US Tries to Dent Pakistan’s Progress In Long-Range Ballistic Missile Program

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The United States wants to hinder Pakistan’s ballistic missile development program by imposing sanctions on a Chinese research institute that cooperates with a Pakistani agency in developing several types of long-range ballistic missiles for the South Asian country.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that it had decided to impose sanctions on China’s research agency, the Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry (RIAMB).

The Chinese research agency is alleged to be in close cooperation with Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for developing and building several types of Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missiles.

Among the long-range ballistic missiles developed and built by Pakistan’s National Development Complex are “Shaheen III” and “Ababeel.”

The long-range ballistic missile “Shaheen III” is said to be one of the most modern missiles owned by the Pakistani military.

The ballistic missile uses solid fuel propellant and is capable of hitting targets with conventional and nuclear explosives as far as 2,700km.

It is the longest range ballistic missile owned by Pakistan.

The Pakistani military reportedly began developing the “Shaheen” ballistic missile in early 2000 and in 2014 it entered strategic military service.

The total weight of the “Shaheen” ballistic missile is about 24,000 kg and can be equipped with 1,200 kg of conventional explosives.

The “Shaheen” ballistic missile is a two-stage missile that uses solid fuel propellant, while its guidance system uses Inertial and Terminal with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 350m.

In 2017, the United States believed that Pakistan’s military had up to 50 “Shaheen-II” and “Shaheen-III” ballistic missiles, but that the number of had most likely increased by one or two times.

Meanwhile, the “Ababeel” ballistic missile is reportedly capable of carrying a Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV).

The “Ababeel” ballistic missile is said to be still in the development stage.

In October last year, Pakistan’s military has test-launched the “Ababeel” long-range ballistic missile.

Pakistan was the first country in South Asia to carry out a test launch a ballistic missile equipped with MIRV capability, surpassing its neighbor and “arch enemy” India which has not yet reached that level of progress in its ballistic missile development program.

The “Ababeel” medium-range ballistic missile with MIRV capability is capable of hitting targets as far as 2,200km.

What is MIRV?

The MIRV is a payload carrying several thermonuclear warheads capable of hitting targets simultaneously.

Only a few countries in the world have ballistic missiles with MIRV capabilities such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and China, while Israel is also believed to have or is developing ballistic missiles with MIRV capabilities.

If Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile “Ababeel” is successful in its next development, it will join a small group of countries in the world that have MIRV capabilities.

In addition to actions imposed on the Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry (RIAMB), the United States Department of State also acted to impose sanctions on three Chinese companies and its sole citizen as well as a Pakistani company for transferring control equipment and technology under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) to countries that are not signatories to the MTCR.

The three Chinese companies are — Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Company, Universal Enterprise Limited and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited (aka Lontek) and a Chinese citizen Luo Dongmei.

The Pakistani company that is subject to US Department sanctions is Innovative Equipment. — DSA