Ghauri ( missile ) The Hatf 5 " Ghauri " ( ) is a medium - range ballistic missile ( MRBM ) developed by Khan Research Laboratories of Pakistan . The missile uses a single stage liquid fuel rocket motor to carry a payload of 700 kg to a range of 1 , 500 km . Two variants of the Ghauri were produced under the Pakistani missile research and development program and the development of a third was cancelled . The Ghauri - II uses increased motor assembly length and improved propellants for an increased range of . The missile is named after Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri , while the " Hatf " designation originates from the name of the sword or lance of Muhammad . History . The Hatf 5 is believed to be based on North Korea ' s Rodong 1 ( also known as Nodong 1 ) design . According to a Pakistani analyst the original design was flawed and the missile burned up on re - entry during its first test flight . The missile system eventually entered service after being heavily re - engineered by Pakistan ' s NESCOM and National Development Complex research and development organisations . According to the Federation of Atomic Scientists the Hatf 5 " Ghauri " is believed to inherit a warhead spin - up mechanism from the Nodong 1 ) . It is stated that this feature could improve accuracy up to 190 m CEP , although this is still debatable . The mechanism involved using steering vanes to spin the missile after 100 seconds of flight time . After 110 seconds the rocket motor stops and the warhead separates from the rocket motor . The warhead then enters a more stable re - entry trajectory due to the spinning motion . Warhead accuracy would be further enhanced if the Ghauri ' s inertial navigation system is capable of being updated by GPS satellite signals . Liquid fuel ballistic missiles are incapable of storing fuel for any long period of time . The Ghauri requires refuelling for several hours before launch and this makes it vulnerable to a first strike . It is believed that this is why Pakistan has not pursued liquid fuelled missiles other than the Ghauri and Ghauri 2 . It also makes it less likely that the Hatf 5 missiles in Pakistani service would be armed with a nuclear warheads . Although it has been stated that it is capable of being loaded with " all types " of warheads . Pakistan ' s latest solid - fuelled Shaheen 1A is believed to be an alternate missile system for the Hatf 5 " Ghauri " . However it has been stated that the Ghauri has advantages in lower cost than solid fuel missiles . This is advantageous when testing launch and control systems . It has been speculated that the Hatf 5 design may serve as a starting point for a Pakistani space launch vehicle . Operational history . The Ghauri was first test - fired on 6 April 1998 from the Tilla Test - firing Range near Malute , Jhelum , about 76 miles south of the capital Islamabad . It was fired from a mobile launcher and travelled in a flight lasting 9 minutes and 58 seconds . At the time it was stated that the missile hit its designated target in the desert of Balochistan . It has since been revealed that this first test was not a success because the missile burned up during the re - entry phase of its flight . The missile has since been tested in December 2010 and November 2012 . The November 2012 launch was performed by a Strategic Missile Group of the Army Strategic Force Command . The test - flight was monitored by the new Strategic Command and Control Support System ( SCCSS ) and is believed to have been geared towards testing the SCCSS rather than the missile itself . Naming controversy . In February 2006 , the Afghan Karzai regime delivered a complained to Pakistan over naming its lethal ballistic missiles after Afghan kings and rulers ( i . e . Abdali , Ghaznavid and Ghauri ) , arguing that their names should be bracketed with academic , cultural and peace - promoting institutions , not with tools of destruction and killing . However , Pakistan declined to change the missiles ' names stating that these Muslim rulers are considered heroes in Pakistan as well , and naming missiles after them is not controversial .