Pakistan test-fires surface-to-air missile

Pakistan on Tuesday conducted a surface-to-air missile test, its second such drill in four days in a bid to add "offensive punch" to its forces, according to the navy.

A guided missile destroyer carried out the firing of a surface-to-air missile and scored a "direct hit", said a statement .
The navy described its anti-air warfare capability as another manifestation of its offensive punch.

The surface-to-air missile that was fired is capable of intercepting targets at extremely high speeds. It is a "fully automated system which can track and engage even very small targets", the statement said without giving details.

On March 12, the Pakistan Navy conducted a major firepower drill in the north Arabian Sea to "send a message of deterrence to anyone harbouring nefarious designs" against the country.

Warships, submarines and aircraft carried out the "successful firing of a variety of missiles and torpedoes" during the drill.  

Newly inducted weapon systems, including anti-surface missiles on Chinese-made F-22 P frigates and air-to-surface missiles of P3C maritime surveillance aircraft, were among those tested in the drill.

Today's firing was witnessed by the Pakistan Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Tanveer Faiz.