ISLAMABAD: The military on Saturday conducted another successful test flight of Shaheen-III, a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
The test was announced by Inter-Services Public Relations, which said the test flight was conducted for revalidating “design and technical parameters” of the weapon system.
Shaheen III, an intermediate range cruise missile with a range of 2,750 kilometres, is capable of reaching the farthest point in India’s northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is, therefore, the longest range missile Pakistan has developed so far.
The missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads.
It is solid-fuelled and equipped with Post-Separation Altitude Correction (PSAC) system. Solid fuel is suited for rapid response capabilities, while the PSAC feature provides it the ability to adjust the warhead trajectory for greater accuracy and evading anti-ballistic missile defence systems.
The missile was first tested in March 2015, but has not been operationally deployed as yet. The last test of this missile was conducted in January 2021.
The test took place almost a month after an Indian Brahmos cruise missile landed near Mian Chunnu.
Syed Muhammad Ali, director of Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies, believes the test also carried a strategic signal both for India and the world.
Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2022
