Pak missiles not indigenous

BEIJING, July 25: Pakistan's recently developed missiles -- surface-to-air missile Anza and anti-tank guided missile Baktar Shikan -- which...

BEIJING, July 25: Pakistan8217;s recently developed missiles 8212; surface-to-air missile Anza and anti-tank guided missile Baktar Shikan 8212; which it claims were produced indigenously, bear an uncanny similarity to their Chinese variants, defence analysts have said.

8220;There is no doubt that the basic design of the missile originated in China,8221; analysts said, despite uncertainty over whether Islamabad test-fired the Anza MkI surface-to-air missiles or the improved Anza MkII Sam on Wednesday.

8220;We are not surprised over the latest revelations as Pakistan has been depending on Chinese systems for inspiration in recent years to enhance its ability to produce indigenously tactical missiles and rockets,8221; they said reacting to Pakistan8217;s claims to have test-fired the 8220;indigenously8221; developed missiles.

The Anza MkI Sam was similar to the China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation CPMIEC Hn-5 series of manportable shoulder launched Sams, developed some time ago by Beijing, analysts said, while its improved version, the Anza MkII Sam, resembled the Chinese CPMIEC GW-1 vanguard Sam system, first unveiled in 1994.

Similarly, Pakistan8217;s latest anti-tank missile claimed to have been developed by Dr AQ Khan Research Laboratories, was in many respects identical to the China North Industries Corporation Norinco Red Arraw 8 Anti-Tank Guided Weapon ATGW, produced in 1987.

Pakistan said it had successfully test fired two missiles Anza and Baktar Shikan from Nawshera firing range 100 kms north of Islamabad close on the heels of test firing of its surface-to-surface Hatf-III8221; missiles with a range of nearly 800 km, bringing major north-western Indian cities, including Delhi, within its reach.

Like the more recent Anza MkII, the earlier model consists of a missile in a sealed launch tube, a re-usable firing unit and a thermal battery attached to the gripstock firing unit to provide power, defence analysts said.

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Once the missile leaves the launch tube, the main motor cuts in and carries the homing missile to the target.

In case, the missile does not come within effective range of the high-explosive warhead, a self-destruct device is activated automatically, they said.

Like all first-generation man-portable Sams, the Anza MkI, with a range of 4.2 kms, homes onto the heat emitted by a target8217;s engine and is, therefore, most effective against aircraft from behind, analysts said.

The Anza MkII surface-to-air missile, although an improved version of the earlier Anza MkI, is however, a more effective missile system capable of carrying high explosives, they said.