Ghaznavi (missile)

The Ghaznavi (Urdu:غزنوی; official codename: Hatf–III Ghaznavi[3]), is a surface to surface short range ballistic missile designed and developed by the National Development Complex, with the first version in service with the Pakistan Army's strategic command since 2004.[4] With an optimal range of 290 km,[1] it is named after the 11th century Muslim Turkic conqueror Mahmud of Ghazni. The word Hatf means deadly or vengeance in Arabic.[5] It entered service with the Pakistan Army in 2012 after a successful launch conducted by ASFC (Army Strategic Command Force) on May 10, 2012.

Ghaznavi Hatf
Ghaznavi is the missile on the left
Type	Short range ballistic missile (SRBM)
Place of origin	Pakistan
Service history
In service	March 2004–Present [1]
Used by	Pakistan Army
Production history
Designer	National Development Complex
Manufacturer	National Development Complex
No. built	30 (2017 est.)[2]
Specifications
Mass	5,256 kg
Length	9.64 m
Diameter	0.88 m
Warhead	~700kg of conventional HE/NE
Engine	Single-stage solid fuel rocket motor
Propellant	Solid fuel
Operational range	290–320 km
Launch platform	Transporter erector launcher (TEL)

Hatf-III حتف
Type	Nuclear capable ballistic missile
Production history
Manufacturer	National Development Complex
Produced	2012
Specifications
Diameter	0.56 m (22 in)
Propellant	Solid
Operational range	Hatf-III: 290 km (180 mi)

The Hatf-III is a "Scud" type ballistic missile. The missile could carry nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 290 km. It was the second nuclear-capable missile test-fired by the Pakistan army in less than two weeks, since India's launch of Agni-V.[6]

The missile has a length of 9.64m, diameter of 0.99 m, launch weight of 5256 kg and is powered by a single stage solid fuel rocket motor.[1] It is believed influenced from a Chinese design, the M-11 (NATO reporting name: CSS-7).[1][7][8]

Design history

Initially, the Pakistan government was actively pushing for acquiring the M-11 missiles from China with the intention of a quick deployment.[9] Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto personally lobbied in China for the M-11 missiles, but was unable to do so due to intense pressure mounted by the United States and the MTCR's strict monitoring of prevention of the technology transfers of the missiles.[10] Development on Ghaznavi started in 1990s after the refusal of export of M-11 missiles from China to Pakistan.[9] The Ghaznavi was pursued alongside the Abdali program, and its features are extremely close to those of the Chinese M-11.[10] The Ghaznavi program contract was awarded to NDC.[4]

The Pakistan military officials consistently maintained that the Ghaznavi program is locally designed and indigenously built.[11] In 1995, its engine was successfully tested and was said to be a "major break-through in missile development in Pakistan".[11]

Tests and status

The Ghaznavi took its first spaceflight on 26 May 2002, at the height of the military standoff between India and Pakistan.[12] On 3 October 2003, the Ghaznavi was again successfully test fired from an undisclosed location, which was described by the military as "highly successful".[13] The Ghaznavi successfully reached its target and has a range of 290km (180mi), making it capable of striking several key targets within neighboring nuclear rival, India.[13] The Ghaznavi entered in the service in March 2004 and currently with the Pakistan Army.[1]

Its third test launched took place on 8 December 2004;[14] 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 Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC).[1] In May 2012, one more successful test of the missile was conducted as part of a training exercise.[15]

Pakistan successfully carried out night training launch of Ghaznavi missile on August 28, 2019. [16]

During its development at the NDC, the program was named in the memory of Mahmud of Ghazni– the 10th century Turkic emperor who founded the Ghaznavid Empire and frequently invaded India.[9] The JS HQ, however, officially codenames the missile as "Hatf–III Ghaznavi".[9]

References

1. Missile Threat - Hatf 3: http://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/hatf-3-ghaznavi/ Archived 26 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
2. The Military Balance 2017. 14 February 2017. ISBN 9781857439007.
3. News desk (10 May 2012). "Pakistan successfully tests Hatf III (Ghaznavi) missile". GEO News, 2012. GEO News. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
4. NTI staff writer. "NDC's secret work". Nuclear Threat Initiatives. Nuclear Threat Initiatives. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
5. ISPR (10 May 2012). "Pakistan tests Hatf III ballistic missile". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
6. "Pakistan tests nuclear-capable ballistic missile Hatf III". Times of India.
7. Pakistan Missile Update - 2003 Archived 1 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
8. Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems
9. Khan, PA, Brigadier Feroz (2012). Eating Grass: the making of Pakistan bomb. Sanford, ca, u.s: Stanford University Press. p. 552. ISBN 9780804776011
10. Rajain, Arpit (2005). Nuclear deterrence in Southern Asia China, India, and Pakistan. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications. ISBN 8132103254.
11. Lodhi, PA, Lieutenant-General SFS (6 May 1998). "Pakistan's Missile Technology". Defence Journal, 1998. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
12. Staff correspondence reporter (26 May 2002). "Pak tests Ghaznavi missile amid world condemnation". Rediff on the Net, 2002. Rediff on the Net. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
13. Naqvi, Syed Mohsin (3 October 2003). "Pakistan kicks off missile tests". CNN Producer Syed Mohsin Naqvi contributed to this report. CNN Pakistan, 2003. CNN Pakistan. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
14. Lee, Xiao Feng (8 December 2004). "Pakistan test-fires short-range missile". China Daily, Pakistan. China Daily. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
15. Joshua, Anita (10 May 2012). "Pak tests nuclear-capable Hatf-III ballistic missile". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
16. "Pakistan successfully carries out night training launch of Ghaznavi missile". The News. Retrieved 29 August 2019.

External links

• CSIS Missile Threat - Hatf 3