Some ambiguities and dangers exist concerning the under-development Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) for Indian and, of course, Pakistani decision makers in any conflict.
Ankit Panda for The Diplomat (paysite) April 1, 2018 has made some useful points here regarding the second successful flight test of Pakistan's Babur-3 nuclear-capable particularly:
Ankit Panda for The Diplomat (paysite) April 1, 2018 has made some useful points here regarding the second successful flight test of Pakistan's Babur-3 nuclear-capable particularly:
"...The ability of the Babur-3 SLCM to launch from torpedo tubes might allow for demating the delivery system and the warheads dissembled onboard a submarine - an option that is more difficult and usually impossible with vertically loaded cruise missile launchers. Pakistan has not confirmed what sorts of use controls it will use on board its submarines to prevent unauthorized or accidental launches..."
See the full Diplomat (paysite) ARTICLE HERE
PETE COMMENT
Dangers and ambiguities about the Babur-3 include:
1. the Babur-3 can be launched from a mere Pakistani SSK and not from an easily recognisable
nuclear propelled submarine, for which nuclear warhead capability would be assumed.
2. a just fired land attack Babur-3 warhead may be innocuously conventional rather than
Armaggedon nuclear.
3. destruction of a Pakistani SSK might seem to India to be just part of conventional war, but if that
SSK carried nuclear warheads for Babur-3s then the destruction of that SSK may be nuclear war
starting for Pakistan, and
4. if the use-controls on nuclear warheads for Babur-3s are weak the Captain of the SSK that is about
to be destroyed may be inclined to use/fire his nuclear tipped Baburs before he "loses" them.
Submarine Matters has reported on the Hatf-7 (or VII) /Babur cruise missile frequently over the years.
Strategy Page, April 18, 2018 has produced a fine article doubting that Pakistan can develop a viable Babur 3 as an SLCM
ReplyDeletesee "Submarines: Pakistan Pretends" at https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20180418.aspx
which begins "...In March 2018 Pakistan announced another successful test of its Babur 3 cruise missile from an underwater platform. Sometimes described as a submarine launched cruise missile, official announcements from the Pakistani military always mention Babur 3 operating from a “mobile underwater platform” never a submarine. Underwater barges are typically used to test ballistic or cruise missiles designed to be launched from submarines.
It appears Pakistan has got Babur 3 to work when launched from an underwater test barge but not yet (or perhaps ever) from ones of its French designed Agosta submarines. These subs are designed to use underwater launched (from torpedo tubes) Exocet anti-ship missiles. These missiles weight 680 kg (1,500 pounds) and have a max range of 70 kilometers.
Launching a larger (1.5 ton) cruise missile from a submarine involves a different technology and the Americans find it more effective to design their submarines to carry special cells just for launching cruise missiles...."