ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday tested the enhanced version of Babur cruise missile called the 1B variant, marking the progress the country is making in the cruise missile technology.

“A successful test of an enhanced range version of the indigenously developed Babur Cruise Missile 1B has been conducted,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced. ISPR, however, did not disclose the range of the new version and other improvements. The earlier 1A missile variant had a range of up to 450km. It is widely believed in the strategic community that the 1B version could have a range of 700-800km.

Babur missile is launched from a multi-tube vehicle that gives the system “high-manoeuvrability”. It has stealth features and is equipped with modern cruise missile technology of Terrain Contour Matching and Digital Scene Matching and Area Co-relation.

Director General of Strategic Plans Division Lt Gen Nadeem Zaki Manj said the test of the 1B variant would strengthen Pakistan’s strategic deterrence. He also hailed the attainment of excellence in cruise missile technology.

It is important to note that the new version was announced as India started deploying its S-400 air defence system in the Punjab sector. Director of Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies Syed Muhammad Ali said the successful test of Babur 1B indicates Pakistan’s resolve and commitment to maintaining the credibility of deterrence posture despite acquisition of destabilising ballistic missile defence system by India.

He said that the stealth features of the missile’s new version and its ability to avoid radar detection and reach the target accurately much deeper than the previous version would ensure that no Indian BMD or air defence system is able to detect or intercept Pakistan’s strategic delivery systems.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2021