Ghauri-II

The Ghauri-II (Urdu: غوری-اا) is a land-based and medium range guided ballistic missile designed and developed by the Khan Research Laboratories.

Ghauri-II
TypeMRBM/Demo
Place of origin Pakistan
Service history
In service2004–Present
(No deployment)
Used by Pakistan Army
(Army Strategic Forces Command)
Production history
DesignerKhan Research Laboratories (KRL)
Designed1993–2003
ManufacturerKhan Research Laboratories
VariantsGhauri-III
Specifications (Technical data)
Length26 m (85 ft)
Diameter2.0 m (6.6 ft)
Maximum firing range2,300 km (1,400 mi)
WarheadHE
Warhead weight1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
EngineTwo-stage
TransmissionManual
SuspensionAtego x 8WD semi-trailer
PropellantLiquid-propellant
(Confidential)
Operational
range
1,500–2,000 kilometres (930–1,240 mi)
Flight altitude612 mi (985 km), reached in first test flight
Guidance
system
Inertial, Terminal,
Launch
platform
Silo
TransportTransporter erector launcher

Developed in response to India's Agni-II, its propellant technology is influenced from the Taepodong-1 from North Korea.: 245 [1]

Only two tests of Ghauri-II were conducted in 1999 and in 2004, but no military designation for deployment was ever assigned by the Pakistani military.: 246 [1][2]

Development background

The Ghauri program was developed alongside with the Shaheen program with a need to attained the ground-based second strike capability in an event of Pakistan's military losing ground against the Indian Army.[3] In response to Agni-II deployment, Ghauri-II received much support but its technological influence comes from the Taepodong-1 from North Korea.: 246 [1]

Design development began in 1993 but the Ghauri-II program suffered with many setbacks and expensive trial and errors to meet Pakistan's survivability goals with Sharif administration terminating North Korean connections to favor its relations with Japan and the United States.: 246 [1]

It took several years for Khan Research Laboratories (KRL)— Pakistan's MoD prime contractor at that time— to design, engineer, performing metallurgy, on-board computer development and its programming, which finally leds to its complete assembly for the Ghauri-II in 2000.: 246 [1]

Technical design

The Ghauri-II design developed from Ghauri with propellant technology is influenced from the Taepodong-1.: 246 [1] Collaborating with other defense contractors, the Ghauri-II is a two-stage system with its propellent length is increased to 2.0 m (6.6 ft), allowing the rocket to afterburn for a longer time and extended range.[1] Material selections for warhead design and assembly also featured using the high-strenght aluminum against high-strength low-alloy steel.[4] The Ghauri-II is designed for maximum operating range of 2,000 km (1,200 mi), respectively.[5][6] Data provided by American-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS),Ghauri-II is about 18.0 m (59.1 ft) in length, has a diameter of 1.35 m (53 in) with a launch weight of 1,800 kg (4,000 lb).[7][8][9]

Operational testing

The Ghauri-II took its first flight in space in 1999; it flown more than 620 mi (1,000 km) in 12 minutes after being fired from Mashhood Test Firing Range of Pakistan Army.[2] The launch was in response to India's Agni-II that also took place in 1999.[3]

After several years of gap, the Ghauri-II was last test fired in 2004 and enjoyed its distinction of being the longest range missile in service with Pakistan military, until its limit was exceeded by the successful launch of the Shaheen-II, also in 2004.[10][1]

Since 2004, no further tests have been conducted as nor it is deployed with unique military identification as Pakistan's long term plans are kept confidentials regarding its missile program.: 245 [1]

See also
Related developments

References
  1. Khan, Feroz (7 November 2012). "Pakistan's missile quest". Eating Grass: The Making of the Pakistani Bomb. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-8480-1. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  2. Galpin, Richard (15 April 1999). "Pakistan test-fires missile". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. Lodhi, SFS (19 May 1999). "New round of Indo-Pak Ballistic Missiles". Ariticle written by Lt Gen (Retd) SARDAR FS LODI examines the new missile race in SOUTH ASIA. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  4. Bukhari, Syed Shahid Hussain (15 September 2020). Pakistan’s Security and the India–US Strategic Partnership: Nuclear Politics and Security Competition. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-17662-9. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. Hildreth, Steven A. (2004). Missile Defense: The Current Debate. Nova Publishers. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-59033-973-2. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  6. Pakistan Completes 'Trials' of Ghauri-III Missile Engine Islamabad The News 30 September 1999 page 10 -- Pakistan has successfully completed the trials of Ghauri-III missile's engine at Kahuta Research Laboratories. Ghauri-III would cover the range of over 3,000 kilometres.
  7. "Missiles of the World". Archived from the original on 7 October 2008.
  8. Pakistan’s Long Range Ballistic Missiles: A View From IDEAS Archived 29 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Chakma, Bhumitra (12 October 2012). Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-13254-6. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  10. Staff writer (15 March 2004). "Pakistan tests its longest-range missile". Dawn. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
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