Pakistan has successfully tested a new SMASH anti-ship ballistic missile.
According to official data, this is the first operational launch of the system from a sea platform, which has become a ‘historic breakthrough’ for the Pakistani navy, reports Defence Blog.
A statement from the Inter-Agency Public Relations Service of the Pakistan Armed Forces emphasized that the SMASH is an indigenous development and is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 8, which is eight times faster than sound. This characteristic makes it a hypersonic weapon system.
The first carriers of the new missile should be Zulfiquar class frigates (F-22P).
The range of the missile is estimated at about 350 kilometers, which makes it possible to attack targets beyond the range of most shipboard air defense systems.
Although detailed technical specifications have not been released, it is known that the SMASH has a solid-fuel engine, satellite-corrected inertial navigation, and an unspecified type of final guidance, probably radar or optoelectronic.
The warhead is optimized to penetrate ship hulls and critical compartments.
