(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The Pakistan military has successfully conducted a training launch of the Shaheen-II (Hatf-6) medium-range ballistic missile, capable of striking targets up to 2,000 km away.
Developed by the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), the Shaheen-II ballistic missile can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear warheads.
It is considered one of the most advanced missiles in Pakistan’s arsenal, featuring Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capability.
According to a statement released by the Pakistan Armed Forces’ Public Relations unit, the purpose of the launch was to train military personnel, validate various technical parameters, and assess the performance of different subsystems, with the aim of enhancing accuracy and improving survivability.
Senior military officials from the Strategic Plans Division, the Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers, witnessed the missile launch.
The Director of the Strategic Forces Command commended the technical expertise, dedication, and commitment of the scientists who contributed to this achievement.
Reports indicate that Pakistan began developing ballistic missiles in the early 2000s, with the Shaheen-II entering strategic military service in 2014.
The missile weighs approximately 24,000 kg and can carry a conventional warhead of up to 1,200 kg.
It is a two-stage missile powered by solid propellant, with guidance systems using Inertial and Terminal technology, and a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 350 meters.
In 2017, the United States estimated that Pakistan possessed up to 50 Shaheen-II ballistic missiles, and the number has likely increased one or twofold since then.
In January, Pakistan conducted a test launch of the Fatah-II missile, developed domestically by its weapons experts.
Regional analysts described this as another “show of strength” aimed at neighboring countries, particularly India and possibly Iran.
The Fatah-II, capable of striking targets up to 400 km, is the latest variant of the Fatah-I missile, which has a range of 150 km.
The Fatah-II represents a significant enhancement over its predecessor, developed in 2021.
In October last year, Pakistan conducted a second test launch of the Ababeel medium-range ballistic missile, designed to carry a Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV).
Pakistan is the first country in South Asia to conduct a test launch of a MIRV-capable ballistic missile, outpacing its rival, India, which has yet to reach this level of advancement in its ballistic missile development program.
The Ababeel missile, with a range of 2,200 km, remains in the development stage.
The MIRV-capable medium-range ballistic missile test launch further demonstrates Pakistan’s ongoing progress in achieving the capability to “penetrate” India’s ballistic missile defense systems.
The Ababeel missile is still under development. — DSA