The Baktar-Shikan is an anti-tank guided missile system which pursues the principle of optical aiming, IR tracking, remotely controlled and wire transmitted guidance signals to track and kill enemy armored vehicles. It was first introduced by Pakistan’s Khan Research Laboratories in the late 1990s.
Effective range: 3000-4000m
Speed: 220m/s
Length: 1566mm
Weight: 25kg
Engine: Solid-fuel rocket
Salient Features
* Day & Night Fighting
* Anti ERA Capability
* Quick Reaction Time
* High Hit Probability
* Anti-Jamming Capability
* Easy Operation & Maintenance
The System and Missile
The Baktar Shikan anti-tank weapon system is composed of four main sub-units. The encased missile, tripod, goniometer, and control box all of which combined weighing not more than 25 kg, designed to make the system highly man portable. The missile of the Baktar Shikan anti-tank weapon system comes in two types of warheads, the standard and the tandem warhead. Tandem warhead is effective against most of the explosive reactive and spaced armors presently being used. The addition of a smaller warhead ensures destruction of protective Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and thus resulting in effective penetration of the main armor of the target by main warhead. An indoor training simulator is also available with Baktar-Shikan. It is an exact replica of the weapon and is used to train operators by simulating various target speeds, ranges, and angles.
Effectiveness
Its long range, penetration power and a powerful anti-jamming capability forms a potent weapon system available for use against armored targets. This was proven soon after its introduction, when some earlier version of Baktar Shikan missiles were handed over to the Bosnian forces to use against the Serbia Army in the early 1990s. The combat results showed that the missile had no difficulty in penetrating the front armor of the Serbia’s 3rd generation M-84 main battle tanks.
It has been exported to multiple countries, most notable users being the Malaysians, Bangladeshis and more recently it has also been seen being seeing action in the Syrian civil war. The export version is credited to destroy all currently hit tank targets with a 90% hit and penetration probability at 3 km (With in the conflicts they were used). According to SIPRI, till 2015, Pakistan has produced 22,850 Baktar-Shikan missiles.
Flexibility
The system is quite flexible in design, as it can be equipped with other western detection and tracking systems. Meanwhile there are a few separate variants of the ATGM launcher which can fire other ATGMs for example the TOW ATGMs. Baktar-Shikan can also be easily mounted on armored personnel carriers (APCs) jeeps or any other vehicles making them an ideal weapon of choice to be attached on many Pakistan’s armored vehicles. Using a modified air-launched variant it can also be mounted on attack helicopters gunships and other helicopters.
Long Live Pakistan
Follow us on Twitter: @ForumStrategic
Follow us on Instagram: strategic_pak
Follow us on Reddit: r/PakStrategic
#BlitzFalcon
#TeamPakistanStrategicForum
