Maintaining deterrence: Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable missile
Shaheen 1A (Hatf IV) can hit target within a range of 900km
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Monday conducted a ‘successful’ test launch of intermediate range Shaheen 1A (Hatf IV) ballistic missile, capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads, the military’s media wing said in a statement.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the test-fire was aimed at re-validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system. “Shaheen1A missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 900 kilometres,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The latest test came three days after the Pakistani military successfully test-fired another nuclear-capable missile, which has a range of 1,500 kilometres.
The Shaheen-IA missile, also known as Hatf-VI, was launched from an undisclosed location in the country, targeting somewhere in the Arabian Sea.
“Today’s launch, with impact point in the Arabian Sea, was witnessed by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, Lt Gen Obaid Ullah Khan, Vice Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, Commander Pakistan Fleet, Chairman NESCOM, Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the strategic forces, scientists and engineers of strategic organisations,” the ISPR said.
Naval chief Admiral Zakaullah congratulated the scientists and engineers for their dedication, professionalism and commitment towards achieving Pakistan’s full spectrum credible minimum deterrence capability.
Shaheen-1A with its highly accurate and indigenously developed guidance system is amongst the most accurate missile system, official statement said.
The naval chief reiterated Pakistan’s desire for peaceful co-existence in the region. He appreciated the professional attributes of all concerned towards accomplishment of the sacred mission. He showed his full confidence in the Pakistani armed forces’ capability to safeguard security of the motherland against any aggression.
The successful test launch was also warmly appreciated by the president and the prime minister who congratulated the participating troops, the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.
Pakistan has tested a wide range of missiles, including nuclear-capable, ranging from the Hatf-IX tactical missile with a range of 60 kilometres to Hatf-IV, in recent months as part of efforts to strengthen its nuclear arsenal to counter India’s conventional superiority.
Last week, the Indian army also test-fired a new nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile, Prithvi-II (Earth-II), with a range of 350 kilometers in the eastern state of Odisha.
The latest Pakistani test was the 5th in 2014 and was part of Pakistan’s efforts to maintain a ‘minimum credible deterrence.’ On November 17, intermediate range Shaheen 1A (Hatf IV) ballistic missile (900km) was test-fired; on November 13, intermediate range Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) (1500km) was tested; On September 26, short range surface-to-surface missile Hatf IX (NASR) (60km) was test-launched; On May 8, short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi) (290km) was test-fired, while on April 22, short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi) (290km) was tested.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2014.
Pakistan on Monday conducted a ‘successful’ test launch of intermediate range Shaheen 1A (Hatf IV) ballistic missile, capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads, the military’s media wing said in a statement.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the test-fire was aimed at re-validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system. “Shaheen1A missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 900 kilometres,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The latest test came three days after the Pakistani military successfully test-fired another nuclear-capable missile, which has a range of 1,500 kilometres.
The Shaheen-IA missile, also known as Hatf-VI, was launched from an undisclosed location in the country, targeting somewhere in the Arabian Sea.
“Today’s launch, with impact point in the Arabian Sea, was witnessed by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lt Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, Lt Gen Obaid Ullah Khan, Vice Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, Commander Pakistan Fleet, Chairman NESCOM, Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the strategic forces, scientists and engineers of strategic organisations,” the ISPR said.
Naval chief Admiral Zakaullah congratulated the scientists and engineers for their dedication, professionalism and commitment towards achieving Pakistan’s full spectrum credible minimum deterrence capability.
Shaheen-1A with its highly accurate and indigenously developed guidance system is amongst the most accurate missile system, official statement said.
The naval chief reiterated Pakistan’s desire for peaceful co-existence in the region. He appreciated the professional attributes of all concerned towards accomplishment of the sacred mission. He showed his full confidence in the Pakistani armed forces’ capability to safeguard security of the motherland against any aggression.
The successful test launch was also warmly appreciated by the president and the prime minister who congratulated the participating troops, the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.
Pakistan has tested a wide range of missiles, including nuclear-capable, ranging from the Hatf-IX tactical missile with a range of 60 kilometres to Hatf-IV, in recent months as part of efforts to strengthen its nuclear arsenal to counter India’s conventional superiority.
Last week, the Indian army also test-fired a new nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile, Prithvi-II (Earth-II), with a range of 350 kilometers in the eastern state of Odisha.
The latest Pakistani test was the 5th in 2014 and was part of Pakistan’s efforts to maintain a ‘minimum credible deterrence.’ On November 17, intermediate range Shaheen 1A (Hatf IV) ballistic missile (900km) was test-fired; on November 13, intermediate range Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) (1500km) was tested; On September 26, short range surface-to-surface missile Hatf IX (NASR) (60km) was test-launched; On May 8, short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi) (290km) was test-fired, while on April 22, short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Hatf III (Ghaznavi) (290km) was tested.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2014.