| Country: |
Pakistan |
| Alternate Name: |
Shaheen 2 |
| Class: |
MRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
17.00 m |
| Diameter: |
1.40 m |
| Launch Weight: |
23600 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 700 kg |
| Warhead: |
700 kg; 15-35 kT, HE, chemical, FAE, subminitions |
| Propulsion: |
2-state solid |
| Range: |
2500 km |
| Status: |
Unknown |
Details
The Hatf-6 is an intermediate-range, road mobile, solid propellant ballistic missile. It appears to be a two-stage version of the Hatf-4 Shaheen 1 design, using a modified Hatf-4 as the first and second stage. It is believed that the Hatf-6 may be based upon the People’s Republic of China (PRC) M-18, though this has not been confirmed. The Hatf-6 is designed to threaten Pakistan’s primary enemy, India, with whom three wars have been fought since 1947. It is one of the newer missiles involved in the Indian-Pakistani arms race. It is Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicle-launched and uses inertial guidance, with the possibility that a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system has been added for terminal guidance.
The Hatf-6 is a strategic missile with a range of 2,500 km. An unconfirmed report suggests the range could be as distant as 3,500 km, but this is considered unlikely. The accuracy is advanced for a Pakistani design of this range and payload. The missile is sufficient to strike strategic targets such as airports, manufacturing complexes, military bases, and civilian facilities (power plants, water purification centers, etc.) with a reasonable chance of damaging or destroying the target. Due to the advancing nuclear and missile programs in India, the Hatf-6 will probably be targeted at Indian population centers to deter against an Indian nuclear strike. Equipped with a nuclear warhead, the Hatf-6 would be capable of causing widespread damage in civilian population centers and would be an effective deterrent. The mobility provided from its TEL vehicle maximizes the missile’s survivability in the event of a war and prevents a successful pre-emptive strike. It also allows for a launch time under ten minutes from locations that maximize the potential damage of the missile.
The Hatf-6 has a reported range of 2,500 km with an accuracy of 350 m CEP. It is 17.0 m in length, has a maximum diameter of 1.4 m and has a launch weight of 23,600 kg. Its payload is a single warhead weighing up to a total of 700 kg. The payload assembly separates before re-entry or after burn-out in the second stage. The Hatf-6 warhead can be equipped for a nuclear yield of either a 15 or a 35 kT nuclear warhead. There are also provisions to deploy the missile with conventional high explosives (HE), submunitions, fuel-air explosives (FAE), or chemical agents. The first stage has a modified version of the Hatf-4 Shaheen 1 solid propellant motor assembly and the second stage also has the shape of the Hatf-4. There are four clipped delta wings at the back of each stage.
The Hatf-6 was first displayed in March 2000; however, there are reports that indicate the missile was ready for testing as early as 1999. The first flight test occurred in March 2004. A second and third flight test occured in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The status of the missile remains unknown, but it is possible that a limited production of 5 to 10 missiles has started.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 111-112.
Pakistan Establishes Three Strategic Commands
August 9, 2006 :: Kyodo :: News
Kyodo reports that Pakistan has set up three strategic commands in its armed forces equipped with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and capable of retaliating against any first nuclear strike by India. According to Shaukat Sultan, a spokesman for the Indian Defense Ministry, the three commands are located within the army, air force, and navy. The army command, established in 2003 under Lieutenant General Ghulum Mustafa, forms the backbone of Pakistan’s combined strategic force. It includes up to 100 facilities, mostly underground, where Pakistan’s medium-range Shaheen and long-range Ghauri missiles are kept. Sultan refused to divulge the number of people involved in the storing, security, deployment, and operation of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, although Kyodo quotes independent sources as saying that the army’s strategic force alone includes nearly 6,000 people. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Nuclear Weapons, Pakistan
» Missile details: Ghauri-3, Hatf 6
Pakistan Tests Hatf-6 for Second Time in Two Weeks
May 10, 2006 :: UPI :: News
Pakistan tested its Hatf-6 (Shaheen-2) intermediate-range ballistic on May 6 for the second time in two weeks. The Hatf-6 is a two-stage solid fuel missile with a range of over 2,000 km and is capable of carrying nuclear or conventional weapons. According to a Pakistani military spokesman, Saturday’s test was carried out to confirm the missile’s ability to fulfill additional technical parameters beyond those achieved in previous tests. The test came two days after Pakistan and India concluded a three-day session of negotiations in Islamabad to discuss confidence-building measures. However, the two nations failed to reach an agreement on reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons. The previous test of the Haft-6 took place and April 29. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 6
Pakistan Tests Hatf-6 Missile
April 30, 2006 :: BBC :: News
On Saturday, Pakistan test-launched its Hatf-6 (Shaheen-2) long-range ballistic missile from an undisclosed location. The Hatf-6 is Pakistan’s longest-range ballistic missile, capable of traveling 2,000 km. It includes a two-stage solid-fuel missile capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads. The test was witnessed by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who stated afterwards that “we will continue to pursue vigorously our security and energy needs from all sources including nuclear.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 6
Pakistan Fires Shaheen II
March 19, 2005 :: London Guardian :: News
Pakistan today test launched its longest range missile, the Shaheen II (Hatf-6), with a reported range of around 2,000 km and the capability of delivering a nuclear warhead. A military statement said of the test:
This missile system, which incorporates advanced two-stage solid motor technology, can carry all types of conventional and nuclear warheads to a range of 2,000 kilometres. The test was carried out to verify some of the refined technical parameters … all parameters were validated.
The Associated Press cites an anonymous military official as saying that the test was conducted from a facility near Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi and that the test was witnessed by President General Pervez Musharraf. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 6
Pakistan Tests Nuclear Capable Shaheen II
March 9, 2004 :: Pak Tribune :: News
Pakistan today tested a Shaheen II (Hatf-6), nuclear capable missile with a reported range of between 2,000 and 3,000km. The missile is capable of reaching all of India’s major cities, and reportedly has multiple warheads. (Article, Link)
» U.S. asks Pakistan to reduce missile tests
» Pakistan to conduct more missile tests
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 6
