At the eleventh Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX), Pakistan showcased its new anti-ship missile, Harbah. Pakistani state-owned company Global Industrial Defence Solutions (GIDS) showcased the new anti-ship cruise missile for the first time at an international forum and garnered a lot of attention. Harbah is an “all weather” medium range subsonic cruise missile that is capable of targeting sea and land targets. The maximum range of the missile is approximately around 280 km.
The Harbah is a non-nuclear, fire and forget type of missile and is thought to be derived from the family of Babur missiles. It uses a DSMAC camera and radar and infrared seeker to guide its trajectory. The Harbah has a modular design that allows integration to enhance its operational capabilities.
The indigenous production of the Harbah has bolstered the research and development efforts in the country and enhanced the Navy’s capabilities in a cost-effective manner. The initial test launch was carried out in 2018 in the Arabian Sea and was launched from PNS Himmat, an Azmat class fast attack craft. The initial test fire was conducted soon after the United States under the Trump administration threatened to cut economic aid to Pakistan.
Pakistan’s New Harbah Anti-Ship Missile Showcased At DIMDEX 2022.
🚨Range: 280 Km
🚨Speed: 0.6 – 0.8 Mach
🚨Gross weight: 1.3 tonnes
🚨Diameter: 0.5 meters
🚨Length: 6.8 metersSource NAVAL News pic.twitter.com/UzfKxLURlw
— DefenceXP (@Defence_XP) March 24, 2022
Shortly after the successful launch, the media wing of the armed forces noted that “The successful live weapon firing has once again demonstrated the credible fire power of Pakistan Navy and the impeccable level of indigenization in high tech weaponry achieved by Pakistan’s defense industry”. ISPR further added that “The missile accurately hit its target signifying the impressive capabilities of Harbah Naval Weapon System.” According to the spokesperson of GIDS, currently, the missile is equipped on several naval platforms in the Navy.
The missile has a range of around 280 km and can attain speed up to 0.8 Mach. The gross weight of the missile is approximately 1.3 tonnes and has a diameter and length of 0.5 meters and 6.8 meters, respectively. Pakistan is currently in the process of developing an export variant of the Harbah.
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The Iranian Ministry of Defence also showcased its anti-ship cruise missile, CM-300. The Iranian missile has a maximum range of 300 km and can also be launched from warships and trucks to destroy small to medium-sized naval vessels.
On the sidelines of the DIDMEX 2022, the Qatari Chief of Army Staff met with military leaders, ministers, and ministers of a number of friendly countries. He met with UK Chief of Defence Staffs Senior Adviser to the Middle East and North Africa Air Marshal Martin Sampson; Commander of the French Joint Forces in the Indian Ocean Rear Admiral Jacques Fayard; President of the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries Ismail Demir; Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Gen SM Shafiuddin Ahmed; Director of International Relations at the French Directorate General of Armaments Lt Gen Eng Thierry Carlier; Commander of Defence Support in Korea Lt Gen Lee Sang Jun; and Italian Undersecretary of State for Defence Senator Stefania Pucciarelli. Issues pertaining to defense cooperation were discussed in the meetings.
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