Ghauri (missile)

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Ghauri-I / Hatf-V
Type Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)
Place of origin  Pakistan
Service history
In service 12 January 2003
Used by  Pakistan
Production history
Manufacturer Khan Research Laboratories (KRL)
Specifications
Weight 15,850 kg
Length 15.90 m
Diameter 1.35 m
Engine Single stage liquid fuel rocket motor
Propellant Liquid fuel
Operational
range
 1,200 km
Flight altitude 350 km reached in first test flight
Guidance
system
 Inertial guidance system (INS)
Launch
platform
 Transporter erector launcher (TEL)

The Hatf 5 "Ghauri" (Urdu: غوری‎) is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by Khan Research Laboratories of Pakistan. The missile uses a single stage liquid fuel rocket motor to carry a payload of 700 kg to a range of 1,500 km.[1][2] Two variants of the Ghauri were produced under the Pakistani missile research and development program[3] and the development of a third was cancelled. The Ghauri-II uses increased motor assembly length and improved propellants for an increased range of 2,300 km (1,400 mi).[4]

The missile is named after Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri, while the "Hatf" designation originates from the name of the sword or lance of Muhammad.[5]

History

The Hatf 5 is believed to be based on North Korea's Rodong 1 (also known as Nodong 1) design.[6] According to a Pakistani analyst the original design was flawed and the missile burned up on re-entry during its first test flight. The missile system eventually entered service after being heavily re-engineered by Pakistan's NESCOM and National Development Complex research and development organisations.[7] According to the Federation of Atomic Scientists the Hatf 5 Ghauri is believed to inherit a warhead spin-up mechanism from the Nodong 1). It is stated that this feature could improve accuracy up to 190 m CEP, although this is still debatable. The mechanism involved using steering vanes to spin the missile after 100 seconds of flight time. After 110 seconds the rocket motor stops and the warhead separates from the rocket motor. The warhead then enters a more stable re-entry trajectory due to the spinning motion. Warhead accuracy would be further enhanced if the Ghauri's inertial navigation system is capable of being updated by GPS satellite signals.[8]

Liquid fuel ballistic missiles are incapable of storing fuel for any long period of time. The Ghauri requires refuelling for several hours before launch and this makes it vulnerable to a first strike. It is believed that this is why Pakistan has not pursued liquid fuelled missiles other than the Ghauri and Ghauri 2. It also makes it less likely that the Hatf 5 missiles in Pakistani service would be armed with a nuclear warheads.[9] Although it has been stated that it is capable of being loaded with "all types" of warheads.[10]

Pakistan's latest solid-fuelled Shaheen 1A is believed to be an alternate missile system for the Hatf 5 Ghauri. However it has been stated that the Ghauri has advantages in lower cost than solid fuel missiles. This is advantageous when testing launch and control systems. It has been speculated that the Hatf 5 design may serve as a starting point for a Pakistani space launch vehicle.[11]

Operational history

The Ghauri ballistic missile (centre) on display at the IDEAS 2008 defence exhibition, Karachi, mounted in its launch mechanism on the transporter erector launcher (TEL).

The Ghauri was first test-fired on 6 April 1998 from the Tilla Test-firing Range near Malute, Jhelum, about 76 miles south of the capital Islamabad.[12] It was fired from a mobile launcher and travelled 1,100 km (680 mi) in a flight lasting 9 minutes and 58 seconds.[citation needed]

At the time it was stated that the missile hit its designated target in the desert of Balochistan.[citation needed] It has since been revealed that this first test was not a success because the missile burned up during the re-entry phase of its flight.[13]

The missile has since been tested in December 2010 [14] and November 2012. The November 2012 launch was performed by a Strategic Missile Group of the Army Strategic Force Command. The test-flight was monitored by the new Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS) and is believed to have been geared towards testing the SCCSS rather than the missile itself.[15]

Naming controversy

In February 2006, the Government of Afghanistan delivered a complained to Pakistan over naming its lethal ballistic missiles after Afghan kings and rulers (i.e. Abdali, Ghaznavid and Ghauri), arguing that their names should be bracketed with academic, cultural and peace-promoting institutions, not with tools of destruction and killing. However, Pakistan declined to change the missiles' names stating that these Muslim rulers are considered heroes in Pakistan as well, and naming missiles after them is not controversial.[16][17][18][19]

See also

Related developments
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Pakistan Pushes To Improve Missile Strike Capability
  2. ↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/pakistan/1998/980406-ghauri.htm
  3. ↑ Lodi, Lieutenant General Safdar F.S. (May 1998). "Pakistan's Missile Technology". Head of Integrated Missile Research and Development Programme (IMRDP). Defence Journal of Pakistan. 
  4. ↑ Celebrations in Pakistan as Ghauri V is test-fired
  5. ↑ Pakistan's Missile Technology
  6. ↑ Report to Congress, January - June 1999. Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions. Central Intelligence Agency.
  7. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121128/DEFREG03/311280005/Pakistan-Test-Fires-Medium-Range-Ballistic-Missile
  8. ↑ Federation of Atomic Scientists - Article on the Hatf-5 missile.
  9. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121128/DEFREG03/311280005/Pakistan-Test-Fires-Medium-Range-Ballistic-Missile
  10. ↑ http://www.geo.tv/12-21-2010/76139.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121128/DEFREG03/311280005/Pakistan-Test-Fires-Medium-Range-Ballistic-Missile
  12. ↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/hatf-5.htm
  13. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121128/DEFREG03/311280005/Pakistan-Test-Fires-Medium-Range-Ballistic-Missile
  14. ↑ Pak successfully test fires Ghauri Hataf-V
  15. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121128/DEFREG03/311280005/Pakistan-Test-Fires-Medium-Range-Ballistic-Missile
  16. ↑ ‘Stop naming missiles after Afghan heroes’
  17. ↑ Kabul objects to Pakistani missile names
  18. ↑ Pakistan hijacked our heroes, says Kabul
  19. ↑ BBC NEWS, 23 February 2006

External links

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