Ababeel (missile)


Ababeel Missile is a surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missile developed by Pakistan. It is "aimed at ensuring survivability of Pakistan's ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence environment", in response to the Indian Prithvi and Ashwin BMD systems.
The missile has length of 21.5 meters and a diameter of 1.7 meters and is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, including multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, over a maximum range of. As such, it would be Pakistan's first missile with this capability. It can carry total 1,500 kg warhead, which consists of three standard warheads of 500 kg each or 5 of 300 kg or 8 maximum Warheads weighing 185 kg .
Ababeel is said to be a development of the Shaheen-III airframe and solid-fuel motors, but with a payload fairing of enlarged diameter to accept the MIRV warhead. The second stage is also lengthened. If it's really the development of Shaheen-3 missile then the warhead carrying capacity is increased but the range is decreased from 2,750 km to 2,200 km.
The first publicly announced test launch was conducted on 24 January 2017. As of June 2017 no missiles were thought to be operationally deployed.
The missile's name of 'ababeel' or "swallow" may be a reference to a pre-Islamic event during the Year of the Elephant. An army, described as the 'Owners of the Elephant' for their use of war elephants, sent an army to destroy the Kaaba. Unable to resist their numbers, the people asked for divine help. A flock of birds, or 'ababil', appeared and dropped stones upon the army, destroying them. The Ababeel missile may make reference to this on two grounds: a MIRV attack would resemble a flock of falling stones; 'Owners of the Elephant' may also suggest India as the intended target of this missile.