India tests fire Pirthvi Missile

India has reportedly test fired Pirthvi I missile. Indian army has termed the test as a success. Missile test was conducted in Orissa state. Details awaited.

 Update

Pirthvi – the missile test fired, is a surface to surface medium ranged (range upto 150 KM, nearly 100 miles) is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. Missile test was conduced in Chandipur area of Orissa district. As per defence officials in Orissa – missile test was carried out on military’s request to check its working.

Pakistan tests Hatf-VII Babar Cruise Missile

Early Morning today, Pakistan has successfully test fired its radar evading nuclear ready Hatf-VII Babar Cruise Missile ranging upto 700 KM (430 miles). It can carry conventional weapons as well as nuclear ones.

Babar was previously tested in 2005. General Ehsan ul Haq alongwith scientists and senior army personnels were available the site of test fire.

“The test is part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts at consolidating its strategic capability and strengthening national security,” the ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations) directorate said in a statement.

“Babur was tested successfully with new technical parameters and enhanced edge,” said Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, the top army spokesman.

Neither Arshad nor the military statement specified site of the missile launch.

President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz congratulated the scientists and engineers for “this very important success” of the test, the military statement said.

India and Pakistan have an agreement under which each country informs that other ahead of its missile tests.

But Pakistan did not inform India of the test Thursday because the accord does not include providing prior information on cruise missile tests, a military official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment to media.

In February, Pakistan successfully test-fired a new version of its long-range nuclear-capable missile, Hatf VI (Shaheen II), which has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,245 miles).

Pakistan test fires Nuclear Capable Ballistic Missile

Pakistan has test fired their long-range nuclear capable surface-to-surface,  two staged solid fuel ballistic missile Hatf-VI, Shaheen II.

The Shaheen II, Hatf-VI launched from an undisclosed location has a range of roughly 2,000 kilometers i.e. 1,250 miles which covers a major portion of India (the main threat).

The Shaheen II, Hatf-VI is Pakistan’s longest-range ballistic missile system, and has the capability to hit major cities in neighboring India.

The missile “can carry nuclear and conventional warheads with high accuracy,” the military said in a statement. An earlier version of the missile was tested in April 2006, and officials said they could not release details of how it had been upgraded.

On Wednesday, Pakistani and Indian officials signed an agreement in New Delhi to reduce the risk of an accidental nuclear war between them.

Pakistan became a declared nuclear power in 1998 in response to nuclear tests by India.

After witnessing the missile test on Friday, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Ehsan Ul Haq, congratulated the scientists and engineers for “achieving an important milestone in Pakistan’s quest for sustaining strategic balance in South Asia,” the military statement said.

It also quoted Haq as saying that “Pakistan’s strategy of credible minimum deterrence was fully in place and was a guarantee of peace in the region.”

In separate messages, Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also congratulated the scientists and engineers for upgrading the missile.