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PAKISTAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM |
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| Millennium's internet portal |
Updated: 20 April 2000 |
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A TIME-RECORD
From "Chronology of Pakistani
Missile Development"
Researched
and compiled by Alison Barr and Erik Jorgensen.
Edited
and added by Muhammad Zeeshan Zaki.
(By courtesy of CNS, USA)
1961
Pakistan's
Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is created to oversee
all space research and development programs.
1962
SUPARCO
begins launching imported sounding rockets from a test range near the Indian
Ocean.
1970s
SUPARCO
develops the capability to fabricate rocket motors from raw materials. It has a
solid-fuel manufacturing plant and maintains an instrument development facility
and a rocket testing range.
1980s
Pakistan's
surface-to-surface ballistic missile program begins in the early 1980s with development
of the Hatf-1 and Hatf-2. The Hatf-1 has an estimated range of 80 km and 500 kg
payload. The Hatf-2 has an estimated range of 300km and a 500-kg payload.
1987
Pakistan
opens a rocket propellant factory.
1989
In April,
tests of the Hatf-1 and Hatf-2 are announced. Pakistan says it produced both
missiles indigenously but Western sources suspect it received technical
assistance from China.
The Hatf-2 is
displayed publicly for the first time during a Pakistan Day Joint Services
Parade. The missile was mounted on a mobile launcher converted from a British
anti-aircraft gun carriage.
1992
An improved
variant, the Hatf-1A, with a 100km range has reportedly been developed.
China may
have sold more than 30 ballistic missiles to Pakistan, including the M-11, with
300km range and 800kg payload.
1996
The Hatf-2 is
declared operational.
1997
Pakistan
announces a test of the 800km Hatf-3 in July.
1998
In January, Pakistan announces development of the 1,500km-range, 700kg payload, Ghauri (STS) Ballistic Missile.
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In April, a test-launch
of the indigenously produced Ghauri is announced. However, on 4/14/98, US
intelligence officials report that Pakistan had actually launched a North
Korean-built Nodong missile. Missile's Length is 17 m and has an approximate weight of
15~16 tons (including test payload). It took 9 minutes and 58 seconds to reach
the target. It went to a maximum height of 380 km.
1999 On April 14, Pakistan
test fired its 2000 km-range, 1000-kg payload, Ghauri II (STS) Medium Range Ballistic
Missile. The range of the missile could be increased to 2300 km by reducing its
payload from the tested 1000 km. In case of using Nuclear Warhead the expected
increase in range is 300 km. It took 12 minutes to reach the target in its
test-fire. On April 15, Pakistan conducted a flight test of its Short Range Solid Fuel Ballistic Missile named "Shaheen" with a range of 600 km |
2000
In February, Pakistan
conducted a successful test of a missile of Hatf series, capable of nuclear
warhead.
Fact Sheet
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An Illustration |
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A time record |
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An Illustration |
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Link to CNS |
