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Posted by Dorab in Ballistic Missiles of Pakistan Armed Forces, MIRVs on February 3rd, 2017
THE sustainability and durability of sovereign defense necessitate perpetual contemplation of the making of modern strategy, the invention of the new weapons, and investment in the defense industry. Pakistan’s mastery in the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) technology would be having a constructive contribution in its sovereign defense arrangement of the state.
Indeed, Ababeel ballistic missile invention and testing manifest that Pakistani military planners are cognizant of the fundamentals of the sovereign defense. Pakistan conducted successfully the first ever test of its new medium-range, surface-to-surface, ballistic missile Ababeel on January 24, 2017. The Ababeel missile is a new entry in Pakistan’s missile arsenal. It uses the MIRV to deliver multiple conventional and nuclear warheads. The MIRV is a very sophisticated missile technology. Except for a few technologically advanced nations (United States, Russian Federation and China) majority of ballistic missile capable states, lack MIRV capability. Though India did not conduct the test of a ballistic missile having MIRV features, yet it is capable of employing Agni-III and Agni-V for the MIRVs mission. Moreover, India’s Defence Research and Development Organization had already demonstrated India’s capability to introduce MIRVs in its missile arsenal. It had launched multiple satellites from one booster rocket.
The Ababeel missile has a maximum range of 1,367 miles and is capable of carrying multiple warheads. Photo courtesy of Pakistan’s Inter Service Public Relations
The MIRVs is an important force multiplier Vehicle because it provides an option to deliver multiple warheads with a single missile. Hence, it enables the striking power to engage multiple targets with a high level of precision with a few missiles. It simultaneously disrupts or destroys the radars of the adversary. It is very effective against the state, which deploys ballistic missile defense systems. It was rightly opined that: “If a state is worried about the survivability of its limited missile force and anticipates significant attrition of that force by the adversary, MIRVs provide multiple warheads with which to retaliate for every missile that does survive.” Precisely, it is a cost-effective weapon to defeat missile shield.
The Ababeel with a range of 2,200 kilometers — three times the distance between Islamabad and New Delhi — having the capacity to engage multiple targets and thereby it would be very lethal for the Indian defenses. Michael Krepon rightly pointed out that: “If New Delhi decides to absorb the costs of ballistic missile defenses for high-value targets, along with the radars to accompany BMD deployments, these expenses will be in vain.” In simple words, Ababeel is a dependable ballistic missile to neutralize India’s ballistic missile defense shield.
The development of MIRV manifests Islamabad’s steady progression from counter-value to counter-force targeting potential for the sake of credible full spectrum nuclear deterrence strategy. Ankit Panda pointed out: “a MIRVed Pakistani strategic capability may stand as a powerful deterrent to India’s retaliatory capabilities, freeing Pakistan up to use battlefield nuclear weapons as a war-terminating strategy without concerning itself with escalation to the strategic level.” Indeed, the MIRVed strategic capability would enhance the National Command Authority’s confidence in continuing the centralized command and control system of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons
In the parlance of strategic theories, an introduction of MIRVs would be having both stabilizing and destabilizing consequences. The general perception is that the MIRVs in Pakistani arsenal sustain the prevailing strategic parity with New Delhi, which the latter desires to destabilize. If history is a reliable guide, with the testing of Ababeel, India is likely to do so as well. India’s placing of MIRVs atop its ballistic missile would intensify the current costly arms race between the belligerent neighbors. In theory, an arms race is perilous for the strategic stability. Therefore, it’s imperative for both Islamabad and New Delhi to act rationally and negotiate bilateral strategic arms control treaty for the durability of strategic stability in the subcontinent.
Pakistan has been endeavoring to sustain the credibility of its deterrence strategy. Therefore, it is currently investing in ensuring the second-strike capability and also improving the penetrating potential of its nuclear-capable vehicles. The development of both Babur-3, submarine launched cruise missile and Ababeel would relieve Islamabad from “use-it-or-lose-it” dilemma. However, it would not be misread that Islamabad would alter its nuclear first use doctrine. The conventional asymmetry between India and Pakistan obliges the latter to retain its first use the nuclear option in its nuclear doctrine despite the progression in its second strike capability. To conclude, Islamabad’s vigilant defense planning not only withstands the strategic equilibrium between India and Pakistan but also ensures the sustainability of strategic stability in South Asia.
