The Ghaznavi is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) and a key component of the Pakistan Army’s tactical missile force. Named after the Turkic conqueror Mahmud of Ghazni, this missile is a single-stage, solid-propellant system. Its solid-fueled design allows for rapid deployment and launch, making it a highly responsive weapon on the battlefield. The Ghaznavi has a range of up to 300 km and is designed to strike high-value military targets such as enemy headquarters, troop concentrations, and airfields. The missile can be launched from a road-mobile TEL, which provides a “shoot-and-scoot” capability, enabling the launcher to quickly relocate after firing to avoid counter-fire. The Ghaznavi carries a payload of up to 700 kg, which can be a conventional high-explosive warhead, sub-munitions, or a low-yield nuclear warhead. Its guidance system is an Inertial Navigation System (INS), giving it a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of approximately 50 meters, a high degree of accuracy for its class. The missile’s development and deployment provided Pakistan with a credible tactical deterrent, particularly in the context of a potential conventional conflict. The Ghaznavi has undergone several test launches to validate its technical parameters and operational readiness, and it remains a vital part of the country’s short-range missile capabilities.
- Type: Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)
- Propulsion: Single-stage solid-fuel rocket engine
- Range: Up to 300 km
- Payload: 700 kg, conventional or nuclear warhead
- Guidance: Inertial Navigation System (INS)
- Launch Platform: Road-mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL)
- Length: 8.5 m
- Weight: 4,650 kg
