Pakistan Missile Technology
Abdali-I
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Abdali-I/Hatf-II | |
---|---|
Abdali missile during national day parade | |
Type | Short range ballistic missile SRBM |
Service history | |
In service | Since 1996 |
Used by | Pakistan |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | National Defence Complex (NDC) |
Specifications | |
Weight | 1,750 kg |
Length | 9.75 m |
Diameter | 0.56 m |
Warhead | Single Conventional HE/Nuclear 500Kg |
Engine | Single stage solid propellant |
Operational range | 180 km |
Guidance system | Inertial, Terminal |
Launch platform | transporter erector launcher (TEL) |
- Abdali-I (named after the Afghan king Ahmed Shah Abdali , the founder of the Durrani Empire) is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), developed by Pakistan and currently in service of Pakistan's armed forces.The Abdali-I was originally designed as the two-stage version of theHatf-I, essentially a solid-propellant stage was attached to the bottom of a Hatf-I.However, the program was canceled in 1994, likely due to the purchase of the M-11 missiles from thePeople's Republic of China. A new design for the Abdali-I was started in 1995.
Design and Specification
Its accuracy is sufficient for use against military targets such as bases or airfields. It is carried on a road mobile Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicle. The use of solid propellant and the TEL vehicle make the missile easy to store, transport and fire.
The Abdali-I has a range of 180 km and an accuracy of 15 m CEP. It is equipped with an inertial guidance sysytem with terminal guidance. It can be equipped with a variable payload up to 500 kg, and can carry single HE explosive or cluster sub-munition warheads. It has a launch weight of 1,750 kg. It uses a single-stage solid propellant engine and has a length of 9.75 m and a width of 0.56 m. Abdali is nuclear capable.
Development History and Current Status
The original Abdali-I missile started development in 1987 and was first displayed in 1989. Another consideration may have been the purchase from China of the M-11 missiles with similar capabilities.Since the program was restarted with a new design in 1997, it has been flight tested in 2002, 2005 and 2006.Abdali is currently deployed and under production.Criticism
In 2006, the Afghan Minister of Information and Culture criticized Pakistan for naming its lethal ballistic missiles and other weaponry after Afghan kings and rulers (i.e. Abdali) arguing that their names should be bracketed with academic, cultural and peace-promoting institutions, not with tools of destruction and killing. Pakistan declined to change the missiles' names stating that these Muslim rulers are considered heroes in Pakistan as well, and naming missiles after them is not controversial.The Afghan Criticis loose its base as the Ghaznavide Empire was confiened to Lahore (Pakistan) which was its last hold and where it ended with the hands of Sultan Shahab-Ud-Din Gahuri. Sultan Shahab-Ud-Din Ghauri was killed in Pakistan where his tomb is situated. Ahmed Shah Abdali was born in Pakistan in the city of Multan in Punjab province which made him a Pakistani by birth and he is not only the founder of present day Afghanistan but in the same way the founder of Pakistan also. There are other rulers of Afghanistan who were either born or resting in Pakistan which reject the claim of Afghan critics that Pakistan should not name her arsenals after those historical figures.Versions
Abdali-2: was successfully tested on March 11, 2011. It can carry nuclear weapons and can launch up to 180 km. The former prime minister congratulated the scientists and said it will boost the capability of Pakistan's defence.