Pakistan Test-Launches Nuclear-Capable Missile
Pakistan carried out a nuclear-capable missile test-launch on May 8th, just one day after a similar launch took place in India.
Hatf VIII/ Ra’ad
The missile fired was the Hatf VIII, or Ra’ad – a short-range cruise missile which can be loaded with a nuclear warhead.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistani military, the Hatf VIII – capable of striking targets up to 350 kilometres away – was developed solely for launch from aircraft.
The statement provided no information on where the Hatf VIII test-launch had taken place, but described the missile as having “special stealth capabilities”.
The –VIII was a "low altitude, terrain-following missile with high manoeuvrability", it said, adding that it could “deliver all types of warheads with great accuracy.”
Nuclear Power
Pakistan declared itself a nuclear power a decade ago when it carried out nuclear trials in reply to those carried out by India.
Since then, both countries have carried out frequent missile test-firings.
Agni-III
On May 7th, India launched the Agni-III Missile, which had been involved in two previous tests. The first one of these, in 2006, was unsuccessful, but the second, last year, was successful.
According to Indian Defense Ministry spokesman Group Captain R.K.Das, the launch served to strengthen India’s position within "the select band of countries who have such surface-to-surface intermediate range ballistic missile capability as a deterrent."
India’s Longest-Range Missile
The Agni III – capable of striking targets up to 3,000 kilometres away - is the longest-range missile produced by India. Geographically speaking, it could therefore reach the Chinese mainland, in addition to sites within the Middle East.
It is thought that the missile can be equipped with a nuclear warhead up to 300 kilotons.
Indian/Pakistani Wars
Three wars have been fought between Pakistan and India over the past 61 years.
Pakistani/Indian relations, however, have become better more recently, since the two countries initiated discussions over the disputed area of Kashmir.
Source – Armed Forces International’s Middle East Correspondent
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