Pakistan Successfully Tests Hatf-VII Babur Cruise Missile

Pakistan has successfully tested the Hatf-VII Babur Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) today. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has announced that Hatf-VII Babur was test fired against the target at a range of 600 kilometers.

Hatf-VII Babur Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) has a maximum range of 750 kilometers km and can carry both conventional and nuclear warhead. Babur Cruise Missile is designed with stealth requirements in mind and with the capability to fly at very low altitude to avoid detection by the enemy radars.

Hatf-VII Babur Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) was test fired from a new round canister instead of the typical box like canister used for the Babur LACM in the past.This could be a stepping stone towards fielding the long range cruise missile on the ships and submarines of the Pakistan Navy.

Hatf-VII Babur Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM) uses the highly advance ‘Terrain Contour Matching’ (TERCOM) and ‘Digital Scene Matching & Area Co-relation’ (DSMAC) to achieve circular error probability (CEP) of only 3 meters, such pinpoint accuracy allow the Babur to be used in surgical strikes.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), this cruise missile test was observed by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee along with Commander Army Strategic Force Command, Director General Strategic Plans Division and Chairman NESCOM Mr Muhammad Irfan Burney.

Both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have applauded scientists behind the success of Hatf-VII Babur Land Attack Cruise Missile (LACM).

Both Pakistan and India are required to information the other country about the possible tests prior to the testing a ballistic missile under the agreement signed by both countries but this agreement don’t cover the testing of cruise missiles.

Work on Hatf-VII Babur cruise missile was started in mid 1990 after Indian efforts to license produce the improved version of Russian Yakhont cruise missile which can also be used for land attacks.

In 1998 Pakistan was able to recover atleast two intact US RGM/UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Southern Pakistan which were fired against the targets in Afghanistan by the United States of America. These missiles boosted the Pakistani efforts.

In August 2005, Pakistan announced that it has successfully test fired a ground launched cruise missile from with maximum range of 500 kilometers, later on this range was increased to 750 kilometers. Pakistani scientists are already working on a longer range version which will have range of 1,000 km.

Pakistan has also developed Ra’ad air launched cruise missile (ALCM) which has been tested in past to range of 350Km. Third cruise missile designed for the Pakistan navy is also under development. Pakistan Navy will be able to fire its cruise missile from its surface ships and submarines.