Pakistan on Monday claimed that it has conducted the first “successful test fire of submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) Babur-III which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead”.
The missile, Babur-3, with a range of 450 kilometers was fired from an underwater, mobile platform and hit its target with precise accuracy, the Inter Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani military, said in a statement.
Babur-3 is a sea-based variant of Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) Babur-2, which was successfully tested earlier in December, last year.
The Babur-3 SLCM incorporates state-of-the-art technologies including underwater controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation features, duly augmented by
Global Navigation, Terrain and Scene Matching Systems.
The Pakistan military said that the development of new missile gives the country a "credible" second strike capability.
The missile features terrain hugging and sea skimming flight capabilities to evade hostile radars and air defenses, in addition to certain stealth technologies, in an emerging regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment, the release said.
Babur-3 SLCM in land-attack mode, is capable of delivering various types of payloads and will provide Pakistan with a "credible second strike capability, augmenting deterrence," the statement said.
While the pursuit and now the successful attainment of a second strike capability by Pakistan represents a major scientific milestone, it is manifestation of the strategy of measured response to nuclear strategies and postures being adopted in Pakistan's neighbourhood, it said, in an obvious reference to India.
The test was witnessed by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Director General of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) Lieutenant General Mazhar Jamil, Commander Naval Strategic Force Command (NSFC), senior officials, scientists and engineers from Scientific Strategic Organizations.
The CJCSC and three services chiefs congratulated all the officials involved, on achieving this highly significant milestone.
Gen. Hayat also highlighted that successful test-fire of SLCM also demonstrates confidence on our scientists and engineers in fostering the technological prowess, hrough indigenisation and self-reliance.
Pakistan eyes this hallmark development as a step towards reinforcing policy of credible minimum deterrence, he added.
In a statement, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the successful test of Babur-III is a manifestation of Pakistan’s technological progress and self-reliance.
He said “Pakistan always maintains policy of peaceful coexistence but this test is a step towards reinforcing policy of credible minimum deterrence.”
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