The Ghauri-III (Urdu: غورى–ااا) was the codename of a rocket program aimed at developing land-based medium range

ballistic missile A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are powered only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) typic ...

to fulfill Pakistan's objective of attaining a ground-based second-strike capability. Development of the ''Ghauri-III'' commenced in 1999 with a planned operational range of 3,000 kilometers (1,900 miles). Led by the Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL), the program featured a unique design. However, it remained in the design phases and was eventually scaled down, ultimately leading to its complete termination in 2005.

Background

Development of the Ghauri-III, aimed at achieving ground-based second-strike capability, commenced in 1999 with the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) spearheading the rocketry program. Its propellant technology drew influence from the

Nodong-1 The Hwasong-7} () is a single- stage, mobile liquid propellant medium-range ballistic missile developed by North Korea. Developed in the mid-1980s, it is a scaled-up adaptation of the Soviet R-17 Elbrus missiles, more commonly known by its NATO ...

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

, knowledge of which Pakistan acquired between 1993 and 1995. The Ghauri program operated concurrently with the Shaheen program, both striving to achieve second-strike capability, with ranges extending as far as eastern India. In 1999, the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) concluded numerous trials for its designed

rocket engine A rocket engine is a reaction engine, producing thrust in accordance with Newton's third law by ejecting reaction mass rearward, usually a high-speed Jet (fluid), jet of high-temperature gas produced by the combustion of rocket propellants stor ...

and progressed towards warhead designs. However, without the contribution from North Korea, the ''Ghauri-III'' program encountered numerous setbacks and costly trial-and-error processes to make it feasible. Delays in developing an indigenous liquid-fuel propellant further hindered the program's progress, placing it behind in competition with the ''Shaheen'' program. Despite successful rocket engine testing, no further tests were conducted, despite numerous rumors suggesting otherwise. In 2011, the chief designer

Abdul Qadeer Khan Abdul Qadeer Khan (1 April 1936 – 10 October 2021) was a Pakistani Nuclear physics, nuclear physicist and metallurgist, metallurgical engineer. He is colloquially known as the "father of Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction, Pakistan's ...

testified to the existence of the ''Ghauri-III'' program in an article published in ''

The News International ''The News International'', published in broadsheet size, is one of the largest English language newspapers in Pakistan. It is published daily from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/ Islamabad. An overseas edition is published from London th ...

''. Subsequently, in 2012, its existence was officially acknowledged by Pakistani government officials, who cited the program's cancellation due to the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) inability to render it feasible within the designated timeframe, in contrast to the successful production of the

Shaheen-III The Shaheen-III ( ; lit. ''Falcon''), is a land-based medium range ballistic missile, which was test fired for the first time by military service on 9 March 2015. Development began in secrecy in the early 2000s in response to India's '' Agni ...

under the Shaheen program in 2015.

References

External links

FAS.org news report – Ghauri-III engine trials completed

MissileThreat.com article on Ghauri-3
{{Military of Pakistan, state=collapsed Ballistic missiles of Pakistan Post–Cold War weapons of Pakistan Abandoned military projects of Pakistan

Background

See also

References

External links