Shaheen-II

The re-entry vehicle carried by the Shaheen-II missile has a mass of between 700 kg (1,500 lb)—1,250 kg (2,760 lb), which includes the mass of a nuclear warhead and a terminal guidance system.[8]

Much of its engineering data, that is acceptable for public release, is provided by the Pakistani military and compiled by the American independent think tanks.[9][10] This re-entry vehicle is unlike that of the Shaheen I in that it has four moving delta control fins at the rear and small solid-liquid-propellant side thrust motors, which are used to orient the re-entry vehicle after the booster stage is depleted or before re-entry to improve accuracy by providing stabilization during the terminal phase.[11] This can also be used to fly evasive manoeuvres, making it problematic for existing anti-ballistic missile countermeasures to successfully intercept the missile.[11] The Shaheen II warhead may change its trajectory several times during re-entry and during the terminal phase, effectively preventing radar systems from pre-calculating intercept points.[11]

The Shaheen-II mobility is transported through a 12WD MAZ truck.^: 241[12][13]

Due to Pakistan's engineering feat, the American sources leveled serious allegations on China, and often compares missile to either of Chinese DF-11 or DF-25.[14][8] Pakistani government has always refuted the claims of Chinese assistance, stressing that the Shaheen-II was independently designed in 2000; and its series of expensive trial and errors culminated in final deployment in 2014 to keep the secrecy of the program through ingenious development.^: 241[12] Further evidence provided through a press video shown by its designing contractor, NESCOM, at the IDEAS conference in 2004, the missile can achieve "surgical precision".[11] Between 2004–2010, Pakistani contractors committed to series of testing of the Shaheen-II that included its engine, propellent, on-board computers, programming, and vehicle testing.^{: 241–242}[12]

The re-entry vehicle is also stated to utilize a GPS satellite guidance system to provide updates on its position, further improving its accuracy and reducing the CEP to 200 m (660 ft)—300 m (980 ft).^: 241[12][15][16] This has led to speculation that Shaheen-II incorporates a satellite navigation update system and/or a post separation attitude correction system to provide terminal course correction, which "may indicate a CEP of much less than 300 m (980 ft)."[11] According to King's College London, "the current capability of Pakistani missiles is built around radar seekers."[17][18]