By Martin Sieff Mar 31, 2006, 15:57 GMT
Pakistan is developing its Barbar cruise missile into a cheap, reliable, strategic nuclear delivery vehicle, StrategyPage.com reported Saturday.
StrategyPage.com noted that Islamabad has successfully conducted a second test of the Barbur cruise missile. The 1.5 ton, 22 foot long missile has a range of 300 miles and appears capable of carrying a 500-pound warhead and the Pakistanis are already working on a nuclear weapon that would fit in it, the Web site said.
The Barbur uses GPS guidance, and the Pakistanis say it has stealth features, StrategyPage.com said.
Cruise missiles are low tech compared to ballistic missiles and GPS makes it easy to equip the missile with a highly accurate, and inexpensive, guidance system. Since the missiles fly low, they are hard to spot with radar. Stealthiness makes the missile even more difficult for radar to pick up and it can be added by using the right materials, and shape, for the missile, the Web site said.
Cruise missiles are also a lot cheaper than ballistic missiles, costing about one fifth as much as a ballistic missile with the same range and payload, it said.
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