| Country: |
Pakistan |
| Alternate Name: |
Abdali |
| Class: |
SRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
6.50 m |
| Diameter: |
0.56 m |
| Launch Weight: |
1750 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 250 to 450 kg |
| Warhead: |
HE, chemical, submunitions |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage solid |
| Range: |
180 km |
| Status: |
Development |
| In Service: |
2005 |
Details
The Hatf-2 is a short-range, road mobile, solid propellant missile. The Hatf-2 was originally designed as the two-stage version of the Hatf-1, essentially a solid-propellant stage attached to the bottom of a Hatf-1. However, the program was cancelled in 1994, likely due to the purchase of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) M-11 missiles that rendered development of the Hatf-2 uneconomical. A new design for the Hatf-2 was started in 1997, presumably to supplement the limited numbers of M-11 missiles purchased. The Hatf-2 is similar in size and shape to the Argentinian Alacran short-range ballistic missile and the Chinese TY-3 research rocket.
The Hatf-2 provides a longer ranged missile for use against military targets. Its relatively small warhead makes it impractical for deployment against civilian population centers, though it could be used to disrupt city operations, i.e. power plants and factories. Its accuracy is sufficient for use against military targets such as bases or airfields. An upgraded guidance system would significantly increase the accuracy to the point where it might be of use against specific military units and not just a small area. It is carried on a road mobile Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicle. The use of solid propellant and the TEL vehicle make the missile easy to store, transport and fire.
The Hatf-2 has a range of 180 km (112 miles) and an accuracy of 150 m CEP. It is currently equipped with an inertial guidance system, but if it were equipped with a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system or terminal guidance, its accuracy could likely be improved to 30 m CEP. It is estimated to be able to be equipped with a variable payload between 250 and 450 kg and can probably carry a single high explosive or submunition warheads. It is believed to have a launch weight of1,750 kg. It uses a single-stage solid propellant engine and has a length of 6.5 m and a width of 0.56 m.
The original Hatf-2 missile started development in 1987 and was first displayed in 1989. The program was cancelled in 1994 after the purchase of M-11 missiles. The program was restarted with a new design in 1997 and flight tested in 2002, 2005, and 2006. It is believed that the missile first entered service in 2005.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 105-106.
Afghanistan Asks Pakistan to Rename Missiles
February 23, 2006 :: BBC :: News
The BBC reports that Afghanistan has asked Pakistan to rename three of its missiles, the Haft-2 Abdali, the Ghauri, and the Ghaznavid, which are named after former Muslim conquerors that lived between the 11th and 18th centuries in what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Pakistan, however, has refused to rename these missiles, despite objections from Kabul which claims that Pakistan has linked these historical figures with “tools of destruction and killing.” The Haft-2 Abdali missile is named after the founder of the powerful Durrani dynasty, which helped shape modern Afghanistan. The Ghauri missile is named after Mohammed Ghauri, who defeated a Rajput Hindu king in 1192 along what is now the Pakistan-India border. The Ghaznavid missile is named after Mahmud Ghaznavi, who conquered Punjab in 1021 and was never defeated on the battlefield. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan
» Missile details: Ghauri-3, Hatf 2
Pakistan Tests Hatf-2 SRBM
February 20, 2006 :: News
Pakistan successfully test-launched a Hatf-2 short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile on February 19. The indigenously developed missile has a range of 200 km and is capable of carrying a 500 kg warhead payload containing nuclear, chemical, or conventional warheads. This was the missile’s second test; the first was conducted in March 2005. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Hatf 2
Pakistan Launches Hatf-2
March 31, 2005 :: Spacewar.com :: News
Ten days after the launch of a Shaheen-II missile, Pakistan today successfully tested the short-range, nuclear-capable Hatf-2 missile, also identified as “Abdali.” The Hatf-2 is believed to have a range of 180km; another version, the Hatf-2A (also called Abdali), has a range of 300km. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Pakistan
» Missile details: Hatf 2, Hatf 2A
