Shaheen - I The Shaheen - I ( شاهين ) , is a codename of a missile system programme that was developed by the joint venture of NESCOM and the National Defence Complex ( NDC ) . It is dedicated and named after a species of Falcon found in the mountains of Pakistan . The " Shaheen I " is also designated Hatf IV . Both the Shaheen I and Shaheen IA are Pakistan ' s equivalent to the United States Pershing I and Pershing IA series . Description . Shaheen 1 . Shaheen I is a short - range ballistic missile ( SRBM ) with an optimal range of 750 km and propelled by a two stage solid fuel rocket motor . The Shaheen I can deliver either a conventional or a nuclear payload much faster than liquid fuelled missiles such as the Ghauri because it does not need to be fuelled before launch , reducing deployment time significantly . The Shaheen I is believed to be very accurate ; Pakistani military sources state a CEP of 25 to 50 m can be achieved , partly due to a " post - separation attitude correction system . " This system would allow the missile to modify its trajectory , improving accuracy and , along with the stealthy warhead shaping , giving some capability to evade missile defence systems . It is based on terminal guidance system technology , which improves warhead accuracy by firing small thrusters to adjust the warhead ' s trajectory and uses satellite navigation systems to help find the target . Such systems would allow the Shaheen to be used against strategic targets without requiring a nuclear warhead to ensure the target ' s destruction . According to other sources , the CEP of Shaheen I is 200 meters . Shaheen 1A . On 25 April 2012 , Pakistan successfully test - launched an upgraded Shaheen I called Shaheen 1A . The military said in a statement that the Shaheen 1A is a medium - range ballistic missile . It is an improved version of the Shaheen 1 with better accuracy and double the range of its predecessor . The Pakistani military initially did not publicly reveal the range of the missile which lead to media speculation of the true range of the missile . According to a defense analyst in Islamabad , this missile could be equipped with warheads designed to evade missile defense systems . The speed of the Shaheen 1A also provides an extremely high impact speed for nearby targets , enabling it to avoid any anti - ballistic missile defenses that may develop in the immediate region . A western official in Islamabad mentioned that the Shaheen 1A missile seems to have an improved ability to strike at its targets . It also has a more powerful engine , which means that it travels at scramjet speeds and can strike at longer distances than Shaheen - 1 . On 25 April 2012 , the ISPR revealed more information about the missile . The missile weight is approximately 10 , 000 kg , slightly heavier than its predecessor and can carry a single 1000 kg warhead . In addition , the Shaheen IA primarily contains sophisticated automated refueling and advanced stealth technology features that were not present in its previous version to avoid detections from radars . All three Shaheen missiles , Shaheen I , Shaheen 1A and Shaheen II are reportedly equipped with the latest PSAC ( Post - Separation Attitude Correction ) system . This is a unique feature which consists of small thrusters that can adjust the warhead trajectory for greater accuracy and evading anti - ballistic missile defence systems . The features of the missile could also serve as a testbed of features which could be implemented on the yet to be deployed Shaheen III . In stark contrast of the claims made by Pakistani authorities in Islamabad about how Shaheen 1A is an " upgraded " or " improved " version of the preceding missile in the series , the Scientists of the Indian National Institute of Advanced Studies ( NIAS ) that closely monitors the progress of nuclear weapons technology , didn ' t find sufficient amount of upgradation or improvement to merit a new test on its own . This in their opinion was a much anticipated " tit - for - tat " launch . The scientists concluded , “ There are no changes evident in the stage configuration and the main aerodynamic fins at the end of the missile and the exhaust look similar . The overall warhead length is comparable with the other images . . . [ other changes to control and avionics systems ] do not appear to be greatly significant . . . and do not have much impact on the missile range . [ . . ] Our assessment of the range of Shaheen 1 was 673 km for a launch from Islamabad in a south eastern ( Azimuth 135 degrees ) direction with a 1 , 000 kg re - entry vehicle . We do not find any evidence from the image put out by Pakistan to change this assessment . Longer range is however possible if Pakistan has reduced the missile throw - mass to below 1 , 000 kg . ” Only minor change in the missile according to NIAS was a shorter 1 . 6m long re - entry vehicle that was 2 . 3 m in earlier versions . Hatf - IV . On April 10 , 2013 Pakistan conducted a successful launch of intermediate range ballistic missile Hatf - IV ( Shaheen - 1 ) . The Hatf - IV ( Shaheen - 1 ) missile incorporates a series of improvements in range and technical parameters of the existing warhead and is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 900 kilometers . Operational history . The Shaheen I was first test - launched on April 15 , 1999 . Two test - launches of a second version with greater range and improved accuracy were carried out in October 2002 and two more in October 2003 . A batch of Shaheen I missiles , enough to equip one regiment / battery , was handed over to the Pakistan Army in 2003 along with mobile launchers . Another was tested on 8 May 2010 The Shaheen 1A was test fired on 25 April 2012 .