Pakistan Tests Nuclear Capable Missile with 700 Km Range
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(ISLAMABAD) — In an effort to stay ahead in the nuclear arms race against its arch rival India, Pakistan tested a cruise missile on Tuesday, less than one week after it conducted a similar launch, according the country’s military.
In a statement, Pakistan’s military said it successfully launched the Hatf-VII (Babur) cruise missile from a “state of the art multi tube Missile Launch Vehicle.” The missile has a range of 700 kilometers and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.
“Babur Cruise Missile is a low flying, terrain hugging missile with high maneuverability, pin point accuracy and radar avoidance features,” the military said.
Futhermore, the missile “incorporates the most modern cruise missile technology of Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) and Digital Scene Matching and Area Co-relation (DSMAC), which enhances its precision and effectiveness manifolds,” according to the military.
Tuesday’s launch comes five days after Pakistan tested the nuclear capable Hatf-VIII (Ra’ad) cruise missile, which is capable of traveling upwards of 350 kilometers.
Pakistan and India have been regularly testing firing missiles to show their military superiority over each other. In April, Pakistan tested an intermediate range ballistic missile just days after India conducted its own missile test.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio