Pakistan Missiles - Updates, News & Discussion

[Falcon26]

Do you trust Saudi Arabia of MBS? I don't.

You don’t have to trust them. But right now, they are sitting scared of the potential of similar application of overwhelming force against them. That’s enough.

 

[Rational Philosopher]

As long as we don't do what the Iranians do, i.e. call for Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth over decades, the Israelis have no interest. We don't have any issues with Israel either, save for diplomatic support for the Palestine issue. Most of the world sees Pak nukes in the context of the rivalry with india, and as long as we develop our strategic capability in that regards, no one will care. Diplomatically, we need to make it clear to the Israelis, overtly or covertly, that our nukes are no threat to them.

Somewhat agree. There's a good chance this paranoia just dies down in a few weeks. Iran had explicitly picked a fight with Israel whereas we obviously haven't and all things considered we are too far to do so, especially if Arabs have already normalised with Israel.

 

[Rational Philosopher]

IMO...a fully visible power projection capability is the way forward to prevent such attacks. Basically, a potential adversary's focus (in theory) goes on your projected presence rather than your core.

Put another way, these are the threat scenarios that can open the conversation for overseas bases, SSBN, and aircraft carrier.

But at the same time building a deliberate aggressive posture if you are actually just building deterrence could send the wrong message and have the wrong implications. I also don't know how survivable or even feasible isolated things like overseas bases or aircraft carriers would even be. SSBN is a good idea.

Iran had proxies for example. We saw the outcome there. Isolated few bases or single aircraft carrier won't be enough, more like easy visible targets.

 

[Quwa]

But at the same time building a deliberate aggressive posture if you are actually just building deterrence could send the wrong message and have the wrong implications. I also don't know how survivable or even feasible isolated things like overseas bases or aircraft carriers would even be. SSBN is a good idea.

Iran had proxies for example. We saw the outcome there. Isolated few bases or single aircraft carrier won't be enough, more like easy visible targets.

Exactly. Pakistan's security leadership has finite resources, so if it had to pick one way to project power, it'd be SSBNs.

 

[Dalit]

Absolutely huge lessons for us again another wake up call i would say . India will try to copy recent Israel attack on iran in next conflict against us only firing same or more missile can help us have control of escalation Both quantity and quality should be addressed ASAP.

Now you guys are finally understanding my concern regarding missile development.

 

[Dalit]

Exactly. Pakistan's security leadership has finite resources, so if it had to pick one way to project power, it'd be SSBNs.

Finally. My pleas are being heard.

Number 1 priority for Pakistan should be acquiring SSBNs. A huge lesson in recent conflicts is to be stealthy. The most lethal weapon in existence today are SSBNs mated with nuclear capable missiles.

 

[diaspora]

Do we have any news on the P282 program or are we firmly decided that SMASH and P282 are the same missile.

 

[Watandar]

As long as we don't do what the Iranians do, i.e. call for Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth over decades, the Israelis have no interest. We don't have any issues with Israel either, save for diplomatic support for the Palestine issue. Most of the world sees Pak nukes in the context of the rivalry with india, and as long as we develop our strategic capability in that regards, no one will care. Diplomatically, we need to make it clear to the Israelis, overtly or covertly, that our nukes are no threat to them.

If the West, via Israel, can attack Iran simply on suspicion of developing nukes, then same West/Israel is going to come after Pakistan , a country with nukes and missiles to deliver them. Before Iran, West had attacked Libya and Iraq on same accusations as well.
Pakistani intentions and assurances to Israel will make no difference. People look at capabilities, not intentions and Israeli doctrine is repeated use of overwhelming force to achieve absolute dominance.

With the recent May 2025 war in which India and Israel teamed up to attack Pakistan, I dont even know why people think Pakistan is safe from Western/Israeli threat.

 

[Rational Philosopher]

Do we have any news on the P282 program or are we firmly decided that SMASH and P282 are the same missile.

Apparently the two programs were merged into one so there's no separate P282 anymore. No confirmation officially so we don't know.

 

[Oscar]

Exactly. Pakistan's security leadership has finite resources, so if it had to pick one way to project power, it'd be SSBNs.

Yuan with a larger sail to missile compartment(similar to type 31 or early Xia) as a start.
Limited but operationally effective.

 

[Corax]

If the West, via Israel, can attack Iran simply on suspicion of developing nukes, then same West/Israel is going to come after Pakistan , a country with nukes and missiles to deliver them. Before Iran, West had attacked Libya and Iraq on same accusations as well.
Pakistani intentions and assurances to Israel will make no difference. People look at capabilities, not intentions and Israeli doctrine is repeated use of overwhelming force to achieve absolute dominance.

