Shaheen-III

The Shaheen-III (شاہین– ۳ ; lit. Falcon), is a land-based medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) operated by the Pakistan Army, which first test-fired the weapon on 9 March 2015. Development began in secrecy in the early 2000s in response to India's Agni-III, Shaheen was successfully tested on 9 March 2015 with a range of 2,750 km (1,710 mi), which enables it to strike all of India and reach deep into the Middle East parts of North Africa. The Shaheen-III, according to its program manager, the Strategic Plans Division, is "18 times faster than speed of sound and designed to reach the Indian islands of Andaman and Nicobar so that India cannot use them as "strategic bases" to establish a second strike capability." The Shaheen program is composed of the solid-fuel system in contrast to the Ghauri program that is primarily based on liquid-fuel system. With the successful launch of the Shaheen-III, it surpasses the range of Shaheen-II— hence, it is the longest-range missile to be launched by the Pakistani military. Its deployment has not been commented by the Pakistani military but Shaheen-III is currently deemed as operational in the strategic command of Pakistan Army.