Hatf-V Ghauri
The Hatf-VGhauri (right) inKarachi,ca. 2008
Type	MRBM[1]
Place of origin	Pakistan
Service history
In service	2003–present
Used by	Pakistan Army (Army Strategic Forces Command)
Production history
Designer	Khan Research Laboratories (KRL)
Designed	1994–2001
Manufacturer	Khan Research Laboratories
No. built	30 (estimated 2021)[2]
Variants	Ghauri-II,Ghauri-III
Specifications (Technical data)
Mass	15,850 kg (34,940 lb)
Length	15.90 m (52.2 ft)
Diameter	1.35 m (4.4 ft)
Maximum firing range	1,500 km (930 mi)
Warhead	HE/NE
Warhead weight	750 kg (1,650 lb)
Blast yield	12kilotons of TNT (50 TJ)—35kilotons of TNT (150 TJ)[3]
Engine	Single Stage
Payload capacity	760 kg (1,680 lb)–1,158 kg (2,553 lb)[1]
Transmission	Manual
Suspension	Atego x8WDsemi-trailer (with Pakistani military markings)
Propellant	Liquid-propellant Fuel: TM-185 (20% Gasoline 80%Kerosene)[1] Oxidizer: AK-27I (73%HNO3, 27%N2O4)[1]
Fuel capacity	12,912 kg (28,466 lb)[1]
Operational range	1,350–1,500 kilometres (840–930 mi)[1]
Flight altitude	350 km (220 mi) reached in first test flight
Guidance system	Inertial,Terminal
Accuracy	190 m (620 ft)CEP: 182 [4][1]
Launch platform	Launch pad

TheGhauri–I (Urdu:غوری-ا; military designation:Hatf–V,Trans.:Target-5) is aland-basedmedium-range ballistic missile, in currentservice with thestrategic command of thePakistan Army.^[5]

Influenced from thepropellent design ofNodong-1 ofNorth Korea, its extensive modification, warhead design and assembly, andengineering of its control system took place inKhan Research Laboratories (KRL) in 1994–2001 with an objective of developing anelectronic system that uses asingle stageliquid fuelrocket motor to carry a payload of 700 kg to a range of 1,500 km.^[6][7] This range is applicable to address Pakistan'snuclear deterrence againstIndia, if not all of India.

Codenamed asGhauri, the missile was developed in as part of the secretiveHatf program that started in 1987.^[8] The program later evolved into the development of now cancelledGhauri-III and theGhauri-II which uses increased motor assembly length and improved propellants for an increased range of 2,300 km (1,400 mi).^[9]

TheGhauri is deployed in theASFC with using the "Hatf-V" military designation which means "Target-5".^[10]

Upon its development, the missile was named after the 12th century SultanShahabuddin Ghauri, by a senior scientist who worked on the program with a keen interest inmedieval history— this codename was approved by the Prime MinisterBenazir Bhutto in 1994.^[11]Sultan Muhammad Ghauri, who successfully campaigned in thenorthwestern region of India between 1176 and 1182, but was defeated in his first battle innorthern India byIndian KingPrithviraj Chauhan; but Ghauri returned in June 1192 when he defeated Prithviraj. He captured Delhi in 1199, but established his kingdom formally in 1206.^[11]

However, theJS HQ has officially codenamed the missile "Hatf–5 (Ghauri–I); the Hatf codename originates from the name of thesword or lance ofMuhammad.^[10]

According to theAmerican intelligence estimates in 1999, theGhauri–I is influenced and its design development is based on theNodong-1 (a copy of former SovietScud) missile ofNorth Korea.^[12] Development ofGhauri was a source of contention and controversy betweenPakistan and the United States withClinton administration publicly leveling serious allegations on the Benazir Bhutto'sfederal ministry of transferring nuclear technology in 1996.^[12] Later, Japan intervened in this matter, pressuredSharif administration to cut ties with North Korea in 1999.^{: 245 [13]}

There were many conflicting stories until 2012 when official documentation was published in a text about North Korea's contribution.^{: 240 [13]} Before 2012, many in Pakistan and the United States had alleged that thetechnology transfer took place in 1993 in return of the instructions onenrichment methods foruranium^[14] Not much has been publicized as controversy surrounds the claim that North Koreannuclear program was well advanced before the instructions onenrichment methodsuranium were provided.^[15]

It is now well documented by the Pakistani military admissions that thefinance ministry underBenazir Bhutto's administration had paid stacks of cash through itsState Bank to North Korea asPresidentKim Il Sung was only interested in monetary values rather than technological barter trade.^{: 244–245 [13]} After the transaction, the North Korean scientists and engineers were then sent to Pakistan to teachaerospace engineering at Pakistani universities in 1993.^{: 245 [13]}

Much of the engineering data forGhauri comes from the former Soviet Scud technology, compiled by the American think tanks.^[16] The mechanism of North Korean'sNodong-1 is copied from the Soviet Scud specification to compare withGhauri.^[16] The Khan Research Laboratories designed the warhead for theGhauri and no official information is available due to Pakistani government classifying its data asTop Secret (TS confidentiality), aside from speculations from independent and outside sources.^[16]

