By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy on Thursday successfully conducted a live firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship ballistic missile, striking its target at extended range with high speed and precision, the military said.
The test was described by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the armed forces’ media arm, as a “resolute display of preparedness and precision-strike capability.” In a statement, the ISPR said the missile “accurately engag[ed] its target with high speed at extended range.”
Admiral Naveed Ashraf, the chief of the naval staff, observed the firing alongside leading scientists and engineers from Pakistan’s defense research organizations. The missile, according to the military, incorporates a cutting-edge guidance system and advanced maneuverability that allow it to evade threats, adapt to dynamic conditions and “deliver with precision and lethality.”
The successful launch, the ISPR added, “underscores the fusion of technological excellence and operational expertise.” It described the test as “a manifestation of the Pakistan Navy’s commitment to maintaining credible sea-based deterrence in a conventional domain and ensuring maritime security and stability in the region.” The weapon system is capable of engaging targets both at sea and on land with high precision, the statement said.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the chief of defense forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir — who also serves as chief of the army staff — and the other services chiefs congratulated the participating units and the scientists involved, the ISPR reported.
The test comes nearly five months after the navy conducted a previous firing of the same missile system in November. It is the latest in a series of demonstrations of indigenous weapons technology by Pakistan’s armed forces this year. On Jan. 10, the navy test-fired a surface-to-air missile during an exercise in the North Arabian Sea, showcasing both conventional and unmanned capabilities in line with evolving naval warfare requirements.
Earlier, the Pakistan Air Force successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed Taimoor Weapon System, which is capable of striking enemy land and sea targets at a range of 600 kilometers. Military officials have presented the recent tests as evidence of Pakistan’s push toward greater self-reliance in defence production amid longstanding regional security concerns. The navy has increasingly emphasised the development of ship-launched ballistic missiles as part of its conventional deterrence posture in the Arabian Sea.
No further details about the missile’s range, warhead or specific technical specifications were released in the statement.
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