On 04 November, the Pakistan Navy (PN) announced that it test-fired an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) with a range of 350 km. Based on the video footage released by the PN, the ASBM is called the ‘SMASH’ (possibly an acronym for ‘Supersonic Missile Anti-SHip’).
The same video footage also indicates that the PN launched the SMASH ASBM from a Zulfiquar-class (F-22P) multi-mission frigate, of which the PN operates four ships.
It is not known if the SMASH is related to the P282, which the PN leadership first revealed in 2020 as a ‘hypersonic’ solution. Previously, SMASH seemed to be a supersonic-cruising anti-ship missile (AShM), similar to the CM-302 or BrahMos, for example. It is worth noting, however, that the PN recently inducted CM-302; these are being deployed from its Tughril-class (Type 054A/P) frigates.
With the introduction of the SMASH, it is clear that Pakistan is building an inventory of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) for conventional – i.e., non-nuclear – strike roles.
On land, the Pakistan Army (PA) introduced a new family of SRBMs under the “Fatah” banner. In January 2024, the PA tested the Fatah-2, which boasted a stated range of 400 km. This will be followed by 450 km and 700 km variants called the Fatah-3 and Fatah-4, respectively.
At sea, the PN has begun deploying the SMASH. It is possible, if not likely, that the SMASH draws on the Fatah-2’s technology.
As with the majority of Pakistan’s cruise missile and ballistic missile programs, the R&D bureau behind the SMASH is likely the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM).
NESCOM developed the Fatah-series. The evidence for this is the fact that Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS), which is the sales and marketing representative of NESCOM, is promoting the Fatah-line for export, alongside other NESCOM products, like the Harbah ASCM and Taimur air-launched cruise missile (ALCM).
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