ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan on Tuesday conducted its first successful flight test of Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile “Ababeel”, aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system.
In a press release, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the “Ababeel” has a maximum range of 2200 kilometers, and is capable of delivering multiple warheads, using Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
According to Wikipedia and reserach journals, MIRV is a ballistic missile payload containing several warheads, each capable of being aimed to hit one of a group of targets. It also makes anti-ballistic missile system ineffective that relies on intercepting individual warheads while MIRV attacking missile can have multiple warheads.
Pak successfully conducted first flight test of SSM #ABABEEL, Rg 2200 Km. #COAS congrats team and Pak Armed Forces for landmk achievement. pic.twitter.com/iXBGgJf9JN
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) January 24, 2017
The ISPR said that “Ababeel” is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has the capability to engage multiple targets with high precision, defeating the enemy’s hostile radars.
The development of Ababeel Weapon System is aimed at ensuring survivability of Pakistan’s ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment.
“This will further reinforce deterrence,” the ISPR said.
The Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman have congratulated the Scientists and Engineers on successful conduct of missile test.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif conveyed their appreciation to the team involved and armed forces of Pakistan on this landmark achievement.
Earlier in January 2017, Pakistan conducted its first successful test fire of Submarine Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) ‘Babur-3’, having a range of 450 Kilometers.
