The Ghaznavi (Urdu:غزنوی; Military designation: Hatf–III,[3] Trans.: Target-3), is a land-based short range ballistic missile, currently in military service with the strategic command of the Pakistan Army.
Hatf-III Ghaznavi | |
---|---|
Type | SRBM |
Place of origin | Pakistan |
Service history | |
In service | 2004–Present |
Used by | Pakistan Army |
Production history | |
Designer | National Defence Complex |
Designed | 1994–98 |
Manufacturer | National Defence Complex |
No. built | 30 (2017 est.)[1] |
Specifications (Technical data) | |
Mass | 4,650 kg (10,250 lb) |
Length | 8.5 m (330 in) |
Diameter | 0.8 m (31 in) |
Maximum firing range | 300 km (190 mi) |
Warhead | HE/NE |
Warhead weight | 700 kg (1,500 lb) |
Blast yield | 12kilotons of TNT (50 TJ)—20 kilotons of TNT (84 TJ)[2] |
Engine | Single-stage |
Transmission | Automatic |
Suspension | WS2400 8WD (With Pakistani military markings) |
Propellant | Solid-propellant |
Operational | 290 km (180 mi)–300 km (190 mi) |
Guidance | Inertial, Terminal |
Accuracy | 50 m (160 ft) CEP |
Launch | Transporter erector launcher (TEL) |
Designed and developed in secrecy by the National Development Complex, it is codenamed as Ghaznavi (aTurkic leader) with its military deployment designation as Hatf-III.[4] It has been deployed in active duty with Pakistan Army since 2012.[4]
In 1993, Benazir Bhutto's ministry procured the M-11 missile from China but the Chinese missiles are incapable of addressing Pakistan's nuclear deterrence capability against India in an event of conventional standoff.[5] Any attempts to circumvent the Chinese missiles had failed the missile system entirely that forced the Banzir Bhutto's MoD to eventually design and developed its own program.: 235 [6]
Codenamed as Ghaznavi, which named after the Turkic warlord Mahmud of Ghazni, the contract was awarded to National Defence Complex which designed the rocket system and the warhead as well.[4] The program was pursued along with the Abdali program that was being led by the Space Research Commission.[7] The JS HQ, however, officially Deployed this system as『Hatf–III』(lit. Target-3).: 235 [6]
In 1995, its rocket engine was successfully tested and was said to be a "major break-through in rocket development in Pakistan".[8]
Due to its engineering feat, the Western observers had leveled serious allegations of foreign assistance, comparing to former Soviet Scud or Chinese M-11 missiles— though both missiles are not nuclear weapon delivery capable.: 236 [6][7] However, the Pakistani military and civil officials strongly refuted and dismissed the suggestions by quoting that the program was locally designed and indigenously built.[8]
After years of expensive trials and errors that started in 1994, Ghaznavi finally took its first spaceflight on 26 May 2002, during the height of the military standoff with India.[9] The Ghaznavi is a nuclear weapon-delivery capability weapon system that drew World's attention during the tense atmosphere in 2002.[9]
On 3 October 2003, the Ghaznavi was again successfully test fired from an undisclosed location, which was described by the military as "highly successful".[10] The Ghaznavi successfully reached its target and has a range of 290km (180mi), making it capable of striking several key targets within neighboring, India.[10] The Ghaznavi entered in the military service with the strategic command of Pakistan Army in March 2004.[2] Successive testing continued prior to its actual military deployment with different control system; its third test launched took place on 8 December 2004.[11]
Subsequent tests were conducted on 9 December 2006 another on 13 February 2008 and 8 May 2010; the 2008 test was believed to have concluded a winter training exercise of Pakistan's strategic command of Pakistan Army.[2] In May 2012, one more successful test of the missile was conducted as part of a training exercise.[12] Pakistan successfully carried out night training launch of Ghaznavi missile on August 28, 2019.[13]
The Ghaznavi is transported through a Pakistan-reversed engineered Chinese WS2400 8WD truck whereas the Pakistani military markings are quite visible.[14]