Babur (cruise missile)

This article is about the Pakistani cruise missile. For other uses, see Babar (disambiguation).

Hatf-VII Babur
The Hatf-VII Babur seen in IDEAS in Karachi, ca. 2006.
TypeGLCM/SLCM/AshM
Place of originPakistan
Service history
In service2010–Present[1]
Used by Pakistan Army
(Army Strategic Forces)
[ Pakistan Navy
(Naval Strategic Forces)
Production history
DesignerNational Defence Complex
Designed1998–2008 (GLCM)
2001–2018 (SLCM)
ManufacturerNational Defence Complex
VariantsSee variants
Specifications (Technical data)
Mass1,500 kg (3,300 lb)[1]
Length6.2 m (20 ft)
Diameter0.52 m (20 in)
Wingspan2.50 m (8.2 ft)
Maximum firing range900 km (560 mi)
WarheadHE/NE
Warhead weight450 kg (990 lb) – 500 kg (1,100 lb)
Blast yield5 kilotons of TNT (21 TJ) – 12 kilotons of TNT (50 TJ)[2]
EngineTurbojet
TransmissionAutomatic
SuspensionWS2500 10WD
PropellantLiquid-propellant (jet engine)
Solid-propellant (booster)
Operational
range
Babur-I: 700 km (430 mi)[1]
Babur-IA: 450 km[3]
Babur-II: 750 km (470 mi)[4]
Babur-III: 450 km (280 mi; 240 nmi)[5]
Harbah: 700 km (430 mi; 380 nmi)[6]
Babur-IB: 900 km (560 mi)[7]
Harbah export variant: 290 km (180 mi; 160 nmi)[6]
Flight altitudeTerrain-following
Maximum speed 0.7 Mach. (subsonic)
990 km/h (620 mph)
Guidance
system
INS, TERCOM/DSMAC, GPS, GLONASS, Terminal,
Accuracy20 m (66 ft) CEP[8]
Launch
platform
Transporter erector launcher
Cruise-missile submarine
TransportTEL, Horizontal launch tube (HLT)

The Babur (Urdu: بابر; Military designated: Hatf-VII, Translit: Target–7) is an all-weather, subsonic cruise missile developed and designed by the National Defence Complex (NDC) of Pakistan.

Codenamed as Babur,[9] its development came as a surprise to the U.S. intelligence in 2005 as they had not expected the Pakistan being able to produce such a capable system, according to United States–based CSIS.[10]

After series of various data acquisition and validation trials, Babur entered first in military service of Pakistan Army in 2010, and evolved into able to launch from submarine, which saw its deployment with the Pakistan Navy in 2018.[11][12][13][14][15]

According to Pakistani military, SLCM-variant of Babur has provided Pakistan a long-sought "credible sea-based second-strike capability, augmenting existing deterrence."[16][17]

  1. ^ a b c "Babur (Hatf 7)". Missile Threat.
  2. ^ Kristensen, Hans; Korda, Matt. "Pakistan nuclear weapons, 2023". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Pakistan Army conducts successful test launch of surface-to-surface Babur cruise missile". 11 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Pak missiles more superior than India's: Dr Samar". www.thenews.com.pk.
  5. ^ Panda, Ankit. "Pakistan Conducts Second Test of Babur-3 Nuclear-Capable Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile". thediplomat.com.
  6. ^ a b "Pakistan Tests Harbah Cruise Missile". 8 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Pakistan tests home-grown missile with additional range". Associated Press. 21 December 2021.
  8. ^ NTI. "Design Characteristics of Pakistan's Ballistic and Cruise Missiles" (PDF). media.nti.org. Nuclear Threat Initiatives. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Military Watch Magazine". militarywatchmagazine.com. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Babur (Hatf 7)". Missile Threat. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Pakistan conducts successful test of Babur cruise missile". dawn.com. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Hatf 7 "Babur" | Missile Threat". Missile Threat. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Pakistan conducts successful test of Babur cruise missile". dawn.com. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  14. ^ Sharif, Arshad (12 August 2005). "Pakistan test-fires its first cruise missile". dawn.com. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Pakistan Navy armed with latest Submarine and Babur Cruise Missiles". Pakistan Hotline. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  16. ^ Taheran, Shervin. "Pakistan Advances Sea Leg of Triad | Arms Control Association". www.armscontrol.org. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  17. ^ Khan, Ahyousha (27 April 2018). "Babur Missile Test: Pakistan validating its Second-Strike Capability". Modern Diplomacy. Retrieved 12 October 2023.