Babur Cruise Missile - Database

[Arsalan]

Inspired by JF-17 Information pool by ANTIBODY, this is my effort to compile all available useful data on Pakistan's LACM Babur.
This is not for debate and arguments but an effort to concise information under one thread. any information related to missile, of the systems that it works on, such as the engine, the design characteristics, guidance systems etc is welcomed.

A cruise missile is a guided missile able to carry heavy warhead payload to long distances (Beyond the reach of stand-off bombs). Usually powered by a jet engine, these are able to fly at non-ballistic trajectory, under the radar range and able to carry out a pin point strike of targets.

Babur Cruise Missile
In August 2005 Pakistan carried out test of its first cruise missile, named Babur (Hatf VII). Babur is the first ever cruise missile, designed and developed by Pakistani scientist mainly from NESCOM and is able to carry around 450 Kg conventional or nuclear (10 to 30kT) payloads. The first test was of 500 Km range from but a newer version was available in 2007 with an extended range of 700Km. The missile was launched from a land based transporter erector launcher (TEL) and now a multi tube launcher is also available.

The Babur is described as a subsonic, low-level terrain hugging missile, which has the most advanced and modern navigation and guidance system and a high degree of maneuverability. The technology enables the missile to avoid radar detection and penetrate undetected through any hostile defensive system. It is a highly effective and trustworthy weapon due to its extraordinary characteristics.

With the capability of designing and developing Babur cruise missile Pakistan has joined an exclusive group of ten countries that operate cruise missiles, and an even more exclusive group of countries that can develop and manufacture them.

Design:
Babur Missile has a tubular shaped fuselage with a pair of folded wings attached to the middle section and Tail assembly at the rear along with the propulsion system. It is propelled by a Turbo fan engine and has a maximum speed of approximately 880 Km/h (high sub-sonic speed). The missile has a booster rocket provides additional thrust to accelerate the missile away from the launch vehicle and ground. After the launch the middle section flight wings unfold, the booster rocket is jettisoned and the jet engine takes on for the rest of flight path. The air inlet also pops out after launch.

The missile is powered by 700lb thrust engine with a thrust-to-weight ratio of 4.8:1 comprises a single-stage centrifugal compressor, two-stage fan with a two-stage low-pressure booster, a reverse-flow annular combustor with rotary injection, a turbine section with one high-pressure and two low-pressure stages. It uses a special high-density blended aviation turbine fuel that has more energy for a given volume than standard fuels, and can endure harsh weather conditions and long storage periods.

The missile has a high degree of maneuverability and terrain hugging capability, allowing it to "hug" the terrain. Terrain hugging ability helps the missile avoid enemy radar detection by utilizing "terrain masking", giving Babur the capability to penetrate enemy air defense systems undetected and survive until reaching the target. The design is also said to possess stealth features making it difficult for enemy radar to detect and track the missile. Since RAM paint coating is not known to exist with Pakistan Defense forces, it may be assumed that the stealth features refer to use of composites in main fuselage reducing the radar signature. Moreover most of this “Stealth Capability” is attributed to the low level terrain hugging flight parameter. The capabilities can be matched to American forces Tomahawk Missiles.

Guidance:
The Babur's guidance system uses a combination of inertial navigation systems, terrain contour matching (TERCOM), Digital Scene Matching and Area Co-relation (DSMAC) and GPS satellite guidance

It is steered by an inertial navigation system (INS). INS measures every movement of the missile and every change of speed, constantly calculating the missile’s position. It enables the missile to know where it is compared to its launch position all the time, enabling the mission computer to steer the missile to the designated target.

The basic components of an inertial guidance system are gyroscopes, accelerometers, and a computer. The gyroscopes provide fixed reference directions or turning rate measurements, and accelerometers measure changes in the velocity of the system. The computer processes information on changes in direction and acceleration and feeds its results to the vehicle’s navigation system.

Babur is also equipped with Terrain Contour Matching or TERCOM system to further increase the accuracy. TERCOM is an automated navigation system used primarily by an unmanned aerial vehicle such as a long-range cruise missile. The system uses a predefined contour map of the flight path which acts as a comparison master image.

The missile is equipped with a sophisticated radar altimeter which constantly reads the terrain it is crossing and compares the readings to the master image. When deviations are detected, the missile's guidance system makes the necessary corrections to its flight path. This makes extremely accurate navigation and collision avoidance possible. The high degree of accuracy possible in terms of exact altitude above all terrain profiles allows TERCOM-equipped missiles to maintain low altitude flight paths while avoiding obstacles. This ground hugging ability confounds enemy ground radar systems
The missile also has a GPS guidance system.

