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 ...
(ALCM) . The missile was first tested in August 2007.
Development and design
The Ra'ad is a joint project developed by
Pakistan Air Force
, "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional)
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's
Air Weapons Complex and
NESCOM– 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 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)
Babur (Urdu: بابر; named after the first Mughal Emperor Zahir-ud-Din Babur), military designated: Hatf-VII, ''Translit'': ''Target–7'', is a Pakistani medium range turbojet powered subsonic cruise missile that can be launched from land ...
;Similar missiles
*
AGM-158 JASSM
*
TAURUS KEPD 350
*
SOM (missile)
*
Storm Shadow
;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-rad ...
*
List of missiles by country
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