Shaheen missile

Infobox Weapon
is_missile=yes
name=Shaheen-I/Hatf-IV


caption=
origin=
type=Medium Range Ballistic Missile
used_by=
manufacturer=National Defence Complex (NDC)
unit_cost=NA
propellant=
production_date=
service=March 6, 2003
engine=Single-Stage Solid Propellant
engine_power=
weight=9,500 kg
length=12 m
height=
diameter=1 m
wingspan=NA
speed=Mach 10
vehicle_range=750 km
ceiling=
altitude=
filling=Conventional HE/Nuclear 150 to 300 kT 250-500 Kg
guidance=Terminal
detonation=NA
launch_platform=TEL

The Shaheen missile series (named after a white eagle that lives in the mountains of Pakistan) was developed by National Defence Complex (NDC), a subsidiary of the NESCOM which was formed in 1993, under the guidance of Dr. Samar Mubarakmand. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/pakistan/1999/fbis-nes-1999-0422.htm How 'Shaheen' Was Developed ] ]

Background

Since the early 1990s, Pakistan has faced the threat of ballistic missile attacks from India, which it has attacked several times in the past.

In 1999, the Kargil War between India and Pakistan became the first direct conflict between two declared nuclear powers. Even though the war had not been openly declared by either side, Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan at that time in his biography has stated that Pakistan's nuclear assets were brought to a high alert level status, but didn't have any operational warheads. [ [http://indianpolitics.wordpress.com/2006/07/05/pakistain-was-ready-to-use-nuclear-weapon-in-kargil-war/ Pakistain was ready to use Nuclear weapon in Kargil war « Indianpolitics ] ]

Shaheen-I missile is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with an optimal range of 750 km. The Shaheen missile is very accurate by the standards of ballistic missiles, and has a CEP of 50 meters. The Shaheen-I has a single stage solid fuel rocket motor. Shaheen-II a longer range variant of Shaheen-I, uses a two-stage motor, giving it a range of 2,500 km.

The Shaheen missile system can deliver either a conventional or a non-conventional payload. The solid propellant engine, makes Shaheen missiles faster to deploy than systems such as the Ghauri. It is also thought that Pakistan is in the process of developing the capability to fire these missiles from submarines and ships, a feature that would greatly enhance the deterrent capability of the Pakistani Navy.

Advance Re-entry vehicle:Ballistic Missile Defence and CEP

Re-entry vehicle carried by the Shaheen-I missile have a mass of 850kg. This re-entry vehicle mass of 850kg carry Nuclear Warhead weight of the re-entry vehicles itself and a terminal guidance [ [http://www.fas.org/news/pakistan/1999/fbis-nes-1999-0422.htm How 'Shaheen' Was Developed ] ] (as confirmed by Dr. Samar Mubarakmand in his interview with Hamid Mir on GEO-TV program CAPITAL TALK SPECIAL dated 05-03-2004 [ [http://www.pakdef.info/nuclear&missile/geo_samar.html Pakistan Military Consortium :: www.PakDef.info ] ] )which is most probably radar correlation terminal seeker to achieve extremely accurate CEP in range of 30-50m similar to US PERSHING II [ [http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/pershing/ The Pershing Weapon System And Its Elimination ] ] .This re-entry vehicle also have four moving delta control fins at the rear (in case of Shaheen-I only) and small solid-propellantside thrust motors motors, which can be used to orientate the re-entry vehicle after boost burn out or before reentry to improve the accuracy by providing stabilization during the terminal phase [ [http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.47/pub_detail.asp International Assessment and Strategy Center > Research > Pakistan’s Long Range Ballistic Missiles: A View From IDEAS ] ] and this can also be used to fly evasive maneuvers, making it immensely problematic to intercept Shaheen-I by any existing anti-ballistic missile defence systems. As Shaheen-I may change its trajectory several times during re-entry and even during the terminal phase, effectively preventing pre-calculated intercept points of radar systems - which is a method nearly all ABM systems using these days.This re-entry vehicle also have GPS updates to further improve its CEP.

Shaheen-I was first flight tested on April 15, 1999. It was handed over to Pakistan Army in 2003. The missile has a range of 750 km, weighs almost 10 tonns and can carry a payload of 1000 kg. Shaheen-I is also designated as Hatf-IV.

Other missiles currently in the service of Pakistan are Hatf-I (BRBM), Abdali-I (BRBM), Ghaznavi (SRBM), Ghauri-I (MRBM), Ghauri-II (MRBM), Ghauri-III (Under Development) (IRBM), Shaheen-II (IRBM), Babur (cruise missile) and Ra'ad (cruise missile).

Operator

*: The military of Pakistan is the only operator of the Shaheen.

Note: Not every missile has nuclear payload.

See also

* Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction

References

External links

* [http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.47/pub_detail.asp Pakistan’s Long Range Ballistic Missiles: A View From IDEAS]
* http://www.sipri.org/contents/expcon/Pakistan.pdf
* http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/pakistan/missile/hatf-3.htm
* [http://www.fas.org/news/pakistan/1999/fbis-nes-1999-0422.htm How 'Shaheen' Was Developed ]