that we are failed state!!! Pakistan Zindabad!!!