Pakistan military said on Thursday that it had successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile which can avoid radar detection.
Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate said ‘the missile, Babur or Hatf VII, has a range of 700 kilometers and is capable of carrying various types of warheads.’
‘Babur was tested successfully with new technical parameters and enhanced edge’, a top army spokesman said.
The directorate also said ‘the test is part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts at consolidating its strategic capability and strengthening national security.’
Pakistan’s missile build-up is believed to be mainly intended to match the missile capacities of its neighbor and archrival India.
It has stock-piled a range of ballistic missiles, both indigenously developed and acquired from foreign powers.
Pakistan successfully test-fired a new version of its long-range nuclear-capable missile, Hatf VI (Shaheen II) in February. It has a arange of 2,000 kilometers.
Assistance from China and North Korea has bolstered Pakistan’s missile programmes. Its missile industry includes a large solid rocket motor production complex and a ballistic missile test facility.
