Babur missile

All you want to know about Babur missile

Babur Cruise Missile/Hatf VII
Type medium-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile
Service history
In service August 11, 2005
Production history
Manufacturer National Defence Complex (NDC)
Unit cost Unknown
Specifications
Weight 1440 kg
Length 6.25 m

with booster= 7 m
Diameter 0.52 m
Warhead Conventional and Nuclear
Engine turbo-fan and a solid-fuel booster
Wingspan 2.67 m
Operational
range		 700 km or 435 mi
Speed 880 km/h or 550 mph
Guidance
system		 GPS, TERCOM , DSMAC, INS
Launch
platform		 transporter erector launcher (TEL)

The Babur missile (Urdu: بابر ; Babar means lion in Turkic language Chaghatay); it is also suggested that the missile was named after the first Mughal Emperor Babur) who was born in Andijan, in the Fergana Valley which is in modern Uzbekistan.

It is the first cruise missile fielded by Pakistan. It is capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads and has a reported range of 700 km (435 miles). It is reported that it can hit its target with "pinpoint accuracy" and can be fired from warships, submarines and fighter jets. It is designed to avoid radar detection and penetrate undetected through a defensive system.[1][2] The cruise missile is a terrain hugging missile and it has an up-to-date navigation and guidance system, and a high degree of maneuverability. Serial production of Babur started in October 2005.[3]

Contents

Design

In 1998, six Tomahawk cruise missiles fired at Taliban bases in Afghanistan by US destroyers mis-fired and landed in Pakistan. It is speculated that Pakistan seized upon the opportunity to reverse-engineer the Tomahawk and develop its own prototype. The propulsion system appears to approximate that of Tomahawk according to video of its launch.[4] However, there is no confirmation of this, and the Pakistani missile development company, NESCOM has rejected this theory. Some members of NESCOM have come out saying, off the record, that Pakistan has been working on cruise missiles since 1995. Some analysts have speculated that the Babur has benefited from Kh-55 technology.[5]. Babur is believed to be extremely accurate. It is steered by an inertial navigation system (INS). INS continuously measures the movement, speed and position of the missile. It is equipped with a precision guidance system that allows the missile to hit small targets. It is powered by a cruise turbo-fan engine which enables the missile to reach an approximate speed of 880 km/h (550 miles/h). The missile's design features can be compared with the American BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile.

Operation

On August 12th, 2005, Pakistan publicly announced that it had successfully test fired a nuclear-capable Babur cruise missile. The missile was launched from a land based transporter erector launcher (TEL). With this test, Pakistan became one of twelve countries that possess cruise missile technology. Babur is part of Pakistan's Hatf missile series. The unannounced initial launch on 11 August 2005 caught much of the international community by surprise due to the technically advanced nature of the missile, as well as the fact that Pakistan did not notify India of its test-firing in accordance with the existing notification agreement, as it is limited to ballistic missile testing only.

On March 22nd, 2007, Pakistan test-fired the second version of the nuclear-capable Babur/Hatf VII nuclear-capable cruise missile with the capability to avoid radar detection and an extended range of 700km.[1] On December, 11, 2007 another test of Babut cruise missile has been carried out.

On July 26, 2007 Pakistan reportedly tested an upgraded Babur cruise missile. Various reports claimed that it has been upgraded to carry on future PAF fighters such as the F-16 and JF-17.

In the future, a more advanced version of the Babur is planned, that will likely have more range, and will weigh considerably less than the current 1,400 kg model. Other likely upgrades might include being equipped to the J-10 jet fighter or the German U-212/U-214 submarines.

Surprise

The sudden test of the Babur missile surprised the world community. The United States gave a muted response. India which, though gave no official response, was criticized by its media for not knowing beforehand. Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf praised the Pakistani scientists and engineers by saying that they had once again done the country proud by mastering a rare technology.[6][7] By conducting a cruise missile test Pakistan has joined a select group of countries which have the capability to design and develop cruise missiles. Musharraf also said that Pakistan was not into an arms race with anyone but would never compromise on its strategy of defensive deterrence.

Designation Other Name Range Payload Status Inventory
Hatf-I/IA (BRBM) Hatf-I/IA 80/100 km 500 kg Deployed 100+
Abdali (SRBM) Hatf-II 180 km 500 kg Deployed, Under production Unknown
Ghaznavi (SRBM) Hatf-III 290 km 500 kg Deployed, Under production ~100+
Shaheen-I (MRBM) Hatf-IV 750 km 750 kg Deployed, Under production ~75-150
Ghauri-I (MRBM) Hatf-V 1500 km 700-1000 kg Deployed, Under production ~100+
Ghauri-II (MRBM) Hatf-VA 2,400 km, More range with lighter payload. 1200 kg Operational, Under production ~100+
Shaheen-II (IRBM) Hatf-VI 2,500 km, More range with lighter payload. 1000+ kg Deployed, Under production 200+
Babur (Cruise Missile) Hatf-VII 700 km 500 kg Deployed 400-1000
Ra'ad (Air Launched Cruise Missile) Hatf-VIII 350 km Tested ---
M-11 (SRBM) 300 km 500 kg In service Unknown

Note: Not every missile has nuclear payload.

See also

References

  1. ^ Babur cruise missile test
  2. ^ Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems
  3. ^ Babur missile
  4. ^ Babur - Pakistan's Cruise Missile, PakMilitary.net, 2005
  5. ^ Bypassing the NMD: China and the Cruise Missile Proliferation Problem, International Assessment and Strategy Center, 2006
  6. ^ News item in Pak Tribune
  7. ^ Dawn News reportVOA News Report

External links

v • d • e
Flag of Pakistan Military of Pakistan
Flag of the Pakistan Army  Army
Naval Jack of Pakistan  Navy
Wars and conflicts
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babur_missile"

No comments have been added.



Your name:

City:

Country:

Your comments:

Security check *
(Please enter the number into adjoining box)

 

  • Ads

           
eXTReMe Tracker