Nasr (missile)

This article is about Pakistan's battlefield missile. For Iran's short range cruise missile, see Nasr-1.

Hatf IX Nasr
Type	Tactical ballistic missile
Place of origin	Pakistan
Service history
Used by	Army Strategic Command
Production history
Manufacturer	National Development Complex
Specifications
Warhead	plutonium nuclear warhead^[1]
Blast yield	0.5-5 kilotons^[1]

Engine	Single-stage rocket motor
Propellant	Solid fuel
Operational range	60 km (37.3 mi)^[1]
Launch platform	Transporter erector launcher (TEL)

External video
A video clip of the Hatf IX Nasr multi-tube ballistic missile.

Four Nasr missiles are mounted on a TEL similar to this BM-30 Smerch

The Hatf IX ("Vengeance IX") or Nasr (Arabic: نصر‎), is a solid fuelled tactical ballistic missile system developed by Pakistan's National Development Complex (NDC). It is referred to by Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations organization as a "Multi Tube Ballistic Missile" because the launch vehicle carries multiple missiles. Its existence was revealed after a test in 2011 and it appears to have entered service after further testing in 2013. ^[2]

Background

According to defence analysts and missile technology experts the system appears to have been developed as a "low-yield battlefield deterrent" targeted at "mechanized forces like armed brigades and divisions".^[3] Therefore it is believed by analysts that the system is deployed to deter and respond to India's "Cold Start" doctrine.^[4]^[5]^[6] Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations agency says the Hatf IX was developed to "add deterrence value... at shorter ranges... with high accuracy, shoot and scoot attributes" for "quick response." ^[3]^[7]

Design

The Hatf IX Nasr is a ballistic missile which carries a sub-kiloton nuclear warhead out to a range of 60 km (37.3 mi).^[3]^[7] It is believed to be derived from the WS-2 Weishi Rockets system developed by China's Sichuan Aerospace Corporation.^[8] Four missiles are carried on the same Chinese-origin 8x8 transporter erector launcher (TEL) as the Pakistan Army's A-100E 300mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), a Chinese version of the BM-30 Smerch.

Capabilities

The missile can carry nuclear warheads of appropriate yield, with high accuracy. It also has an inflight maneuver capability and is specially designed to defeat all known anti-tactical missile defense systems. It also has the ability to fire at a target and immediately relocate to another position to avoid enemy counter-fire.^[9] This was confirmed by Mansoor Ahmed, of Quaid-e-Azam University’s Department of Defence and Strategic Studies. "Its in-flight maneuverability is being improved to defeat potential Indian missile defenses against artillery rockets and short-range ballistic missiles, such as the Israeli Iron Dome system.” He further went on to say that the system is “fully integrated into the centralized command-and-control structure through round the clock situational awareness in a digitized network centric environment to the decision makers at National Command Center. Nasr is obviously India-specific and the salvo launch capability is a key ability in stopping Indian armored thrusts into Pakistani territory."^[10]

History

The missile's existence was first reported after a test-firing on 19 April 2011.^[3]^[4] A 4-missile salvo fired on the 5th October 2013 is believed to have marked the conclusion of the testing programme and the system's likely entry into service.^[1]

References