| Country: |
Pakistan |
| Associated Country: |
People's Republic of China |
| Alternate Name: |
Ghaznavi |
| Class: |
SRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
8.50 m |
| Diameter: |
0.80 m |
| Launch Weight: |
4650 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 700 kg |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 12 to 20 kT, HE, submunitions |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage solid |
| Range: |
290 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
~2004 |
Details
The Hatf-3 is a short-range, road mobile, solid propellant ballistic missile. The system appears to be similar to both the Hatf-2A and the M-11 designs, rather than the earlier Hatf projects based on the French Eradin missile. The original development of the Hatf-3 was terminated in 1994 following the purchase of a large number of People’s Republic of China (PRC) M-11 missiles. With the acquisition of the M-11 missiles, the creation of the Hatf-3 was no longer a high priority and a new version did not start development until 1997. It has been speculated that the Hatf-3 program may be an imported M-11 or a domestically-produced M-11 clone.
Like the M-11, the Hatf-3 appears to be an improved ‘Scud’ type ballistic missile. Its greatest military utility is in deployment against large, fixed targets. It easily outdistances most battlefield weapons and is ideal for a long-range strike at targets such as military bases, airfields and cities. The payload is impractical for deployment against cities, but capable of disabling military and production facilities. However, the addition of terminal guidance could provide sufficient accuracy to attack moving military units.
The Hatf-3 is believed to be 8.5 m in length, have a diameter of 0.8 m and a launch weight of 4,650 kg. The payload separates from the main body sometime after burn-out and before re-entry. It carries a single warhead which weighs up to 700 kg. The warhead can be conventional high explosive (HE), nuclear 12 to 20 kT or submunitions. It has a range of 290 km (180 miles), with an inertial guidance system that provides an accuracy of 250 m CEP. However, if it is indeed a clone of the PRC M-11, the maximum is likely 350 km (217 miles) and deliberately underestimated to escape the 300 km (186 miles) limit of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). It can probably be equipped with terminal guidance that could increase the accuracy to 50 m CEP. It uses a single-stage solid propellant engine.
The development of the Hatf-3 originally started in 1987, but was terminated seven years later with the purchase of a number of PRC M-11 missiles. This rendered production of the Hatf-3 uneconomical. It was restarted in 1997, likely to supplement the limited number of M-11 missiles or to disguise further purchases. The first flight test of the Hatf-3 occurred in May 2002, five years after the M-11 first entered service in Pakistan. The Hatf-3 reported ready for service in March 2004.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 107.
Pakistan Tests Hatf-3
February 13, 2008 :: BBC :: News
Pakistan today tested a ballistic missile, this time the short range Hatf-3 (Ghaznavi) with a range of 290 kilometers. The location of the test was not disclosed, but it was said to have concluded the Pakistani Strategic Force Command's winter training. The test marks the third ballistic missile test over the past three weeks. The launch was attended by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro and Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani, with additional details said to be released at a later time. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Testing - Foreign, Pakistan
» Missile details: Hatf 3
Pakistan Tests Short-Range Hatf-3
December 9, 2006 :: BBC :: News
Pakistan today test-fired its nuclear-capable Hatf-3 (Ghaznavi) short-range ballistic missile, reports the BBC. The road-mobile missile was launched from an undisclosed location as part of a training exercise by the Pakistani Army’s Strategic Force Command. It was the third ballistic missile to have been test-fired by Pakistan in three weeks. The Hatf-3, essentially an improved “Scud” type ballistic missile with a range of 290 km (180 miles), would be of use for striking large, fixed targets such as military bases, airfields, and cities. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 3
Pakistan Launches Hatf-3 Missile
November 29, 2004 :: News
Pakistan today test launched its Hatf-3 (Ghaznavi) ballistic missile. The test of the 290km range, nuclear capable missile was described as completely successful, and for the purposes of testing the missile’s most recent version. A military official was reported as saying that further tests will be conducted in the coming days. (Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 3
Pakistan’s Hatf III Missile Ready for Service
March 11, 2004 ::
The March 2004 edition of Janes Missiles and Rockets reports that Pakistan’s Hatf III, or Ghaznavi, missile is ready for service. The Hatf III is based on the Chinese M-11 (CSS-7). (Link)
» Mar. 9: Pakistan tests Hatf-6 (Shaheen II)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Proliferation
» Missile details: Hatf 3
Pakistan Tests Shaheen
October 8, 2003 :: Yahoo News :: News
Pakistan has tested its Shaheen-1 ballistic missile, just days after a test launch of the Ghaznavi (Hatf-3). The Shaheen 1 (Hatf-4) is nuclear capable, and has a range of 1,000km, although the AFP reports a range of 700km. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 3, Hatf 4
