Pakistan Successfully Conducts Test Flight of Shaheen-III Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile

On 9 April 2022, the media and PR wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a press statement stating that a successful test of Shaheen-III surface to surface ballistic missile aimed at “re-validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system” was conducted. The test flight was aimed at the revalidating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system. The ballistic missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads up to 2,750 kilometers. According to the ISPR, the test’s impact point was in the Arabian Sea.

The range of the Shaheen-3 is sufficient to target all of mainland India from launch positions in most of Pakistan to the south of Islamabad. The range of 2750 km was determined by a need to be able to target the Nicobar and Andaman Islands in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean. But for a 2750-km range Shaheen-3 to reach the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it would need to be launched from positions in the very Eastern parts of Pakistan, close to the Indian border. If deployed in the Western parts of the Balochistan province, the range of the Shaheen-3 would for the first time bring Israel within range of Pakistani nuclear missiles.

The Shaheen-III (White Falcon-III) is a Pakistani land-based surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missile, which was test-fired for the first time by military service on 9 March 2015. Development began in secrecy in the early 2000s in response to India’s Agni-III, Shaheen was successfully tested on 9 March 2015 with a range of 2750 km (1700 mi), which enables it to strike all of India and reach deep into the Middle East parts of North Africa. The missile, according to a former Director-General of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, is designed to reach Indian islands so that India cannot use them as “strategic bases” to establish a “second-strike capability.”

The Shaheen-III uses WS51200 transporter erector launcher TEL manufactured in China by Wanshan Special Vehicle. Shaheen owes its existence largely to the joint efforts led by NDC of NeScom and Space Research Commission. Shaheen-III to make it feasible as liquids were being developed that would allow the missiles to be left in a ready-to-shoot form for extended periods. The Shaheen-III was initially purposed as the space booster for the space program to make it possible for installing the satellite payload applications. After years of speculations, the Shaheen-III was eventually revealed and tested on 9 March 2015 with a 2750 km (1700-mile) range.