Pakistan has unveiled its latest hypersonic missile system, named SMASH, at the World Defense Show 2026 currently underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The missile has been introduced by Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS), Pakistan’s state-owned defence manufacturing organisation.According to officials, the SMASH missile has been designed as a dual-role weapon, capable of striking both naval and land-based targets, making it a versatile addition to Pakistan’s missile arsenal.
The system is intended to meet the growing demand for long-range, high-precision strike capabilities in complex and contested environments.In its anti-ship configuration, the SMASH missile has an operational range of 290 kilometres.
It carries a 384-kilogram warhead and is equipped with an HD-GNSS-assisted inertial navigation system, complemented by an active radar seeker. This guidance setup enables the missile to accurately track and engage moving maritime targets, even in challenging conditions.
The missile has been engineered to approach its target from a steep, near-vertical angle, a feature that significantly enhances its ability to evade modern air and missile defence systems. Company representatives stated that SMASH combines very high speed, precision guidance, and advanced manoeuvrability, increasing its survivability against layered defensive networks.Powered by a single-stage, dual-thrust solid rocket motor, the missile reportedly achieves speeds of over Mach 2 during its terminal phase.
GIDS claims the missile’s circular error probable (CEP)—a measure of accuracy—is 10 metres or less in its naval strike mode, highlighting its precision strike capability.In addition to its maritime role, SMASH has also been configured for land-attack missions. While the range remains the same at 290 kilometres, the land-attack variant is equipped with a heavier 444-kilogram warhead. This version relies on the HD-GNSS-assisted inertial navigation system for guidance and does not employ an active radar seeker.Despite the heavier payload, the land-attack variant maintains impressive performance characteristics.
It uses the same single-stage dual-thrust rocket motor, reaches speeds exceeding Mach 2, and offers an accuracy level of 15 metres or less, according to the manufacturerGIDS emphasised that the missile’s dual-role design allows a single platform to be used for both maritime and land-based operations.
This approach simplifies logistics, reduces operational costs, and enhances flexibility for armed forces by minimizing the need for multiple specialized missile systems.Defence analysts attending the exhibition noted that demand for long-range, precision-guided weapons is increasing across the Middle East and other regions, driven by evolving security challenges and rapidly changing threat environments.
In this context, SMASH is being marketed as an effective solution capable of operating in highly contested and volatile theatres.The unveiling of the SMASH missile at an international defence exhibition underscores Pakistan’s continued efforts to advance its indigenous defence technology and expand its presence in the global defence market.
