Pakistan test-fires long-range nuclear-capable missile

[kashifshahzad]

AFP
Mar 19, 2005, 13:59

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's military said it successfully test fired a long-range missile on Saturday that is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

The launch of the Shaheen 2 (Hatf VI) surface-to-surface missile was witnessed by President General Pervez Musharraf, a military statement said.

"This missile system, which incorporates advanced two-stage solid motor technology, can carry all types of conventional and nuclear warheads to a range of 2,000 kilometres," it said without giving any further explanation.

"The test was carried out to verify some of the refined technical parameters...all parameters were validated," the statement said.

Neighbouring states, particularly nuclear-armed rival India, were given prior notification of the test "as per existing practice, as a confidence building measure," it said.

Musharraf congratulated the scientists and engineers on the successful test, saying "the nation was proud of its strategic organisations and strategic forces."

Pakistan said after tests of the medium-range Shaheen-1 (Hatf-IV) in December that the exercise was not meant to send any message to India.

The two countries are engaged in a peace dialogue aimed at resolving all issues including the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir.
i think this is a good development in missile defence
http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/article_002252.shtml

 

[rajupaki]

i thought before that Pakistan's Lonest raange missile is 2500 Km.

 

[webmaster]

i thought before that Pakistan's Lonest raange missile is 2500 Km.

That is due to because of thanks to "GUESS WORK" of self declared defence experts at pakistani defence sites. No body knows for sure until it happens as this test did.

 

[A Khan]

again as webmaster pointed out, no actual data is avaliable, but i have heard from a friend, who saw an interview with a pakistani missile scientist (think it was dr. Mubarakmand from PAEC, not sure) on tv, that shaheen 2s actual range i 2500 km but because of Pakistans geography, it wasnt possible to test it on that range.

 

[gf0012-aust]

but because of Pakistans geography, it wasnt possible to test it on that range.

but thats why nations use the ocean if they don't have the land mass - why do you think telemetry ships exist?

Pakistan could test fire missiles into her EEZ area, ot could drop it into international waters. If you can target a missile onto a city, then you can vector it into an ocean test area.

 

[mysterious]

C'mon Gary, stop pulling the newbie's leg. Haha Shaheen-II is 2500Km capable but in this test it was only tested for 2000Km range as far as I've been able to find out.

 

[gf0012-aust]

C'mon Gary, stop pulling the newbie's leg. Haha Shaheen-II is 2500Km capable but in this test it was only tested for 2000Km range as far as I've been able to find out.

But I'm not, I'm serious. Why do you think that the US, Russia, France, Israel, India, Brazil do long missile tests into the ocean? It's a real estate issue.

 

[mysterious]

I'm not sayin that what you said was wrong. Just trying to make the point that our new friend here might not be aware of it. Relax mate.

 

[A Khan]

thanx for the concern mysterious

and yes i dont know much about these things, what i wrote was something i heard from someone, and being the "newbie" to these things i believed it.

But if Pakistan was to test a range of 2500 km, would it be possible to test the missile so it landed inside pakistans EEZ? and if the missile lands in internationel waters how do you keep it away from the nosy eyes of ones neighbour? bescause i presume that other nations knowing the accurracy of Pakistans missiles, wont in be in Pakistans interest...

thanx

 

[adsH]

thanx for the concern mysterious

and yes i dont know much about these things, what i wrote was something i heard from someone, and being the "newbie" to these things i believed it.

But if Pakistan was to test a range of 2500 km, would it be possible to test the missile so it landed inside pakistans EEZ? and if the missile lands in internationel waters how do you keep it away from the nosy eyes of ones neighbour? bescause i presume that other nations knowing the accurracy of Pakistans missiles, wont in be in Pakistans interest...

thanx

You wouldn't test a destructive Tons Shattering Missile crash-landing on Land since it would mean that if the Missile goes off course it would or could land in an inhabited Area. The whole Fuss seems to be about the Secrecy issue. Out in the Sea its would be the Dog rule. If you have your Ships and Subs and other assets in the Vicinity you can prevent others from coming close. But i guess you can't stop a powerful navy such as US or UK from entering the Locale not that they would enter a Pak designated Restricted zone Designated by Pak Navy, since they would rather keep the Recon (If Any) Long-range and prevent any friction between the two sides that would undoubtedly have repercussions stretching to the diplomatic arena.
I Have tremendous respect for any nation that Endeavors its self for the development of Any missile, and if its a BM then you get my Point. What i'm trying to say is that Calculations required to calculate Trajectory of Simple Guided Ammunition is So complex that its way out of My League. I can only imagine what a Mammoth Task to calculate the Trajectory and Atmosphere reentry parameters of a BM would be.

 

[gf0012-aust]

and if the missile lands in internationel waters how do you keep it away from the nosy eyes of ones neighbour?

