Ababeel Missile
TypeMIRV surface-to-surface missile ballistic missile
Place of originPakistan
Service history
Used byStrategic Plans Division
Production history
Produced2017–present
Specifications
Height21.5 m
Diameter1.7m (top)
1.4m (body)
Warhead3-8 MIRVs

3 RVs of 500kg each (standard)

5 RVs of 300kg each
8 RVs of 185kg each
Enginesolid-fuel[1]
Operational
range
2,500 to 3,500 kilometres (1,600 to 2,200 mi)[1]
Launch
platform
TEL

Ababeel Missile (Urdu: أبابيل; lit. Ababeel) or the Ababeel Weapon System[2] is an MIRV surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missile developed by Pakistan.[2] It is "aimed at ensuring survivability of Pakistan's ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment", in response to the Indian anti-ballistic missile systems.[3][4][5]

BBC reported in 2010 that Pakistan is in the advance stages of developing MIRV technology with the help from the Chinese for its missiles.[6]

The National Interest called Ababeel "the Ultimate Nuclear Missile." While the missile's stated purpose is to defeat Indian Ballistic Missile Defense systems, it could theoretically also be used in a counterforce strike to destroy India's nuclear arsenal before it can be used.[7]

The missile has a length of 21.5 meters and a diameter of 1.7 meters and is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. It has multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), demonstrating South Asia’s first MIRV payload.[7] It has a maximum range of 2,200 kilometres (1,400 mi).[5][8][9] As such, it would be Pakistan's first missile with this capability. It can carry total 1,500 kg ( 3,307 lb) warhead , which consists of three standard warheads of 500 kg ( 1102.3 lb) each or 5 of 300 kg ( 661.4 lb) or 8 maximum Warheads weighing 185 kg (408 lb) .

Ababeel is developed by KRL, which have previously developed liquid powered Ghauri missile system.[citation needed] From this it can be expected that Ababeel is also a liquid fueled missile. However, some sources suggest that Ababeel is said to be a development of the Shaheen-III airframe and solid-fuel motors, but with a payload fairing of enlarged diameter to accept the MIRV warhead.[4] The second stage is also lengthened.[10] If it's really the development of Shaheen-3 missile then the warhead carrying capacity is increased but the range is decreased from 2,750 km ( 1,709 mi ) to 2,200 km ( 1,400 mi).[original research?][citation needed]

The first publicly announced test launch was conducted on 24 January 2017.[11][12][13] As of June 2017 no missiles were thought to be operationally deployed.[1]

On October 18 2023, Pakistan announced it had conducted another test of the missile, referring to it as the "Ababeel Weapon System".[2]

Codename

The missile's name of 'ababeel' or "swallow" may be a reference to a pre-Islamic event during the Year of the Elephant.[14] An army, described as the 'Owners of the Elephant' for their use of war elephants, sent an army to destroy the Kaaba. Unable to resist their numbers, the people asked for divine help. A flock of birds, or 'ababil', appeared and dropped stones upon the army, destroying them.[15][16] The Ababeel missile may make reference to this on two grounds: a MIRV attack would resemble a flock of falling stones; 'Owners of the Elephant' may also suggest India as the intended target of this missile.[10]


See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "2017 Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat". National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC). Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Shirazi, Iftikhar (18 October 2023). "Pakistan conducts successful flight test of 'Ababeel' weapon system". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Ababeel" (Press release). ISPR. 24 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Ababeel". Missile Threat. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Pakistan conducts first flight test of Ababeel surface-to-surface missile". Dawn newspaper. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  6. ^ Hasan, Syed Shoaib (1 December 2010). "Pakistan's growing nuclear programme". BBC. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b Keck, Zachary (9 March 2018). "Pakistan Has Just Tested the Ultimate Nuclear Missile". The National Interest.
  8. ^ "Pakistan conducts first flight test of surface-to-surface Ababeel missile". Express Tribune. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  9. ^ Panda, Ankit (25 January 2017). "Why Pakistan's newly flight-tested Multiple Nuclear Warhead-Capable Missile really matters". The Diplomat. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Ababeel 1". Global Security.
  11. ^ "Statement for the Record: Worldwide Threat Assessment", Defense Intelligence Agency, US, March 6, 2018.
  12. ^ Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor [@OfficialDGISPR] (24 January 2017). "Pak successfully conducted first flight test of SSM #ABABEEL, Rg 2200 Km. #COAS congrats team and Pak Armed Forces for landmk achievement" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Pakistan successfully test fires long range missile Ababeel". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
    "Pakistan successfully conducts test of ballistic missile 'Ababeel'". The News International. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
    "Pakistan conducts successful test of surface-to-surface 'Ababeel' missile". Geo TV. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
    "Pakistan conducts successful test of long range missile Ababeel". Samaa TV. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  14. ^ Sūrat al-Fīl, "The Elephant" (105:1-5)
  15. ^ Leaman, Oliver, ed. (2008). The Qur'an: an encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-415-32639-1.
  16. ^ Mir, Mustansir (2005). "Elephants, Birds of Prey, and Heaps of Pebbles: Farāhī's Interpretation of Sūrat al-Fīl". Journal of Qur'anic Studies. 7 (1): 33–47. doi:10.3366/jqs.2005.7.1.33. JSTOR 25728163.

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