The Ra'ad ( ur, رعد, "Thunder") is a Pakistani
air-launched cruise missile
An air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) is a cruise missile that is launched from a military aircraft. Current versions are typically standoff weapons which are used to attack predetermined land targets with conventional, nuclear or thermonuclear p ...
(ALCM) . The missile was first tested in August 2007.
Development and design
The Ra'ad is a joint project developed by
Pakistan Air Force
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's
Air Weapons Complex
The Air Weapons Complex (AWC) ( ur, ) is a scientific research and development military complex engage in explosive engineering, specifically in airborne system. The AWC is operated and controlled by the Pakistan Air Force as its military unit th ...
and
NESCOM
The National Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM) ( ur, ) is a Pakistani missile manufacturer and civilian research organization of Pakistan, under the administrative control of the Strategic Plans Division of Pakistan's National Command ...
– the civilian defense contractor. The missile's latest version has a range of 600 km.
The missile uses stealth technology, has a range of 350 km and is designed to carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
As per media reports, the missile has features including low-altitude, terrain hugging missile with high maneuverability.
The missile would probably be tasked for precision attacks on high value targets including command centres, radars, surface-to-air missile launchers, ballistic missile launchers and stationary warships.
Operational history
The first test of the missile was conducted on 25 August 2007.
A second test was conducted on 8 May 2008, when it was fired from a
Dassault Mirage III ROSE fighter of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). A third test was carried out on 29 April 2011 from a Dassault Mirage fighter. The fourth test was carried out on 30 May 2012. A fifth test of the missile was carried out on 2 Feb 2015. A seventh test was carried out on 19 January 2016.
Though initial tests have been conducted from a PAF
Dassault Mirage III ROSE combat aircraft there is potential to integrate this missile with other platforms such as the
JF-17
The CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder ( ur , جے ایف-17 گرج), or FC-1 ''Xiaolong'' (), is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China and the Pakistan Aeronautical ...
aircraft.
Mark II
A Mark II version of the missile was revealed on Pakistan parade day in 2017, with increased range of 600 km.
See also
;Related developments
*
Babur (cruise missile)
;Similar missiles
*
AGM-158 JASSM
*
TAURUS KEPD 350
Taurus KEPD 350 is a Swedish-German air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by Taurus Systems and used by Germany, Spain, and South Korea. Taurus Systems GmbH is a partnership between MBDA Deutschland GmbH (formerly LFK) and Saab Bofors Dynam ...
*
SOM (missile)
The SOM ( tr, ) is a next-generation autonomous, stealth, high precision cruise missile developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, Defence Research and Development Institute of Turkey. It was first revealed during the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Tu ...
*
Storm Shadow
Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French low-observable, long-range, air-launched cruise missile developed since 1994 by Matra and British Aerospace, and now manufactured by MBDA. Storm Shadow is the weapon's British appellation. In French service, it is ...
;Related lists
*
List of missiles
Below is a list of missiles, sorted alphabetically into large categories and subcategories by name and purpose.
Other missile lists
Types of missiles:
* Conventional guided missiles
** Air-to-air missile
** Air-to-surface missile
** Anti-radiat ...
*
List of missiles by country
This list of missiles by country displays the names of missiles in order of the country where they originate (were developed), with the countries listed alphabetically and annotated with their continent (and defence alliance, if applicable). In cas ...
References
External links
Jane's Air-Launched Weapons article – Ra'ad (Hatf-8) (Pakistan)CSIS Missile Threat- Hatf 8
{{Pakistan_Missiles
Cruise missiles of Pakistan
Nuclear missiles of Pakistan
Air-to-surface missiles of Pakistan
Guided missiles of Pakistan
Military equipment introduced in the 2000s