The Babur Cruise Missile is one of the highly advanced cruise missile, origin by Pakistan a medium-range subsonic cruise missile, which is also designated as Hatf-VII. It was first tested in 2005 and entered in service Pakistan Army since 2010, and Pakistan Navy in 2018.
Various test of Babur cruise missile have been tested in last two decades with operational range of Babur-I(700km), Babur-II(750km), Babur-III(450km). But, we'll discuss specifically about Babur-I cruise missile, which is under control by Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC).
Some analyst expert pointed out the resemblance of the missile with Chinese and American designs, namely DH-10 and Tomahawk. The maximum speed of this missile system is 550mph or 987kmh.
What is Cruise Missile?
Basically, cruise missile is a guided missile used against earthbound targets, that remains in the atmosphere and follows a low altitude path just like the curvature of the earth with constant speed. It is designed to target a larger distance object with high precision.
Main Characteristic of Babur Cruise Missile:
- The Babur's guidance system comprises a combination of inertial navigation systems (INS), terrain contour matching (TERCOM) and GPS satellite guidance.
- The updated variant tested on 14 Dec 2016, with upgraded avionics where now the missile is able to accurately hit land and sea based target without the aid of GPS.
- Due to its low altitude flight path, radar can unable to detect this cruise missile system, as it follows the path of curvature of the earth.
- The 6.2 meter-long Babur is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads with capacity of 500kg.
- It can be launched from land or from underwater seaborne platforms.
- The 700kms range would allow the missile to launch within Pakistan's territory and to hit critical target within India. Like, New Delhi is around 430kms away from Lahore, in order to destroy the modernized defense shield of India without crossing the LoC this missile system would surely do.
Structure of Babur:
Now precisely understand the internal structure of Babur Cruise Missile with different components.
Inertial Guidance System:
Inertial guidance system monitors the position, velocity, and acceleration of a system, normally a missile, submarine or air vehicle, also provide the navigational data without communicating the base station. The guidance system reportedly gives the missile pinpoint accuracy.
The guidance system reportedly gives the missile pinpoint perfection.
TERCOM system:
Terrain Contour Matching or TERCOM, is also a navigation system specially used for cruise missile. It holds a control of the missile, lets suppose a missile was launch and you need some changes like the target or more then this system enables you to do it on a required scenario. This all measurement done during the flight.
The terrain ability also helps the missile to avoid enemy radar detection by utilizing "terrain masking" , giving Babur the ability to penetrate enemy air defense systems undetected.
Warhead:
The main component of this missile system is warhead, which is designed to achieve target damage primarily from blast effect.
Jet Engine:
Usually this component determined the range of the missile as it has 700km range, that uses the engine's forward motion to compress incoming air without an axial compressor.
Solid Fuel Rocket Booster:
As by name, this is used to boost the missile for initial launch, it provides extra thrust to accelerate the missile away from the launch vehicle.
Can Babur destroy S-400?
Before getting straight into it, let me add an event: On 7 April 2017, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missile which have been launched from two US Navy warships, USS Ross and USS Porter, from Mediterranean sea into Syria, aimed to hit Shayrat Airbase controlled by the Syrian government, intended to destroy air defenses, aircraft, hangars and fuel.
The strike was implicated under U.S President Donald Trump order, as a response to Khan Shaykhun Chemical Attack that occurred on 4 April. The main reason for discuss this event is to discuss the on field capability of S-400, according to its specification it can able to engage crusie missile system but it failed, although it was not placed in a nearer range but if you study the S-400 missile system you'll surely amazed to know how capable is, but on ground it was not effective as were discussed or mentioned. S-400 Missile System in Detail.
Russian & Western top military analyst, however, the system was position far away from the air base to be effective against the April 7 strike, Pavel Felgen, a Moscow-based military analyst, "They certainly can't hit (intercept cruise missile) at that distance from their location. At the very most, they can defend the nearest approach of the base where they are located," he said.
Actually, S-400 air-defence system are located at Russia's airspace at Latakia and its naval base at Tartus. The attack, which hit the Shayrat air base near Homs more than 75km away from Tartus city and more than 120km from Latakia.
J. Bronk, a military analyst at the London-based think tank Royal United Services Institute, saying that despite the sophistication of the S-400's radar- which covers up to 400km at higher altitudes-the system would encounter problems with targets at low altitudes farther away. "Any rough terrain between the radars and the flight path of the cruise missile will prevent that technology, as in this case at Latakia and Tartus, engaging," said Bronk.
Well, this event raise a serious concern over S-400 performance, as Pakistan's Babur cruise missile is highly efficient as Tomahawk cruise missile, not only Babur Pakistan also have Ra'ad-II Cruise Missile or Ababeel Ballistic Missile which is fully capable to defeat the S-400 defense shield with range of 600km or 2,200km respectively.
Though, there is no doubt about the capability of S-400 Air defense system, but, every door has a key. As Pakistan's perspective I don't think it can cause a bigger damage, with that India's Brahmos missile also able to destroy S-400.
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