Pakistan successfully test-fires short-range surface-to-surface missile Hatf IX.

Pakistan on Friday, September 26, conducted a successful test fire of Short-Range Surface-to-Surface Missile Hatf IX (NASR), the ISPR reported. The test fire was conducted with successive launches of 4 Missiles from a Multi Tube Launcher with Salvo Mode.

The Hatf IX Nasr is a ballistic missile which carries a sub-kiloton nuclear warhead out to a range of 60 km (37.3 mi). It is believed to be derived from the WS-2 Weishi Rockets system developed by China's Sichuan Aerospace Corporation. Four missiles are carried on the same Chinese-origin 8x8 transporter erector launcher (TEL) as the Pakistan Army's A-100E 300mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), a Chinese version of the BM-30 Smerch.

The flight test was witnessed by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Rashad Mahmood, Director General of Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Commander of Army Strategic Forces Command, Lieutenant General Obaid Ullah Khan, Chairman NESCOM, Mr Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the strategic forces and scientists and engineers of strategic organizations.

Addressing the participants at the launch area, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Rashad Mahmood, congratulated the scientists and engineers on achieving yet another milestone towards Pakistan s deterrence capability. He appreciated the professional attributes of all concerned which made possible the successful launch of Weapon System. He showed his full confidence over the Strategic Command and Control System and the Pakistan Armed Forces capability to safeguard security of the Pakistan against any aggression.