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Pakistan tests nuclear-capable Shaheen-III ballistic missile

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Science & Technology
  • Published
    22nd Jan, 2021

Pakistan has successfully conducted a flight test of Shaheen-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads up to 2,750 kilometers.

Pakistan has successfully conducted a flight test of Shaheen-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads up to 2,750 kilometers.

What is Shaheen III?

  • The Shaheen III is Pakistan’s longest-range missile system.
  • The ballistic missile is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to a target up to 2,750 kilometers away.
  • 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 Shaheen-III was first test-fired in 2015.                                                                     

Types of Missiles

Surface-to-surface Missiles  

ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, anti-tank, etc

Air-to-surface missiles

ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, anti-tank, etc.)

Surface-to-air missiles

anti-ballistic

Air-to-air missiles and Anti-satellite weapons missile

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Is it an attempt to counter India?

  • The missile is developed with the intention of being capable of reaching Indian island territories to deny Indian forces the ability to establish a “second strike capability”.
  • India and Pakistan have been developing stockpiles of nuclear warheads and missiles of varying ranges since they tested nuclear devices in 1998.
  • The two neighbors have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.

List of India's missiles:

Indian Missile

Type of Missile  

Range

Brahmos

Supersonic Cruise Missile (fastest cruise missile in the world)

290 Km

Prahaar

Cruise Missile

150 KM

Prithvi I 

 Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)

150 KM

Prithvi II

Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)

250 – 350 Km

Nirbhay

Cruise Missile

1000 – 1500 Km

Agni I

 Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)

700 – 1250 Km

Agni II

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)

2000 – 3500 Km

Agni III

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)

3500 – 5000 Km

Agni IV

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)

4000 – 6000 Km

Agni V

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)

5000 – 8000 Km

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