Launch Platform:
Babur was initially test fired from a single missile TEL but later on multiple tube launch system. The current launch platform is mobile three tube assembly mounted on truck. This motorized 8 x 8 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) is reportedly a Chinese reverse-engineered variants of the Russian MAZ-543TLM vehicle. The TEL has a length of 13.36 meters, width of 3.02 meters, maximum road speed of 55kph, unrefueled range of 650km, and is powered by a 600hp Deutsch diesel engine with all four axles driven. There is a separate 10kW electrical generator to power the missile’s pre-launch operations and two hydraulic pumps to raise the missile canisters to their launch positions before launch. The TEL is supported by four hydraulic jacks during the missile launch.

The missiles are transported on vehicle, carrying four missiles at a time. This is not a launch platform but just a transport vehicle.

History and current Status:
Pakistan have publicly tested the Babur missile 7 times since its existence was announced

August 12, 2005: Pakistan first time successfully test fired Babur cruise missile with a range of 500 km
March 22, 2007: upgraded version with extended range of 700 Km was test fired
July 26, 2007: Test firing of same version
December 11, 2007: Test firing of same version
May 6, 2009: Test firing of same version
October 28, 2011: First test firing from Multiple Tube Missile Launch Vehicle
June 06, 2012: Latest test, validating the Multiple Tube Missile Launch Vehicle

The missile is in production with and is reportedly equipping the 23rd and 26th missile group of PA strategic force.

Future:
It is reported that Pakistan is also working on more advanced variants of the missile with the range extended to 1000 km.
Also a sea launched variant is under development and the French made Agosta submarines and/or the PN probable future QINQ submarines will carry this missile to give Pakistan a second strike capability.

Specs:
Designation: Land Attack Cruise Missile, Medium Range Sub-Sonic Cruise missile
Status: Operational
Length: 7.2 meter (with booster)
Diameter: 0.52 meters
Wing Span: 2.67 meter
Weight: 1500 Kg
Warhead: 450Kg conventional, 10 to 35 kT nuclear
Speed: 880Km/hr.
Propulsion: Turbo Fan engine
Guidance: GPS, INS, TERCOM, DSMAC

Reference:
Online defence security magazine industry military technology news exhibition world land forces*-*Army Recognition
Army Technology
Extrusion Deposition Systems | Emerging Technologies | Extrusion Coating | Automated Optical Inspection Systems| nTact
www.warfare.ru
Pakistan Defence
Military Asia
Written and Compiled by Arsalan Aslam

Babur Specs Chart {Edited by AERONAUT}

Babur - Transportable Land Attack Cruise Missile System

 

[farhan_9909]

any info about the engine?
where was it developed


can somebody post the margalla electronics contribution in the babur cruise missile

thanks

good thread arsalan bhai

 

[Arsalan]

any info about the engine?
where was it developed


can somebody post the margalla electronics contribution in the babur cruise missile

thanks

good thread arsalan bhai

Thanks Dear,
Margalla Electronics is subsidiary of NESCOM and one of the main electronic parts and technology provider to NESCOM, KRL, SUPARCO etc.

it is known to have contributed to electronics of Babur Cruise missile, the INS perhaps. however, what ever they have developed will come under the name of NESCOM generally so that is not highlighted.

for Engine, nothing is available official. however, it is said that the engine was developed with some assistance from China who reverse engineered a Russian Turbo Fab engine for there C-602 but NOTHING is clear and/or confirmed.

as most of Pakistan defense projects, this system, one of our prime defense equipment is kept under strict secrecy and not much is made available to public.

i hope someone can shed some more light on this here.

Regards!

 

[Zarvan]

Inspired by JF-17 Information pool by ANTIBODY, this is my effort to compile all available useful data on Pakistan's LACM Babur.
This is not for debate and arguments but an effort to concise information under one thread. any information related to missile, of the systems that it works on, such as the engine, the design characteristics, guidance systems etc is welcomed.


Written and Compiled by Arsalan Aslam

Pakistan needs to now focus on developing new missiles with longer range and much faster speeds because countries are developing anti missile systems and missiles and to counter than we need increase both range and speed of our missiles and we need Babur or something like Babur for Our Naval use to both for Frigates and Submarines really very soon because our enemies are growing with much faster speed than our Armed Forces

 

[Bratva]

We forgot the tomahawk contribution which was recovered from Baluchistan unscathed. DSMAC and TERCOM combined is not even found in chinese missiles, Correct me if i'm wrong.

