Designed and developed by the National Engineering & Scientific Commission, the Shaheen-II provides long-range nuclear weapons delivery, and is described by the Pakistani military as a "highly capable missile which fully meets Pakistan's strategic needs towards maintenance of desired deterrence stability in the region."[2][3][4]
To Indian defense observers, Shaheen-II is seen as the "backbone of Pakistan's survivability with ground-based second strike capability."[6]
Re-entry design
The re-entry vehicle carried by the Shaheen-II missile has a mass of between 700kg (1,500lb)—1,250kg (2,760lb), which includes the mass of a nuclear warhead and a terminal guidance system.[8]
Much of its engineering data, that is acceptable for public release, is provided by the Pakistani military and compiled by the American independent think tanks.[9][10][dubious–discuss] This re-entry vehicle is unlike that of the Shaheen I in that it has four moving delta control fins at the rear and small solid-liquid-propellant side thrust motors, which are used to orient the re-entry vehicle after the booster stage is depleted or before re-entry to improve accuracy by providing stabilization during the terminal phase.[11] This can also be used to fly evasive manoeuvres, making it problematic for existing anti-ballistic missile countermeasures to successfully intercept the missile.[11] The Shaheen II warhead may change its trajectory several times during re-entry and during the terminal phase, effectively preventing radar systems from pre-calculating intercept points.[11]
Due to Pakistan's engineering feat, the American sources leveled serious allegations against China, and often compares the missile to the Chinese DF-11 or DF-25.[14][8] The Pakistani government has consistently refuted claims of Chinese assistance, maintaining that the Shaheen-II was an indigenous design from 2000. An extensive series of trials and error led to its final deployment in 2014, with the secrecy of the programme preserved through domestic development.:241[12] Further evidence provided through a press video shown by its designing contractor, NESCOM, at the IDEAS conference in 2004, the missile can achieve "surgical precision".[11] Between 2004–2010, Pakistani contractors committed to series of testing of the Shaheen-II that included its engine, propellent, on-board computers, programming, and vehicle testing.:241–242[12]
The re-entry vehicle is also stated to utilize a GPS satellite guidance system to provide updates on its position, further improving its accuracy and reducing the CEP to 200m (660ft)—300m (980ft).:241[12][15][10][dubious–discuss] This has led to speculation that Shaheen-II incorporates a satellite navigation update system and/or a post separation attitude correction system to provide terminal course correction, which "may indicate a CEP of much less than 300m (980ft)."[11] According to King's College London, "the current capability of Pakistani missiles is built around radar seekers."[11][16]
