Pakistan's Deadliest Weapon - Babur Cruise Missile

Babur (named after the 1st Mughal King Zahir ud-Din Babur), also known as Hatf VII, is the 1st land attack cruise missile produced by Pakistan.

Usually launched via ground-based TEL (transporter erector launchers), submarines and ships, the missile could be equipped with a conventional or atomic warhead and possesses a claimed range of 700 km (430 mi). The Babur cruise missile was created to prevent radar recognition and permeate enemy's air defenses. The production of the Babur cruise missile has begun in Oct 2005.

Roots

Babur cruise missile is considered to have been created in reaction to reports that India had been intending to get Patriot missiles from the America, to establish a ballistic missile defense system to get around Pakistan's arsenal of ballistic missiles.

Design and style

The Babur's airframe consists of a tubular fuselage, having a set of two folded wings connected to the midsection and the empennage on the backside together with the propulsion system. Powered through a jet engine (whether turbojet or turbofan), the missile has a top speed of around 550 miles per hour. During launch, a booster rocket gives extra push to take the missile away from the launching vehicle. After this, the wings open, the booster rocket is detached and the jet engine starts to work.

Guidance

The missile's guidance system utilizes a mixture of inertial navigation systems, American GPS satellite guidance and terrain contour matching (TERCOM). The guidance system supposedly provides the missile precise accuracy. GPS accessibility isn't guaranteed in some conditions therefore the newest production designs have also reportedly integrated the Russian GLONASS. Future hardware and software upgrades may have the China's Beidou navigation system and European Union's GALILEO.

Characteristics

The missile is reported to possess a higher level of maneuverability, letting it to "hug" the ground, and "near-stealth" abilities. Terrain hugging capability allows the missile prevent enemy radar detection by making use of "terrain masking", providing Babur the power to permeate enemy's air defense systems unnoticed and stay alive until getting to the target.

More complex variants of the Babur cruise missile are in development. Subsequent variants are planned to possess a range of 1000 kilometers and be able to be launched from Pakistan Navy submarines like Agosta 90B Khalid class.

Babur being fired from Land Based TEL

History Of Operation

On 12 Aug 2005, Pakistan openly declared that it has tested a cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warhead successfully and having a range of 500 kilometers. The missile was fired using a ground based transporter erector launcher (TEL). The surprise launch on 11 Aug 2005 captured much of the international community's attention because of the technologically advanced characteristics of the missile, along with the fact that Pakistan didn't inform India about its test-firing as the current notice agreement is restricted to ballistic missile tests only.

On Mar 22, 2007, Pakistan tested an improved variation of the Babur having an increased range of 700 kilometers. Pakistan completed 2 more firing tests of Babur on 26 July 2007 and Dec 11, 2007.

On 6 May, 2009, Pakistan carried out one more test however didn't publicize the event right until 9 May 2009, stating political factors.

On Oct 28, 2011. Pakistan effectively test launched its Babur Cruise missile and possesses a range of 700 km. The ISPR stated Babur is able to carry conventional and nuclear warheads. A distinctive characteristic of this particular test was the validation of a newer multi-tube Missile Launch Vehicle in the test. The 3 tube MLV increases the options for targeting and deployment in the conventional and non-conventional ways. The MLV gives a significant force multiplier impact for survivability and target engagement.

On 6 June 2012 Pakistan executed a valuable firing test of multi-tube, indigenously built Babur Cruise Missile also known as Hatf-VII, which is able to carry both conventional and non conventional warheads along with stealth abilities. It was the 3rd firing test performed by Pakistan recently, having diverse capacity and load. “It is able to carry both atomic and non atomic warheads and possesses stealth capabilities,” stated an official of the ISPR.