According to the official Pakistani military reports, the original design of the missile was flawed and the missile's frontalconicnose section material burned up due to generatedshock waves andhypersonic effect onre-entry during its first test flight in 1998.^[17] Highstress andhigh temperature shift caused the material to melt during there-entry while its vintageelectronic systems,engine system, andpropellant had to be replaced.^[17] The first design ofGhauri was built under the watchful guidance of North Koreans based on their specification but the Koreans were immediately sent back by Sharif administration after the failure of the system was identified.^{: 245 [13]} Eventually, theconicnose section was redesigned by rounding the cone which allowed the missile to travel fromsubsonicflow tosupersonic flow.^[17] TheKRL, now forced to collaborate withNESCOM (NDC), engaged in heavyreengineering of much of itscontrols and electronics system.^[17] Due to lack of experience at KRL^{: 248 [13]} it took years of expensivetrials and errors to makeGhauri nuclear weapons delivery capable, and it was not until 2003 whenGhauri was finally capable of military deployment.^[18]

Theliquid fuel systems are incapable of storing fuel for any long period of time– theGhauri–I requires fueling for several hours before launch, making it vulnerable to afirst strike the standing enemy.^[17] Noting this constraint, the Pakistani war strategists have not pursued liquid fuel systems other than theGhauri–I andGhauri-II.^[19]

TheGhauri-I is anuclear weapon-delivery capable missile which has been stated by the Pakistani military that it is also capable of being loaded with "all types" of warheads.^[20] Contrast to theShaheen program that went under the joint conjecture of Pakistan'sAir Force and theArmy, the Ghauri program was designed for thePakistan Army which was setting to accuracy goal for a highly accurate missile designed to strike high-value targets.^[19]

In 2004, there was a strong lobby within the engineering community to makeGhauri feasible as alaunch vehicle for satellites.^[19]

TheGhauri–I was first test fired at 7:25hrs on 6 April 1998 from theMashhood Test Firing Range near Malute,Jhelum Cantt which is about 76 mi (122.31 km) south of theIslamabad.^[21] It was fired from atransporter erector launcher and traveled 1,100 km (680 mi) in a flight lasting 9 minutes and 58 seconds.^[22] It climbed to a height of 350 km before turning in the direction of its planned impact area in the desert of Balochistan where it hit the designated target at 7:33hrs.^[22] At the time, Pakistani military's information source, theISPR stated that the missile hit its designated target in the desert ofBalochistan.^[22]

OfficialPakistani military reports revealed that the first test was not successful because the missile's conicnose melted due to tremendous amount of heat during the re-entry phase of its flight.^[19] Failure ofGhauri-I was a huge disappointment for the military and the Sharif administration; angrily, Sharif administration decided to cut off the North Korean connections and sent its engineers back to North Korea.^{: 248 [13]} After redesigningits warhead by rounding it to avoid thehypersonic effect but traveling fromsubsonic tosupersonic flow,Ghauri–I was successfully test fired for second time as then-Prime MinisterZafarullah Jamali witnessed the test in 2004 — at least six years since its first failed flight.^[23][24][18]

On 21 December 2010, theGhauri–I was again successfully test fired for a third time.^[25][26] On 12 November 2012, theGhauri–I was successfully test fired for a fourth occasion by the Strategic Missile Group of theArmy Strategic Force Command.^[27] The test-flight was monitored by the new Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS) and is believed to have been geared towards testing the SCCSS rather than the missile itself.^[17]

On 15 April 2015,Ghauri-I was again test fired fromMashhood Test Firing Range.^[5][28]

BesidesHatf-I, theGhauri missile is the only system that is transported through separate8WDsemi-trailer mounted on theMercedes-Benz Atego truck, with visible Pakistani military markings.^[28]

• 
  The design concept and mockup ofGhauri–I system at thePakistan Army Museum.
• 
  Diagram of the North Korean Nodong-1 ballistic missile
• 
  TheAtego truck, with visible Pakistani military markings (seen in left), is atransporter vehicle ofGhauri, ca.2008.

• Nodong-1
• Ballistic missile
• Liquid fuel rocket

Related developments

• Ghauri-II
• Ghauri-III

Related lists

• List of missiles

• CSIS Missile Threat – Hatf 5
• FAS.org article – Hatf-5
• DefenceJournal.com article – Pakistani Missile TechnologyArchived 2 November 2015 at theWayback Machine
• FAS.org – Pakistan test-fires Ghauri missileArchived 8 March 2016 at theWayback Machine

• North Korea–Pakistan relations
• 1998 in spaceflight
• Medium-range ballistic missiles of Pakistan
• Military equipment introduced in the 2000s
• 2003 in spaceflight
• Nuclear missiles of Pakistan

• All articles with dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from May 2022
• Articles with permanently dead external links
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from August 2020
• Articles containing Urdu-language text
• Webarchive template wayback links