— The writer is Associate Professor, School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
Email: jaspal_99@hotmail.com
Is “Ganja” alert to this false propaganda from his cousins across the border? He is anti-Pak Armed Forces and has been brought in to roll back the Pakistan Nuclear & Ballistic Program. He will again, be playing with fire, if he again tries to roll back the Nuclear and Ballistic (MRBM) Program under the guise of IMF conditions and boosting the economy. Pakistan Armed Forces need to be vigilant at the rank and file level and prevent this “puppet,” to try to sell off our strategic assets, so he could buy more Rolex Watches in Washington.
Comment: Please take this article with a grain of salt. Indians have a perpetual thirst for high technology weaponary. A kafir is forever in a state of panic. Their desire to buy weaponary is like a swamp, the more (weapons) they (acquire) yell and scream, the deeper they sink (the more insecure they feel). India needs to realize that it is not a numbers game. It is not the gun, but, the man behind the gun, what counts. Kargil War has proved this syllogism to India’s dismay. Stop wasting money and take the olive branch. Or the Dove of Peace, by its pohchul (tail), and live in an Ashram. Otherwise, the next Indo-Pak War will leave a radiation filled gaping hole, in the ample rear end of Mother India. The euphoria of the 1971 War chicanery will evaporate in a radiation filled mass exodus in a smoky plume.”
Ghauri, Ghaznavi, Ra’ad, Abdali, and Tipu are waiting in the wings,
To do their thing!
Launch of Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)Hatf V (Ghauri) Tilla Range.
The launch was conducted by a Strategic Missile Group of the Army Strategic Force Command on the culmination of a field training exercise that was aimed at testing the operational readiness of the Army
The Indian media has expressed shock and dismay over the revelations that the IAF will lose its superiority to the PAF within the next one to two years.
The crisis hit Indian Armed Forces, rocked by various scams, corruption allegations and infighting, seems to have overlooked the procurement of much needed fighter aircraft, which is needed to guard its skies.At present, the IAF is operating 34 fighter jet squadrons, as compared to the 26 operated by the PAF. However, the IAF needs to operate 39.5 squadrons to maintain its superiority over the PAF, due to a wide variety of issues like geographical disadvantage. The squadron strength of the IAF will drop to just 31 during the country’s 12th five year plan (2012-2017). The IAF also plans to phase out around 125 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter jets during 2014-2017. It plans to replace them with the HAL Tejas, whose induction is likely to get delayed.
On the other hand, the PAF is moving forward with a number of high profile aircraft deals. Pakistan recently received 14 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block-52) aircraft from the US. It is likely to acquire 14 more within a short time. PAF is also actively pursuing aircraft dealings with Chinese aerospace companies. It has finalized a deal to purchase 36 Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter aircraft, from the Chinese aircraft manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. PAF is likely to induct these aircrafts in 2014. Sources within the PAF claim that as many as 150 of these fighter jets will be purchased from China in the long run.
Recently India had finalized a defence deal with the French aerospace manufacturer Dassault Aviation for the delivery of 126 Dassault Rafale Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft. But the deal has come under increasing scrutiny after allegations of kickbacks being given to Indian defence officials. Even if the deal goes forward, the delivery of the fighter jet is expected to take a long time. Earlier the Dassault Rafale was rejected by nations such as Singapore, South Korea, Morocco and Switzerland, citing lack of advanced technology and cost.
Ever since the current Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh took his office for a second term in 2009, the defence scene has remained murky and problematic for the Indian government. The Army chief, Gen. VK Singh, who undertook a number of reforms within the armed forces, was asked to resign this month by the defence minister, citing an error in his officially reported date of birth. The opposition claims that the government terminated Gen. Singh’s service since he was opposed to the corruption in the Armed Forces. A loyalist of the ruling Indian National Congress party, Lt Gen. Bikram Singh will take over the leadership from Gen. VK Singh on June 1, 2012.
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Chairperson Justice A K Mathur made the remarks while issuing notice to
the IAF and asking it to file a reply in a pension-related plea filed by a Corporal.
While hearing the case, he said that with the kind of cases being filed by the service personnel, it seems that the
IAF was in a “very bad shape” and showed the “petty-mindedness” of the authorities.
The case was filed by Corporal Chanderbhan Dhankar, who has been refused pension by the IAF even though he has served only five days less than the mandatory pensionable service of 15 years.
The Tribunal had last week too slammed the IAF authorities for their “arbitrary” approach against airmen and
asked them to be more “humane”.
Hearing a plea by Corporal Ashit Kumar Mishra, who was not given an NOC by the Indian Air Force to join a group ‘B’ civil service job in Uttar Pradesh, the Tribunal had termed such an approach as “suicidal”.
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