Safriz
BANNED
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2010
- Messages
- 20,845
- Reaction score
- -1
- Country
- Location
ISLAMABAD Pakistan has test-fired an improved variant of its
Shaheen-1 (Falcon-1) HATF-IV/Vengeance-IV short-range ballistic
missile, another step in ensuring the survivability of its strategic
forces. According to a press release by the militarys Inter Services Public
Relations (ISPR) media branch, The missile incorporates a series of
improvements in range and technical parameters of the existing missile. It is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads
to a range of 900 km. The test missile was stated to have struck a predetermined spot
in
the Arabian Sea. No specific details of the improvements were given. However, aside
from being a part of a series of tests designed to
validate improved technical parameters such as propulsion, range, guidance and accuracy, Mansoor Ahmed, from Quaid-e-Azam
Universitys Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, said todays
test has added significance. This particular test demonstrated enhanced range of 900
kilometers
over 750 kilometers for previous versions, and most likely would
also have tested advanced missile defense countermeasures or maneuverable re-entry or a post separation correction system for
single warhead ballistic missiles, which was earlier tested on the
Shaheen-1A, said Ahmed, who specializes in Pakistans national deterrent and
delivery program. Given the growing conventional and nuclear disparity between
India
and Pakistan, Ahmed says Pakistans continuing missile tests ought to be seen as part of an ongoing process of ensuring the survivability
and effectiveness of its strategic forces in order to diversify its
response options through a nuclear triad that provides assured
deterrence for all levels of the threat spectrum. Harsh V. Pant, Reader in International
Relations, Department of
Defence Studies, Kings College, London, says the Shaheen is important for Pakistan for maintaining a robust deterrence stability
vis-à-vis India and its operationalization should help Pakistan in
providing assured deterrence across a wide range of nuclear threat
spectrum. He is, however, of the opinion that Pakistans increased production of
nuclear warheads seems to be at odds with maintaining strategic
symmetry with India. Far from maintaining balance, Pant claims Pakistans pursuit of tactical
nuclear weapons has caused a certain amount of panic in India. Given Indias
nuclear doctrine of credible minimum deterrent and no
first use, tactical weapons change the equation radically, and New
Delhi is finding it difficult to respond, especially given the role of
nonstate actors in the mix. Pakistans missile developments seem to be following an evolutionary course in order to maintain a semblance of balance and
credible deterrence in the face of Indias conventional and nuclear
modernization and expansion efforts. Pakistans missiles, therefore, are steadily
improving in areas such as
range, accuracy and ease of deployment and operation. They are also evolving in
response to Indian developments, such as maneuvering warheads to counter Indian missile defenses;
submarine-launched nuclear-armed land attack cruise missiles to
match Indias submarine-launched ballistic missiles; and also tactical
nuclear weapons such as the Nasr HATF-IX system to counter any
potentially overwhelming Indian conventional attack. http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130410/DEFREG03/304100018/Pakistan-
Tests-Improved-Shaheen-Missile
Shaheen-1 (Falcon-1) HATF-IV/Vengeance-IV short-range ballistic
missile, another step in ensuring the survivability of its strategic
forces. According to a press release by the militarys Inter Services Public
Relations (ISPR) media branch, The missile incorporates a series of
improvements in range and technical parameters of the existing missile. It is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads
to a range of 900 km. The test missile was stated to have struck a predetermined spot
in
the Arabian Sea. No specific details of the improvements were given. However, aside
from being a part of a series of tests designed to
validate improved technical parameters such as propulsion, range, guidance and accuracy, Mansoor Ahmed, from Quaid-e-Azam
Universitys Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, said todays
test has added significance. This particular test demonstrated enhanced range of 900
kilometers
over 750 kilometers for previous versions, and most likely would
also have tested advanced missile defense countermeasures or maneuverable re-entry or a post separation correction system for
single warhead ballistic missiles, which was earlier tested on the
Shaheen-1A, said Ahmed, who specializes in Pakistans national deterrent and
delivery program. Given the growing conventional and nuclear disparity between
India
and Pakistan, Ahmed says Pakistans continuing missile tests ought to be seen as part of an ongoing process of ensuring the survivability
and effectiveness of its strategic forces in order to diversify its
response options through a nuclear triad that provides assured
deterrence for all levels of the threat spectrum. Harsh V. Pant, Reader in International
Relations, Department of
Defence Studies, Kings College, London, says the Shaheen is important for Pakistan for maintaining a robust deterrence stability
vis-à-vis India and its operationalization should help Pakistan in
providing assured deterrence across a wide range of nuclear threat
spectrum. He is, however, of the opinion that Pakistans increased production of
nuclear warheads seems to be at odds with maintaining strategic
symmetry with India. Far from maintaining balance, Pant claims Pakistans pursuit of tactical
nuclear weapons has caused a certain amount of panic in India. Given Indias
nuclear doctrine of credible minimum deterrent and no
first use, tactical weapons change the equation radically, and New
Delhi is finding it difficult to respond, especially given the role of
nonstate actors in the mix. Pakistans missile developments seem to be following an evolutionary course in order to maintain a semblance of balance and
credible deterrence in the face of Indias conventional and nuclear
modernization and expansion efforts. Pakistans missiles, therefore, are steadily
improving in areas such as
range, accuracy and ease of deployment and operation. They are also evolving in
response to Indian developments, such as maneuvering warheads to counter Indian missile defenses;
submarine-launched nuclear-armed land attack cruise missiles to
match Indias submarine-launched ballistic missiles; and also tactical
nuclear weapons such as the Nasr HATF-IX system to counter any
potentially overwhelming Indian conventional attack. http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130410/DEFREG03/304100018/Pakistan-
Tests-Improved-Shaheen-Missile
