On May 23, Pakistan’s military successfully tested the Shaheen 2, a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear and conventional payloads. The missile, which can travel up to 1,500 km, landed in the Arabian Sea. Speaking shortly after the test, Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor said the test contributed to “Pakistan’s strategic needs towards...
On April 23, Pakistan’s Navy successfully test fired an indigenously developed antiship/land-attack cruise missile. The unidentified missile was launched from a fast attack craft in the North Arabian Sea, and according to a military press release, “accurately hit its target on land signifying the impressive capabilities of the indigenous missile system.” Defense analyst Franz-Stefan Gady...
On February 28, India released photos allegedly of the remains of an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) from the site of a dogfight between Indian MiG-21s and Pakistani F-16s in Kashmir. India claimed a Pakistani aircraft fired the beyond visual range missile before being downed by a MiG-21. The footage of the missile remains...
On January 24, Pakistan test launched its Hatf 9 “Nasr” SRBM in a training exercise to “enhance the operational efficiency of the Army Strategic Forces Command,” according to a Pakistani Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release. During the exercise, a salvo of four missiles was launched at ground targets. The Hatf 9 is reportedly...
On October 8, the Pakistani Army Strategic Forces Command conducted a successful training launch of the Hatf-5 “Ghauri” medium-range ballistic missile. The launch was part of a readiness assessment of the Pakistani Strategic Forces. Hatf-5 is a road-mobile, liquid-fueled missile capable of carrying nuclear, high-explosive, chemical, or submunitions warhead. It entered service in 2003 and has...
On June 1, the Pakistan Navy concluded a second agreement to buy two Type 054A Jiangkai II-class guided missile frigates from the China Shipbuilding Trading Co Ltd. (CSTC). This follows the initial 2017 agreement to procure two frigates. The Type 054A frigate weighs 4,000 tons and features stealth capabilities and a 32-cell vertical launching system...
On April 14, Pakistan conducted a successful test flight of its enhanced ground-launched Babur cruise missile. Designated the Babur-1B, the missile ““incorporates advanced aerodynamics and avionics that can strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy, at a range of 700 kilometers.” Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a video of the test,...
On March 21, Chinese officials reported the sale of an advanced tracking system used to develop missiles to Pakistan. Zheng Mengwei, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Institute of Optics and Electronics, confirmed that the purchase was of a “highly sophisticated large-scale optical tracking and measurement system.” Optical systems play a critical...
On January 3, the Pakistani Navy conducted a successful test firing of its Harbah cruise missile. The indigenously produced Harbah was launched in the North Arabian Sea by the Azmat-class fast-attack craft PNS Himmat (1027). The missile is reportedly a variant of the Babur missile family, and can perform both antiship and land-attack missions. While...
On July 5, Pakistan test fired its short-range Nasr missile (HATF-9). Based on these tests, Pakistan’s military claims to have enhanced the rocket’s flight maneuverability and extended its range from 60 to 70 km. Pakistani officials emphasized the missile’s deterrent effect, saying “This weapon system will augment credible deterrence against prevailing threat spectrum more effectively, including anti-missile...
