The Nasr is a battlefield-range tactical ballistic missile (BRBM) and a unique weapon in Pakistan’s arsenal. Also known as the Hatf-IX, the Nasr is specifically designed to deter and respond to a potential conventional offensive, such as a “Cold Start”-like doctrine. It is a very short-range, solid-fueled missile with a range of 60 to 80 kilometers. What makes the Nasr distinctive is its launch platform: a four-tube, truck-mounted Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) vehicle, which gives it a highly mobile and “shoot-and-scoot” capability. This allows it to be quickly deployed and fired from a concealed location, minimizing the risk of a counter-strike. The Nasr is capable of carrying a low-yield nuclear warhead, designed to neutralize large concentrations of enemy troops and armored formations on the battlefield. The missile’s small size and short range make it ideal for tactical use. Its low-altitude, quasi-ballistic trajectory makes it extremely difficult for conventional missile defense systems to intercept. The Nasr’s primary purpose is not to strike distant cities, but rather to serve as a battlefield deterrent, signaling that Pakistan is willing and able to use tactical nuclear weapons to prevent a decisive conventional breakthrough by an adversary.
- Type: Tactical Ballistic Missile (TBM)
- Propulsion: Single-stage solid-fuel rocket engine
- Range: 60 to 80 km
- Payload: Low-yield nuclear warhead
- Guidance: Inertial guidance with in-flight maneuvering capability
- Launch Platform: Multi-tube, truck-mounted Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL)
- Length: 6.0 m
- Weight: 1,200 kg
