NahnCee #24
As of a few years ago,here is what they had:
The majority of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent is still carried in aircraft. #’s 16 and 25 Squadrons are equipped with Chinese
A-5 strike aircraft in the nuclear role. They are based at PAFB Peshawar.
#’s 5, 7,8, and 22 Squadrons are equipped with variants of Mirage which may be nuclear capable.
7, 8, and 22 are based at PAFB Masroor near Karachi.
5 is based at PAFB Rafiqui near Shorkot.
#’s 9 and 11 Squadrons are equipped with F-16′s, which can be used in a nuclear strike role. They are based at PAFB
Sargodha, near the city of Sargodha. The base is also home to the Central Ammunition Depot, which has a major role in
storage of Pakistani nuclear weapons and missiles. The missiles may be stored:
Indian intelligence agencies are reported to believe that the missiles are stored in a sub-depot near the Central Ammunition
Depot at Sargodha on Kirana Hills [at 31°57'N 72°43'E] near Lahore. The Pakistani military has constructed storage sheds
for the missiles and mobile launchers, as well as related maintenance facilities and housing for launch crews. Reportedly
soldiers have also been sighted practicing simulated launches with advice from visiting Chinese experts.
Similar dating on the missile data:
Shaheen missile derived from the PRC M-11 300 km range 500kg payload first launched 15 April 1999 IOC 1995? ~34-80? in inventory.
Shaheen-II derived from the PRC M-18 2,000 km range first launched 09 March 2004 in inventory unknown #
Ghauri derived from DPRK ND-1 1,350-1,500km range 700 kg payload first launched 06 April 1998 IOC 1998? in inventory unknown #
Ghauri-III derived from DPRK TD-1 2,500 km range may be operational soon
Tipu derived from DPRK TD-2 4,000 km range may be operational soon
PRC = Peoples Republic of China
DPRK = Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.
Most new Pakistani missiles are modified North Korean No-Dong and Taepo-Dong missiles.
I believe the last test detonations were in 1998. At the turn of the century, it was estimated that Pakistan had up to 48 HEU implosion devices ranging from 9-12 KT. I assume that production has continued and based on production rates in the 1990′s they would have another 16 devices. However, it is possible that more centrifuges are now operational which would increase the production rate.
Not all the missiles are carrying nuclear warheads, and not all the aircraft are standing hot alert. They don’t have enough nuclear weapons for all of them.
Keep in mind, that these are based on open sources, and may not be totally accurate.
Subotai Bahadur
