Missile Babur

Development of the Babur began in 1998 following the recovery of unexploded BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles. The system was designed to penetrate integrated missile defense programs through low-altitude flight and terrain avoidance.

The Babur is a subsonic cruise missile featuring a tubular fuselage, mid-body folding wings, and a rear empennage. It utilizes a solid-propellant booster for initial acceleration, after which the booster is jettisoned and a turbojet engine sustains flight. The missile is capable of carrying both conventional high-explosive and nuclear warheads, with nuclear yields ranging from 5 to 12 kilotons. Guidance is provided by a combination of inertial navigation systems (INS), terrain contour matching (TERCOM), Digital Scene Matching Area Co-relation (DSMAC), and satellite-based systems including GPS and GLONASS. Future software updates are intended to include GALILEO and BeiDou navigation support. The system utilizes terrain masking to evade radar detection. Ground-based variants are launched from mobile transporter erector launchers or multi-tube missile launch vehicles. Submarine-launched variants are designed for horizontal cold launch through torpedo tubes on modified Agosta-90B class vessels.

The missile entered service with the Pakistan Army in 2010 and the Pakistan Navy in 2018. It is operated by the Army Strategic Forces and the Navy Strategic Forces. The system has undergone multiple test cycles since 2005 to validate upgrades in avionics, navigation, and sea-strike capabilities. Known variants include the land-based Babur-I and Babur-II, as well as the Babur-III, which provides a sea-based second-strike capability. The Harbah is a non-nuclear anti-ship variant of the system. There are no recorded instances of combat use.