Nasir Mughal
The author carries experience of more than a decade of writing on defense affairs. He is magazine editor in a newspaper in Rawalpindi
In the 80s, India, under the supervision of its missile man Dr. Abdul Kalam, started developing a nuclear weapons delivery system. In this regard, first of all Prithvi1 missiles equipped with surface-to-surface strike capability were developed.The range of Prithvi 1 was 150 km. At that time, a narrative by Dr. Kalam went viral. He said that technology respects technology and power respects power.
In the middle of same decade, Pakistan’s missile program was also commenced. Pakistani scientists and engineers began developing the Hatf 1 and Hatf 2 missiles under the Hatf series. The Hatf missiles were initially free-flight rockets, but later equipped with guidance systems.
In the 90s, both countries began to vigorously increase their missile capabilities. India launched Agni series after Prithvi. Anti-aircraft Akash & Trishol missiles were also developed. In Pakistan, Ghauri and then Shaheen missiles came into existence under the Hatf series.
During this period, missile tests had been also conducted in large numbers by both sides. In 1998, Pakistan’s Ghori missile made its test flight for the first time, with a range up to 1,500 kilometers. In the same year, a series of successful tests of the Shaheen missile also began. Then, attention began to be paid to the attacking rang of missiles, payloads, and hitting targets with accuracy.
After this, both countries also started the cruise missile program. However, Pakistan’s missile network left India far behind. Various weapons were added to its network. In addition to the Ghori and Shaheen, the largest missile system in South Asia was formed in the form of Babur, Ghaznavi, Abdali, Ababeel, Ra’ad, and Fateh missiles.
As of 2020, Pakistan has the best and most comprehensive missile arsenal in Southeast Asia, after China in East Asia. The traditional and significant part of the air force is considered to be fighter aircraft. Pakistan and India have also paid attention to this.
After the F-16, the Pakistani Air Force did not received any modern aircraft.So, Islamabad has started improving its air power in collaboration with China. The Thunder aircraft became part of the Pakistan Air Force as a joint production. India built the Tejas but it was never brought to the front line. New Delhi bought the French-made Rafale and Pakistan got Chinese J-10 aircraft.
Let’s go back to the missile development era . The decade of the 90s was not only important in the Indo-Pakistan region regarding missiles but also in other parts of the world. During the recent conflict in the Middle East, when Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel, the Iron Dome defense system was in the news.
It is also being used extensively to shoot down rocket attacks by Lebanese and Palestinian militant organizations. But defense reporters, students, researchers, and enthusiasts can recall that in this decade talk of a missile called the “Arrow”, was very usual.
There were significant reports about it in defense journals and mainstream media. It was an Israeli project that began in 1986 with US cooperation to develop anti-ballistic missile weapons.
In weapons manufacturing, especially missile system development, work is actually done to make any missile eligible for induction or making part of the operational doctrine only after its first-ever successful test.
The initial range is increased or decreased, the guidance system, speed, and other factors are tested, requirements are assessed, and after going through a process according to the targeted areas, a missile goes under use by an army.
Sometimes, a missile can be developed under one name and, using the data obtained during its testing, the weapon can be converted into another version and adopted with a new name. Or, an upgraded model can be developed based on it.
Similarly, after the Arrow Anti-Missile System, the Iron Dome defense system was developed a better version & Israel made it part of the operational doctrine. However, when global defense journals were publishing articles on Arrow and US Defense Shield in the 90s, Pakistan also realized amid missile development that just manufacture weapons was not enough, but they also needed to be equipped with additional capabilities.
The difference-making factor would be the key to success in a real War. There was no guarantee that the so called defense system would work, and there was certainly no evidence at the time.
Pakistan knew that since India was also developing missiles, so it is essential to have a good interception system. This requirement was also met. The fact that the Indian missiles, that reached Rawalpindi, after traveling a long distance, were intercepted in the attack on the night of May 9 is proof of this.
That night, there was an attempt to target not only Nur Khan Airbase but also Qasim Aviation Base Dhamial, but that attack was also foiled. However, this system is not giving perfect results anywhere in the world. It is almost impossible to destroy each & every single missile.
Israel also had American and British help in countring the Iranian attacks, and was able to prevent all the missiles from reaching their targets or from falling to the ground and causing destruction.
Despite this, many missiles and drones hit their targets or crashed somewhere, that is a different matter that they did not carry any such powerful payload that would cause widespread destruction. These attacks were mainly intended to demonstrate a Show of Power and create psychological effects, which were achieved to some extent, temporarily.
To make up for this shortcoming, Pakistani decision-makers had decided to develop their missiles to such a mark that they would deprive the enemy of the ability to stop the strike. At the same time, technical superiority should be achieved during air battles that would outclass the opponent from a distance, flying far away from the traditional dogfight. This was also evidenced by the air battle of May 7. Even India does not know how the planes fell like drops of water.
Pakistan has less depth and breadth than India. India’s missiles can hit targets inside Pakistan in a very short time. But its own range and breadth are much greater, and weapons equipped with more capabilities are indispensable to attack across that long depth.
Thus, Pakistani missiles were armed with lightning speed and exceptional ability to hit targets, which can truly be called state-of-the-art weapons. In a press conference held to present the narrative of ‘not wanting tension’, the Indian military spokesperson is on record saying that on May 10, high-speed missiles were fired from Pakistan, which caused damage to Indian airbases.
Those who know the art of advertising or publicity are aware that publicity is not just about telling and promoting, but an important part of it is about hiding something also. The same strategy was adopted to keep the enemy aware of Pakistan’s defense capabilities.
Every effort to improve Pakistan’s missiles and fighter jets was always brought to the fore at the right time and occasion with great fanfare. Whether it was the development of the advanced model of F-7 fighter, as F-7 PG, or the production & induction of JF-17, nothing was ever left hidden from the world.
Similarly, military prowers were demonstrated through missile tests and displays in military parades, but what Pakistan was quietly doing was the technical aspect of these machines, which received more attention.
Today, the whole world believes that the Pakistani Air Force has shot down Indian jets with its technical and electronic warfare skills. This action was carried out within its borders.