With the recent May 2025 war in which India and Israel teamed up to attack Pakistan, I dont even know why people think Pakistan is safe from Western/Israeli threat.

If that was the case, Pakistan would have been denuclearised long ago, and not allowed to develop what capacity it has. Like I said, as long as our focus is on India, no one cares. In fact, some may prefer that we have nukes as a counterweight to India.

 

[Falcon26]

If that was the case, Pakistan would have been denuclearised long ago, and not allowed to develop what capacity it has. Like I said, as long as our focus is on India, no one cares. In fact, some may prefer that we have nukes as a counterweight to India.

The notion Pakistan didn’t face the restrictions that Iran faces is just pure diabolical and clear historical revisionism. The Pakistani leadership was very smart in the way they navigated through getting the bomb and were not being reckless like the mullahs of Iran. And there was definitely divine providence that guided them. Every time the Americans wanted to squeeze Pakistan, there would be a geopolitical opening that would render Pakistan indispensable allowing the nuclear program to continue unabated. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, for example.

But Pakistan faced crippling sanctions and had access to nuclear materials severely curtailed. All these nuclear organizations such as the NSG & MTCR, were created specifically to block Pakistan.

People need to read the book The Islamic Bomb to understand this. Pakistan got the bomb despite the best efforts of the West to block it.

 

[Psyko70]

Our focus ? India. But deterrence for everyone.

If that was the case, Pakistan would have been denuclearised long ago, and not allowed to develop what capacity it has. Like I said, as long as our focus is on India, no one cares. In fact, some may prefer that we have nukes as a counterweight to India.

 

[Corax]

The notion Pakistan didn’t face the restrictions that Iran faces is just pure diabolical and clear historical revisionism. The Pakistani leadership was very smart in the way they navigated through getting the bomb and were not being reckless like the mullahs of Iran. And there was definitely divine providence that guided them. Every time the Americans wanted to squeeze Pakistan, there would be a geopolitical opening that would render Pakistan indispensable allowing the nuclear program to continue unabated. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, for example.

But Pakistan faced crippling sanctions and had access to nuclear materials severely curtailed. All these nuclear organizations such as the NSG & MTCR, were created specifically to block Pakistan.

People need to read the book The Islamic Bomb to understand this. Pakistan got the bomb despite the best efforts of the West to block it.

That's just pure luck then, the Pakistani leadership found themselves "useful" during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and aligned with the US again in the WoT, but it's not as if Pakistan didn't pay any heavy price on both occasions. Yeah of course Pakistan was under nuclear sanctions, but it also avoided the crippling sanctions imposed on Iraq, Iran and other countries. But as I said, it avoided any covert and kinetic action against it's nuclear programme for several reasons, not just the Afghan war or WoT. For the US, a part of that was useful counterweight during the cold war against an overtly soviet friendly India, despite it's "non aligned" claims. Even now, the US is ok with keeping that status quo, otherwise the same action they took against Iraq and Iran would have been used against Pakistan.

 

[m52k85]

Missile strategy at long range failed for Iran

It seems like hitting targets very precisely from a very long distance while also having to evade some of the best missile defences ever built is very very difficult.

Some things which could have helped Iran was MIRV missiles, a single missile deploying several warheads + decoys. It would be more economical and allow saturation. And HGV for penetration.

I think to begin with, Pakistan needs a new generation of strategic nuclear deterrence missiles, something akin to the Russian Oreshnik. This will build a strong foundation, aside from conventional means.

Here what I have observed so far. Hitting anything with 'precision' requires 'terminal guidance'. On the other hand 'near-precision' (order of 10ish meters CEP = O(10m) CEP) can be achieved via 'INS/GPS Guidance'. Precision = O(1m) CEP.

Precision --> Terminal Guidance --> Seeker head on missile (any type, passive, actie, semi-active, radar, imaging, IR etc)

The challenge remains for seekers to work with atmospheric re-entry, due to heating up of missile at high speed. That is why all 'mature' technologies to hit with precision are delivered at sub-sonic speed and usually with aircraft.

So you are conflating two things in your post, we must recognise the difference between tactical strikes (Iran) vs strategic strikes (nuclear deterent). Iran chose the wrong medium to deliver conventional deterence, it does not mean "Missile strategy at long range will fail".

Even Russian Oreshnik was not precise, instead they used it to demonstrate penetrative capability meant to bolster their nuclear deterent.