Pakistan test-fires 1,300 km missile
By Awais Saleem, IANSTuesday, December 21, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tuesday successfully test-fired the nuclear capable Ghauri Hatf-V missile that has a range of 1,300 km, an official statement said.
The medium-range missile can carry a variety of warheads, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.
The missile was test fired at an unknown location.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani have congratulated Pakistani scientists on the successful test-firing of the missile, Aaj TV reported.
The missile is named after 13th century Afghan ruler Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri of the Ghauri dynasty who reigned over an area spanning present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India, while “Hatf” originates from the name of the sword/lance of Prophet Muhammad.
Powered by a single stage liquid fuel rocket motor, the missile can carry a payload of 700 kg. The Ghauri missiles are part of Pakistan’s Integrated Missile Research and Development Programme (IMRDP).
