Shaheen-II

Shaheen-II / Hatf-VI
Type Medium-range ballistic missile
Place of origin Pakistan
Service history
In service 9 March 2004
Used by Strategic Plans Division
(Army SFCOM, Air Force SFCOM)
Production history
Designer NeScom
National Defence Complex (NDC)
Manufacturer National Defence Complex (NDC)
Specifications
Weight 25,000 kg
(Re-entry vehicle 1,050 kg)
Length 17.5 m
Diameter 1.4 m
Warhead Conventional high-explosive or nuclear
Engine Two-stage Solid-fuel rocket motor
Operational
range
 2,000 km
Flight altitude 100-300km
Guidance
system
 Inertial navigation system
GPS satellite guidance
Launch
platform
 Transporter erector launcher (TEL)

The Shaheen-II (Urdu:شاهين–اا; codename: Hatf–VI Shaheen) is a land-based supersonic surface-to-surface medium-range guided ballistic missile.[1] The Shaheen-II is designed and developed by the NESCOM and the National Defence Complex (NDC) of Pakistan.[2][3] The Shaheen missile series is named after a falcon that lives in the mountains of Pakistan. The missile is considered to be Pakistan's equivalent to the US Pershing II.

Description

The Shaheen-II is a longer ranged variant of the Shaheen-I missile. It was the most advanced ballistic missile in service until shaheen III with the Pakistan Armed Forces. It uses a two-stage solid-fuel rocket motor designed to carry conventional or nuclear payloads. It is transported and launched by a 6-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL). According to U.S. based analysts, a satellite image of a Pakistani missile production facility taken on 5 June 2005 shows fifteen 6-axle TELs being fitted out for the Shaheen 2 missile.[4]

Shaheen-II was successfully test fired for the first time on March 9, 2004. At that time, the National Engineering and Science Commission (NESCOM) chairman Samar Mubarakmand stated that the missile was a two-stage rocket with diameter of 1.4 m, length of 17.5 m, weight of 25 tons and a range of 2,000 km. The missile was then tested successfully again on November 13, 2014.

Re-entry vehicle

The re-entry vehicle carried by the Shaheen-II missile has a mass of 700-1250 kg, which includes the mass of a nuclear warhead and a terminal guidance system.[5]

This re-entry vehicle is unlike that of the Shaheen I in that it has four moving delta control fins at the rear and small solid/liquid-propellant side thrust motors, which are used to orient the re-entry vehicle after the booster stage is depleted or before re-entry to improve accuracy by providing stabilization during the terminal phase. This can also be used to fly evasive manoeuvres, making it problematic for existing anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems to successfully intercept the missile. The Shaheen II warhead may change its trajectory several times during re-entry and during the terminal phase, effectively preventing ABM radar systems from pre-calculating intercept points. The re-entry vehicle is also stated to utilise a GPS satellite guidance system to provide updates on its position, further improving its accuracy and reducing the CEP.[6][7]

Foreign sources claim the missile to have an accuracy of 350 m CEP based on speculation that the design is the same or similar to one of several Chinese systems such as the DF-11 or DF-25.[8][5] However, according to a press video shown by NDC at the IDEAS 2004 defence exhibition in Pakistan, the missile can achieve "surgical precision". This has led to speculation that Shaheen II incorporates a satellite navigation update system and/or a post separation attitude correction system to provide terminal course correction, which "may indicate a CEP of much less than 300 m." According to Harsh Pant, reader of international relations at the Defence Studies Department of King's College London, "the current capability of Pakistani missiles is built around radar seekers." [9][10]

Future developments

Since deployment of the 2,500 km range Shaheen-II, a multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicle (MIRV) system is under development which may be first fielded on the Shaheen II.[11]

See also

Related developments
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ "Giant leap: Agni-V, India's 1st ICBM, fired successfully from canister".
  2. ↑ Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat - Federation of American Scientists.
  3. ↑ Greisler, David. Handbook of technology management in public administration. CRC Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1-57444-564-0.
  4. ↑ "Archive | Your Source of News on the World Wide Web". Dawn.Com. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  5. 1 2 "Haft 6 "Shaheen 2"". CSIS Missile Threat. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  6. ↑ How 'Shaheen' Was Developed
  7. ↑ "Hatf 6 "Shaheen 2"". MissileThreat. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  8. ↑ Duncan Lennox; Hatf 6 (Shaheen 2), Jane’s Strategic Weapon Systems; June 15, 2004.
  9. ↑ Strategy Center Details
  10. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/article/20110321/DEFFEAT06/103210303/Pakistan-Seeks-Counter-Indian-ABM-Defenses
  11. ↑ "Pakistan Pushes To Improve Missile Strike Capability". Defense News. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
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