PAKISTAN COMPLETES FLIGHT TEST OF ABABEEL SURFACE-TO-SURFACE BALLISTIC MISSILE

Pakistan has successfully completed the first flight testing of its surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Ababeel. The test launch validated the various design and technical parameters of the weapon system, according to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Development of Ababeel Weapon System is aimed at “ensuring survivability of Pakistan’s ballistic missiles in the growing regional ballistic missile defence (BMD) environment,” ISPR stated. Pakistan Army’s Strategic Forces Command uses the medium-range ballistic missile, which is capable of destroying multiple targets within a maximum range of 2,200 km. The Babur-3 submarine launched cruise missile (SLCM) employs a variety of technologies, including underwater-controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation.

This missile employs multiple independent re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology to deliver multiple nuclear warheads. The latest test follows the test-firing of Pakistan’s SLCM Babur-3 on January 9. During the previous test, Babur-3 was fired from an underwater, mobile platform and hit its target with precise accuracy, the statement said. The missile with a range of 450 km is a sea-based variant of the ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) Babur-2, which was successfully tested in December 2016. The Babur-3 SLCM employs a variety of technologies, including underwater-controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation. It also features terrain hugging and sea-skimming flight capabilities to evade hostile radars and air defences.