The Shaheen-II is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) and a significant advancement in Pakistan’s strategic missile program. Developed by NESCOM, this missile represents a substantial increase in range and technical sophistication compared to its predecessor. With a range of up to 2,000 km, the Shaheen-II can reach targets deep inside India and beyond. The missile is a two-stage, solid-fueled system, a design choice that ensures high operational readiness and reduces its vulnerability to attack on the ground. Its development was a crucial step for Pakistan to achieve a credible long-range nuclear delivery capability. The Shaheen-II’s launch platform is a road-mobile TEL, which, like the Shaheen-I, provides crucial survivability by allowing for dispersal and concealment. The missile’s most notable technical feature is its Re-entry Vehicle (RV) design. Unlike the Shaheen-I, the Shaheen-II’s warhead has moving control fins and small side thrusters that allow it to perform evasive maneuvers during the terminal phase of its flight. This makes it difficult for existing anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems to successfully intercept the warhead. The guidance system is a combination of Inertial and Terminal guidance, which provides a high degree of accuracy with an estimated Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 350 meters. The Shaheen-II’s ability to fly at very high altitudes during its mid-course trajectory and then execute complex maneuvers during re-entry makes it a robust and formidable part of Pakistan’s strategic deterrence.
- Type: Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)
- Propulsion: Two-stage solid-fuel rocket engine
- Range: 1,500 to 2,000 km
- Payload: Up to 1,230 kg, including conventional or nuclear warheads
- Guidance: Inertial and Terminal guidance systems
- Launch Platform: Road-mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL)
- Length: 17.2 m
- Weight: Approximately 23,600 kg
