July 12,
2008: Ballistic missiles are becoming
more common, and more effective, because of cheaper and more reliable
technology. Last year, over a hundred ballistic missile tests were conducted
worldwide, most of them by nations other than the two (the U.S. and Russia) who
had long dominated the field. These days, the missile tests are more likely to
be conducted by Iran, India, North
Korea, Pakistan and China.
Most of
the proliferation comes from sales of Russian missile technology. That's how North Korea got its start, and
North Korea has since become a major exporter of ballistic missile technology
to anyone who can pay cash. China has exported much of its Russian origin
missile technology. Pakistan has taken this assistance and developed a line of
missiles that are pretty typical of what's out there.
The seven
missiles of the Pakistani Hatf series were all developed in the last twenty
years. The smallest of these is the 1.5 ton Hatf I, which appeared in 1989, has
a range of 80 kilometers and a half ton warhead. Also showing up in 1989, the
2.5 ton Hatf II has a range of 180 kilometers, and also carries a half ton
warhead. The four ton Hatf III has a range of some 300 kilometers and also
carries a half ton warhead. The Hatf IV, weighing 9.5 tons, and carrying a one
ton warhead, has a range of 700 kilometers. The sixteen ton Hatf V is the only
remaining liquid fuel missile in service. First tested in 1998, it has a range
of some 2,000 kilometers and carries a .7 ton warhead. However, this missile
will probably be quickly replaced by the Hatf VI. This missile was first publicly displayed in 2000, but has
required many years of further development. Finally, the 1.5 ton Haft VII is a
cruise missile, with a range of 700 kilometers. This system was first tested in
2005.
Pakistan
has imported a lot of Chinese and North Korean missile technology, and has
bought missile components from both countries. Pakistani nuclear weapons, and
ballistic missiles that can get past any Indian defenses, are seen as the
ultimate guarantee that Pakistan will not be conquered by India. Many countries see possession of ballistic
missiles, armed with nuclear warheads, as the ultimate guarantor of their
independence, or a powerful tool for forcing neighbors to pay attention and
obey. Even with the growing availability of effective anti-missiles missiles
(from the U.S., Russia and Israel), ballistic missiles can still get through if
you can fire enough of them in a short time.
