Ababeel (missile)

Ababeel Missile (Urdu: ; lit. Ababeel) or the Ababeel Weapon System  is an MIRV surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missile developed by Pakistan. It is "aimed at ensuring survivability of Pakistan's ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) environment", in response to the Indian anti-ballistic missile systems. BBC reported in 2010 that Pakistan is in the advance stages of developing MIRV technology with the help from the Chinese for its missiles.

The National Interest called Ababeel "the Ultimate Nuclear Missile." While the missile's stated purpose is to defeat Indian Ballistic Missile Defense systems, it could theoretically also be used in a counterforce strike to destroy India's nuclear arsenal before it can be used.

The missile has a length of 21.5 meters and a diameter of 1.7 meters and is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. It has multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), demonstrating South Asia’s first MIRV payload. It has a maximum range of 2200 km.

Some sources suggest that Ababeel is a further development of the Shaheen-III airframe and solid-fuel motors, but with a payload fairing of enlarged diameter to accept the MIRV warhead. The second stage is also lengthened.

The first publicly announced test launch was conducted on 24 January 2017. As of June 2017 no missiles were thought to be operationally deployed.

On 18 October 2023, Pakistan announced it had conducted another test of the missile, referring to it as the "Ababeel Weapon System".