054A/P of Pakistan fires an 8-Mach weapon, making Pakistan the first country in Asia and the world after China and the US to master ship-launched anti-ship ballistic missiles!

According to a report by "Asia Defense and Security" on November 25, the Pakistani Navy successfully test-fired the domestically produced anti-ship ballistic missile SMASH from the fourth 054A/P frigate, Tipu Sultan. This move made Pakistan the first country in South Asia and one of the few countries in the world to master the technology of launching anti-ship ballistic missiles from ships, adding a new player to the competition between China and the US.

The SMASH missile, which the Pakistani side has positioned as an aircraft carrier killer, uses a two-stage solid-fuel rocket engine, with a range covering 700-850 kilometers. During the mid-course, it flies in a ballistic or skip-glide trajectory, and during the terminal phase, its penetration speed exceeds 8 Mach, and it can also perform maneuvering evasive actions, making it extremely difficult for conventional air defense systems to track and lock onto. The 054A/P frigate that carries it is equipped with a large-diameter cold-launch universal vertical launch system, easily accommodating large missiles weighing 16-18 tons. With 32 vertical launch cells, it can conduct saturation attacks, theoretically enabling it to destroy the core ships of India's aircraft carrier battle group.

This is a fatal blow to the Indian Navy. Its aircraft carrier battle group's air defense system is specifically designed to counter cruise missiles, lacking the capability to intercept high-speed, maneuvering ballistic targets. Moreover, it does not have fixed-wing early warning aircraft, relying only on helicopters, which makes it difficult to achieve long-range high-altitude early warning. Once entering the SMASH's range, even if the Indian aircraft carrier deploys a dense defense, it will be at a disadvantage due to the extremely short interception window.

Pakistan has developed an asymmetric deterrence tool by upgrading the 054A/P, overturning the balance of maritime power in South Asia. How do you think India will respond to this maritime deterrence?

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1850089507639308/

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