Pakistan conducts first flight test of surface-to-surface Ababeel missile

'The indigenously-developed surface to surface missile can strike target with high accuracy at a range of 2,200kms'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has successfully test-fired indigenously-developed surface to surface nuclear-capable missile Ababeel, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Tuesday.

“Pakistan successfully conducted first flight test of SSM Ababeel, Range 2,200 kilometres,’ DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted.

Pak successfully conducted first flight test of SSM #ABABEEL, Rg 2200 Km. #COAS congrats team and Pak Armed Forces for landmk achievement. pic.twitter.com/iXBGgJf9JN

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) January 24, 2017

According to the military’s media wing, the missile is capable of delivering multiple warheads, using Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. "The test flight was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system," a statement said.

Pakistan fires 'first submarine-launched nuclear-capable missile

"Ababeel is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has the capability to engage multiple targets with high precision, defeating the enemy’s hostile radars," it added.

The ISPR said, development of Ababeel Weapon System is aimed at ensuring survivability of Pakistan’s ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment. "This will further reinforce deterrence."

#ABABEEL. CJCSC Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, CAS ACM Sohail Aman and CNS Adm Muhammad Zaka Ullah Congratulate team and Pakistan Armed Forces. pic.twitter.com/Bdz1LQxpJh

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) January 24, 2017

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah congratulated the nation and the missile launch team on the achievement.

The development came over two weeks after indigenously-developed submarine-launched cruise missile Babur-III was successfully test-fired.

Babur weapons system incorporates advanced aerodynamics and avionics that can strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy at a range of 700kms. It is a low flying, terrain hugging missile, which carries certain stealth features and is capable of carrying various types of warheads.