Ababeel (missile)
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 Defense (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." The missile's stated purpose is to defeat Indian ballistic missile defense systems.[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] Some sources suggest that Ababeel is a further 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] 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 18 October 2023, Pakistan announced it had conducted another test of the missile, referring to it as the "Ababeel Weapon System".[2] See alsoReferences
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