Shaheen-III

Shaheen-III
TypeMRBM
Place of origin Pakistan
Service history
In service2015–Present
Used by Pakistan Army
(Army Strategic Forces Command)
Production history
DesignerNational Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM)
Designed2003–2013
ManufacturerNational Engineering & Scientific Commission
VariantsAbabeel
Specifications (Technical data)
Length19.30 m (63.3 ft)
Diameter1.40 m (4.6 ft)
Maximum firing range2,750 km (1,710 mi)
WarheadHE/NE
Blast yield>50 kilotons of TNT (210 TJ)
EngineMulti-stage[1]
TransmissionAutomatic
SuspensionWS21200 16WD
(With Pakistani military markings)
PropellantSolid-fuel
Operational
range
2,750 kilometres (1,710 mi)[2][3]
Guidance
system
Inertial, Terminal,
Launch
platform
Transporter erector launcher (TEL), Launch pad

The Shaheen-III (شاہین– ااا [a] ; lit. Falcon), is a land-based medium range ballistic missile, which was test fired for the first time by military service on 9 March 2015.[4][5]

Development began in secrecy in the early 2000s in response to India's Agni-III, Shaheen was successfully tested on 9 March 2015 with a range of 2,750 km (1,710 mi), which enables it to strike all of India and reach deep into the Middle East parts of North Africa.[6] The Shaheen-III, according to its program manager, the Strategic Plans Division, is "18 times faster than speed of sound and designed to reach the Indian islands of Andaman and Nicobar so that India cannot use them as "strategic bases" to establish a second strike capability."[7][8]

Range of the Shaheen-III missile

The Shaheen program is composed of the solid-fuel system in contrast to the Ghauri program that is primarily based on liquid-fuel system.[9] With the successful launch of the Shaheen-III, it surpasses the range of Shaheen-II— hence, it is the longest-range missile to be launched by the military.[10]

Its deployment has not been commented by the Pakistani military but Shaheen-III is currently deemed as operational in the strategic command of Pakistan Army.[11]

  1. ^ "Shaheen 3". Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Test launch of Pakistan's 'Shaheen-III' surface-to-surface ballistic missile successful". 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Pakistan's new Shaheen-III MRBM uses Chinese transporter, says source | IHS Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  4. ^ Haider, Mateen (9 March 2015). "Test launch of Shaheen-III ballistic missile successful: ISPR". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  5. ^ Craig, Tim (9 March 2015). "Pakistan tests missile that could carry nuclear warhead to every part of India". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  6. ^ Analysis. "Shaheen-III Ballistic Missile: Enforcing Strategic Deterrence". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Shaheen-III". Global Village Space. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  8. ^ Kerr, Paul K.; Nikitin, Mary Beth (1 August 2016). Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Musharraf stopped funds for Ghauri-III missile". 28 May 2011. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  10. ^ Shukla, Jayoti (10 March 2015). "Pakistan successfully conducted the flight test of ballistic missile Shaheen-III". India Today-Asia Bureau. India Today. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  11. ^ The Nuclear Threat Initiative. "Pakistani Ballistic and Cruise Missiles".


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