May 21, 2004 :: News
Pakistan is preparing to test a 3,500km range ballistic missile, referred to as the Ghauri-III, in the first week of June, possibly on June 3. This would be the first flight test of the liquid-fueled Ghauri III, and the longest-range missile of Pakistan’s to date, surpassing the range of the Shaheen II. A successful motor test for the missile has already taken place, reports the Pakistani newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt, probably in September 1999.
The missile will be fired from the testing range near the northwest province of Nowshera, and will travel southward, into the Arabian Sea. The Ghauri missile system was initially developed by Abdul Qadeer Khan. In March, Pakistan tested its Shaheen II missile, with a reported range of 2,000 to 3,000km.
Several news reports describe the Ghauri III missile as “long range,” but a missile with a range of 3,500km would be classified as an intermediate range ballistic missile, or IRBM.
Update: May 24: Pakistan could launch missile within 48 hours (Article)
» March 9, 2004: Pakistan tests Shaheen II
» Nawa-i-Waqt report on Pakistan test (subscription)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Ghauri-3
