Pakistan has claimed to have tested a submarine launched version of its Babur-2 land attack cruise missile, with a range of 450 km.
Pakistan has claimed to have tested a submarine launched version of its Babur-2 land attack cruise missile, with a range of 450 km.
Dubbed the the Babur-3, the missile was tested from an underwater mobile platform from an undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean.
An underwater booster rocket motor propelled the missile out of water to a designated altitude before the onboard jet engine kicks in to begin the cruise flight toward the target.
On-board navigation system include the GPS, Terrain contour matching (TERCOM) and inertial navigation system, which enable the Babur-3 to strike target with precision. The missile flies a sea skimming and terrain hugging path to evade radar detection and increase stealth.
The testing makes Pakistan closer to achieving the nuclear triad capability, being able to deliver nuclear weapons via air, water and land.
But a major shortcoming of the missile is its short range, which makes the launch submarine vulnerable to counter attacks and easier to track.
