Babur-Class Cruise Missile

Full Specifications

Babur-Class Cruise Missile

The Babur-Class Cruise Missile, also designated as Hatf‑VII, is Pakistan’s indigenously developed ground- and sea-launched subsonic cruise missile system. Engineered by the National Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM) and the National Defence Complex (NDC), this missile provides Pakistan with a stealthy, low‑altitude, precision-strike capability optimized for strategic deterrence.

Origins, Purpose & Development

First flight‑tested in 2005, the Babur missile entered service around 2010. Its development was motivated by Pakistan’s need for a flexible, survivable strike system that could evade advanced air defenses. Designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads, Babur enhances Pakistan’s second-strike and land-attack options.

Major Capabilities

The Babur is propelled by a turbofan (or turbojet) engine, with a solid-fuel booster for launch. After booster separation, the wings unfold, and the missile cruises at subsonic speeds (~880 km/h, roughly Mach 0.8). Its airframe features a tubular fuselage with folded wings, enabling compact transport.

Guidance is provided by a sophisticated triple‑layer system: inertial navigation (INS), terrain contour matching (TERCOM), and digital scene matching (DSMAC), often complemented by GPS and satellite navigation. This allows the Babur to fly extremely low, hugging terrain to avoid radar detection.

Variants & Operational Use

Multiple variants of Babur exist:

• Babur‑1 / 1A, the original land-launched version with ranges assessed at up to ~700 km by Pakistan, though U.S. assessments have estimated lower ranges.
• Babur‑1B / Weapon System‑1(B), an enhanced-range variant tested by ISPR with claimed range of 700 km and improved avionics.
• Babur‑III, the sea‑launched variant, tested from submarines and offering sub-surface launch capability.

The missile can be armed with either a high‑explosive conventional warhead (~450–500 kg) or a nuclear warhead estimated between 10–35 kilotons. Tasked with land-attack roles, Babur has also been reported in sea-strike configurations.

With its mobile transporter-erector launcher (TEL) system and possible submarine launch, the Babur class contributes significantly to Pakistan’s strategic posture.

Babur-Class Cruise Missile Price

While there is no publicly available unit price for the Babur-class cruise missile on the open U.S. defense market, its highly strategic nature and dual-capable (nuclear / conventional) role suggest it would be classified under restricted technology. Any hypothetical acquisition would likely involve complex export controls, geopolitical scrutiny, and potentially end-use restrictions. As such, no verified U.S. commercial price is publicly documented.

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