I request Arsalan to make this thread generic by including Air launched, ground launched and in future sea launched cruise missile of Pakistan

 

[Bratva]

History and current Status:
Pakistan have publicly tested the Babur missile 7 times since its existence was announced

August 12, 2005: Pakistan first time successfully test fired Babur cruise missile with a range of 500 km

March 22, 2007: upgraded version with extended range of 700 Km was test fired- In this second test, DSMAC was introduced in Babur along with TERCOM. So we can assume DSMAC plus more range was main feature of this test

July 26, 2007: Test firing of same version

December 11, 2007: Test firing of same version

May 6, 2009: Test firing of same version

October 28, 2011: First test firing from Multiple Tube Missile Launch Vehicle

June 06, 2012: Latest test, validating the Multiple Tube Missile Launch Vehicle--

In this test, CEP and the height at which missile flew was revealed. 2 meter(6 feet) CEP and at height of 50 Meter. Main feature of test was, GPS was not used as guidance. So if GPS is used, CEP will become <1M

 

[Windjammer]

The evolution of Babur Cruise Missile has been very progressive indeed.

 

[Arsalan]

Dear Wind Jammer, just for confirmation, this

is not a launch vehicle rather a missile carrier and transport vehicle. this is also based on same motorized 8 x 8 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) that is reportedly a Chinese reverse-engineered variants of the Russian MAZ-543TLM vehicle.

 

[Malik Usman]

I want to ask very important question about Curise Missile's capability......."Terrain Hugging" When we talk about this...is that mean.

That target and flying path is already feeded in the missile's memory and it knows from where to avoid hurdles............???? If it is already feeded then how it will work in Desert Terrain coz in Desert not not remain the same due to winds it change the shape.....i am saying this coz i heard in IRAQ war mostly American Tom Hawks were failed due to Desert Terrain.

Or it is just fired even for targets not known before and missile itself find the way with terrain hugging.????

 

[Arsalan]

We forgot the tomahawk contribution which was recovered from Baluchistan unscathed. DSMAC and TERCOM combined is not even found in chinese missiles, Correct me if i'm wrong.

I request Arsalan to make this thread generic by including Air launched, ground launched and in future sea launched cruise missile of Pakistan

the Tomahawk contribution is not filed with proofs but this is a known fact that some US missile did fell in Pakistani space (6 i remember) and were recovered by Pakistan Army but when returned to US. this is from where the controversy start as some sources claim that all missiles were not returned and some were kept for study, a study that might well have formed the base of Babur missile. the design and the guidance characteristics seem to be the same. Babur do resembles Tomahawk in look as well. So there is a possibility that we might have got some useful information from those missile as well but this is also true that NESCOM and its subsidiaries have invested both time and money heavily in this product and own most of the research work done for babur!

regards!

 

[Last Hope]

Babur GLCM has faced many changes over it's timeline. The changes included the launch, electronics and engine.
If you notice, the change in launch of Babur was first changed to vertical launch and now multi-tube launch which is actually test for naval version of Babur cruise missile.

The myth is actually true and Pakistan is inching towards development of naval cruise missile. All these tests are proof of the development program has gained pace and has positive success.

 

[[--Leo--]]

Babur Cruise Missile Pakistan - YouTube

 

[killerx]

whay not sa stealth version and long range like 1500 km aor 2000 km and F22P should have the capablity to launch 1000km babur cruise missile

 

[Last Hope]

I want to ask very important question about Curise Missile's capability......."Terrain Hugging" When we talk about this...is that mean.

That target and flying path is already feeded in the missile's memory and it knows from where to avoid hurdles............???? If it is already feeded then how it will work in Desert Terrain coz in Desert not not remain the same due to winds it change the shape.....i am saying this coz i heard in IRAQ war mostly American Tom Hawks were failed due to Desert Terrain.

Or it is just fired even for targets not known before and missile itself find the way with terrain hugging.????

Babur is guided with sophisticated systems which form a image of the terrain in the missile and guides it accordingly.

whay not sa stealth version and long range like 1500 km aor 2000 km and F22P should have the capablity to launch 1000km babur cruise missile

Babur is stealth missile and the range is being developed. And sooner or latter a longer-range Babur would be integrated to be launched from frigates.

 

[Windjammer]

Dear Wind Jammer, just for confirmation, this

is not a launch vehicle rather a missile carrier and transport vehicle. this is also based on same motorized 8 x 8 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) that is reportedly a Chinese reverse-engineered variants of the Russian MAZ-543TLM vehicle.

I am well aware of that dear, but from what i understand, it was this transporter profile which led to the multi tube launch vehicle project.