Pakistan Test Launches First Ababeel Ballistic Missile

Pakistan on Tuesday has test launched Ababeel surface-to-surface ballistic missile (SSM) that is capable of delivering multiple warheads using Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.

Ababeel has a maximum range of 2,200 kilometres and the test flight was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Ababeel is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has the capability to engage multiple targets with high precision, defeating hostile radars, the ISPR elaborated.

The development of the Ababeel weapon system was aimed at ensuring survivability of Pakistan's ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment.

The Ababeel test came on the heels of a test of submarine-launched cruise missile Babur-III earlier this month.

"The successful attainment of a second strike capability by Pakistan represents a major scientific milestone; it is manifestation of the strategy of measured response to nuclear strategies and postures being adopted in Pakistan’s neighborhood," the military had said after the Babur-III test.

The missile, launched from an undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean from an underwater, mobile platform, had hit its target with precise accuracy, the Army had said.

Babur-III is a sea-based variant of ground-launched cruise missile Babur-II, which was tested in December last year.