You can't, they can work out what the range is by small clues such as the type of support vessels, ship deployments etc... You shoot on good days, on good days the satellite sees all.

In the hoary old days of the Cold War, the Russians used to race for the bits that landed - there were often collisions at sea. The Americans use to "bomb" the small recovery boats (used by Russian trawlers and subs) with non explosive shards of metal to "dissuade them" from their job.

bescause i presume that other nations knowing the accurracy of Pakistans missiles, wont in be in Pakistans interest...

it's irrelevant to a great extent - you actually do want your potential aggressors to know the basics.

 

[SABRE]

Anyways the missile was paraded yesterday (22nd march 2005) on Pakistan Day celebration.

 

[kashifshahzad]

Yeah in the 23rd March Prade the missile was shown it was told that this missile has about 2000km. I think this missle missile can go to 2500km caz i have seen on many places that is has a range of 2500km but i think it has not been declared by the government yet so let see what happens next:coffee

 

[gf0012-aust]

Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 03:01:15 EST
Subject: Pakistan Test-Fires Longest-Range Missile
Pakistan Test-Fires Longest-Range Missile



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Saturday March 19, 2005 11:46 PM[/font]

[font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]

AP Photo KAR102

By MUNIR AHMAD

Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan successfully test-fired its longest-range missile on Saturday, a military spokesman said.

The test of the Shaheen II missile, capable of carrying nuclear warheads and hitting targets deep inside neighboring India, was not expected to hurt peace efforts between the nuclear rivals. Both countries routinely conduct missile tests and inform each other in advance.

With a range of 1,250 miles, the missiles could also reach Iran, China and Saudi Arabia.

The military did not disclose the location of the test, but a security official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the missile was fired from a facility near southern city of Karachi and it was witnessed by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, spokesman for the Pakistan army, said the missile, which can carry conventional and nuclear warheads, successfully hit its target.

Musharraf said Pakistan's nuclear capability would continue to ``receive the highest national priority.''

There was no immediate reaction from New Delhi.

The test came two days after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Pakistan to encourage the peace process - and ahead of Pakistan's National Day on March 23, to be marked with a major military parade in the capital, Islamabad.

Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations, having fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

Early last year, they began peace talks aimed at resolving their disputes, including their competing claims to the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir. The dialogue has helped ease tensions between the two nations that nearly fought a fourth war in 2002.

Pakistan became a declared nuclear power in 1998, when it conducted underground nuclear tests in response to those carried out by India. It tested its first missile the same year.
Pakistan has weathered a diplomatic storm over the dealings of its top nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan, who was exposed last year as the key player in an international black market in nuclear weapons technology that supplied Iran, North Korea and Libya. Khan now lives under virtual house arrest in Islamabad.
--0--

My apols for no link, but this came through as an OSINT alert, which means that they sometimes forget to provide the URL.

[/font]

 

[SABRE]

1,250 miles how much is that in km??

 

[gf0012-aust]

1,250 miles how much is that in km??

approx 2000km.

 

[SABRE]

it probably is 2000Km... & I dnt think we need to more than that. I mean we dnt wana strike USA, Britain or Australia/NewZealand. Countries which r more threatening to us r already under the range, so not realy a need for more range.

 

[kashifshahzad]

it probably is 2000Km... & I dnt think we need to more than that. I mean we dnt wana strike USA, Britain or Australia/NewZealand. Countries which r more threatening to us r already under the range, so not realy a need for more range.

As far as I think Pakistan will need an ICBM to strike that far located countries and I think there is no concern of Pakistan there to develop ,issiles of that long range. I think to develop an Inter Continental ballestic missile (ICBM) Pakistan will have to develop a launch vahicle for its satellites caz Pakistan dont have it the range can be attained but it will take time and a lot of efforts. I think every country have the right to make its defence stronger to that stage to which it wants. If you see the ICBMs of China and Russia they are very long in size and there are different stages of those missile i think same as the space shuttle.One or two stages for fuel and the upper one for warhead.

 

[A Khan]

it probably is 2000Km... & I dnt think we need to more than that. I mean we dnt wana strike USA, Britain or Australia/NewZealand. Countries which r more threatening to us r already under the range, so not realy a need for more range.

I dont know, was thinking about the Indians islands of Nicobar and the Andamans, arent approximately 2500 km away from Pakistan? as the indians are building a big (3 services) headquarter there, Pakistan might consider having them in our range as well. Other then that i see no reason why we should have longer range missiles! that would just be a big waste of money...

 

[rajupaki]

Pakistan must build greater range Missile's. ICBM'S also have a political effect. you emerge as a strong country if you have an ICBM. No one know's the friends enemies of future. What if after 15 year's we will face an enemy present 13K km from us?(pointing towards no one, just an example).