Pakistan unveiled the SMASH hypersonic missile for attacking sea and land targets.
Pakistani company Global Industrial & Defence Solutions unveiled a hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile at the 2026 World Defence Exhibition in Riyadh. rocket SMASH, positioning it as a dual-use system for striking maritime targets and engaging land targets. The presentation reflects the growing regional demand for precision-guided weapon long-range, capable of penetrating modern air and missile defense systems.
On November 27, 2025, the Pakistan Navy successfully tested the P-282 SMASH ship-launched ballistic missile from a Zulfiqar-class frigate. As TurDef reported:
The Pakistan Navy successfully tested the P-282 SMASH anti-ship ballistic missile (ASM) against a target ship. The missile, launched from a Chinese-built Zulfiqar-class frigate (Type 053H3), successfully hit the target ship at sea.
The P-282 SMASH represents a rather unique approach to anti-ship missiles due to its ballistic nature, clearly influencing Chinese technology. Although larger than a typical anti-ship cruise missile such as the RGM-84 Harpoon, it meets the dimensional requirements for deployment on board most corvette and frigate-class ships with a displacement of 2,000 tons or more.
The P-282 SMASH boasts high speed and high ship-kill potential thanks to its near-vertical approach, while anti-ship cruise missiles typically strike broadsides. However, maintaining reliable guidance requires constant target position information mid-course.
At the World Defence Show 2026, Global Industrial & Defence Solutions showcased the SMASH system, which the company describes as a hypersonic ballistic missile designed to strike both maritime surface targets and land-based targets. The presentation of the new weapon emphasizes its combination of high speed, precision guidance before impact, and a near-vertical attack profile—characteristics that are claimed to enhance survivability against proposed defensive measures while allowing it to engage a wide range of targets at sea or on land.
The system, unveiled in Riyadh among a growing number of long-range precision strike solutions, was showcased to delegations increasingly prioritizing coastal defense, sea-denial, and the ability to hold critical infrastructure at risk at long ranges.
The anti-ship version of the missile, with a launch weight of 1800 kg, has a range of 290 kilometers. It is armed with a non-detachable high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 384 kilograms. The guidance system is based on inertial navigation, which the manufacturer calls GPS-assisted, combined with an active radar homing head. The propulsion system is a single-stage solid-fuel rocket motor with dual thrust (dual-pulse) – boost and sustainer. The circular error probable (CEP) is 10 meters or less, the velocity at the end of the OUT is 1500 m/s (Mach 5), and the speed at the COC is just over Mach 2 (670 m/s).
In operational terms, the combination of inertial navigation with an active radar homing head provides a sequence of actions in which mid-course flight can be stabilized and protected from external interference until the target is acquired, allowing the detection of radio-contrast targets on the sea surface, including maneuvering ships, and in the presence of active and passive interference.
For anti-land missions, GIDS proposes a parallel configuration that maintains the same stated range of 290 kilometers. This version increases the single payload capacity to 444 kilograms. The guidance architecture remains based on GPS-assisted inertial navigation, eliminating the active radar seeker claimed for maritime missions. The same single-stage, dual-thrust solid rocket motor is used, with a stated CEP of 15 meters or less, and the terminal velocity remains unchanged at greater than Mach 2. The heavier payload may indicate optimization for fixed and hardened targets, while maintaining a common propulsion system simplifies training, storage, and lifecycle management for all units.
During this presentation, GIDS emphasizes dual-use capabilities, whereby a single missile family is adapted for both sea-to-sea and sea-to-land missions while maintaining a common propulsion system and architecture. This approach typically allows operators to diversify missions without increasing logistical complexity, which resonates with militaries seeking strike depth under budgetary pressure. The reference to high terminal kill rates and steep attack geometry will also likely be understood in the context of layered air and missile defense, where complex interception solutions can be as decisive as high speed.
The company's demonstration in Riyadh underscores Pakistan's commitment to promoting indigenous missile development internationally and positioning the new SMASH missile in the growing market for long-range, precision-guided strike systems capable of operating in armed standoff situations. In the Middle East and beyond, procurement discussions increasingly revolve around mobility, rapid deployment from dispersed launch sites, and credible deterrence based on the ability to threaten naval formations or high-value land assets. As part of this discussion, the SMASH missile is presented as a modular solution built on common components, adaptable payloads, and mission profiles that meet modern expectations for range, speed, and accuracy.
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