Pakistan Navy's new ship-launched ballistic missile. (Janes)
Pakistan has test-fired a new type of ship-launched ballistic missile, the service disclosed on 5 November via an official social media channel.
The weapon has a range of 350 km and is capable of engaging targets on land and at sea, reads a statement that was posted in the channel managed by the Pakistan Navy's Director General Public Relations office.
No further details of the weapon were provided, with the office noting that the weapon is “equipped with state-of-the-art navigation system and manoeuvrability features”. No details of the deploying platform were provided either.
However, a video of the test-firing posted on the channel suggests that the missile was fired from one of the Pakistan Navy's Zulfiquar (F-22P)-class frigate, as deciphered from a part of the ship's mast that is visible in the frame.
Pakistan operates a fleet of four Zulfiquar-class frigates, which are based on the People's Liberation Army Navy's Type 053, each equipped with eight diagonally mounted anti-ship missile launchers.
The video indicates a missile with a diameter of between 85 cm and 90 cm and an overall length of about 9 m, and with a white and blue livery with letters spelling ‘SMASH' applied on its fuselage.
In addition, the missile's exhaust plume strongly suggests that it is controlled by jet vanes during its boost phase, with steering assistance provided by four clipped delta flight control surfaces at its rear.
Also visible in the video is what appears to be at least one external ridge along the missile's fuselage that can house an antenna array and an electronics bus. This will facilitate communications between the control module and the missile's propulsion and steering systems.
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