Ra'ad
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| Ra'ad Cruise Missile/Hatf VIII | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Air Launched cruise missile |
| Service history | |
| In service | Unknown |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Air Weapons Complex |
| Unit cost | Unknown |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Length | unknown |
| Diameter | unknown |
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| Warhead | Conventional and Nuclear |
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| Engine | turbo-fan and a solid-fuel booster |
| Wingspan | unknown |
| Operational range |
350 km or 220 mi |
| Speed | High Sub-Sonic |
| Guidance system |
TERCOM, GPS, DSMAC, |
| Launch platform |
Test conducted from Mirage III ROSE-I |
Ra'ad (Urdu: رعد ) (Ra'ad is Arabic word meaning Thunder) is a Pakistani Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). Presently in its testing stages, the missile is slated to enter service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Though initially launched from a Mirage III ROSE-I fighter, other PAF combat platforms - such as the JF-17 and FC-20 - will likely be equipped with the missile when it enters service. The Ra'ad presently has a range of 350 km.
Ra'ad gives Pakistan the capability to successfully attack fixed enemy installations (radar posts, command nodes and stationary surface to air missiles) beyond visual range. The accuracy of the missile is reported to be comparable to Pakistan's Babur cruise missile, which is labeled as having "pinpoint accuracy" by official Pakistani sources.
Ra'ad is designed with stealth features. The missile has a very low detection probability due to its stealthy design and materials used in its construction. Ra'ad can carry all type of warheads, including nuclear, but it is unlikely to be used for nuclear delivery as Pakistan already has the longer range Babur cruise as well as various ballistic missiles for that role. Ra'ad will most likely be used for precision air strikes on enemy command centers, radars, surface to air missiles, ballistic missile launchers, stationary warships etc.
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[edit] Test Fire
On 8th May 2008 Pakistan military reported that it had successfully test fired HATF-VIII Ra'ad missile .
[edit] History
Pakistan's first cruise missile, Babur was tested in 2005. While that missile was said to have had an air launch capability, according to Pakistani sources Ra'ad appears to be an entirely new missile, as is evident by the different name and a new official designation of Hatf VIII, as opposed to the Babur's Hatf VII. . The missile was tested for the first time on 25th August 2007. An official press-release by the military, at the time of the test declared that the missile gave Pakistan Air Force a "strategic standoff capability on land and at sea". [1][2][3]
| Designation | Other Name | Range | Payload | Status | Inventory |
| Hatf-I/IA (BRBM) | Hatf-I/IA | 80/100 km | 500 kg | Deployed | 100+ |
| Abdali (SRBM) | Hatf-II | 180 km | 500 kg | Deployed, Under production | Unknown |
| Ghaznavi (SRBM) | Hatf-III | 290 km | 500 kg | Deployed, Under production | ~100+ |
| Shaheen-I (MRBM) | Hatf-IV | 750 km | 750 kg | Deployed, Under production | ~75-150 |
| Ghauri-I (MRBM) | Hatf-V | 1500 km | 700-1000 kg | Deployed, Under production | ~100+ |
| Ghauri-II (MRBM) | Hatf-VA | 2,400 km, More range with lighter payload. | 1200 kg | Operational, Under production | ~100+ |
| Shaheen-II (IRBM) | Hatf-VI | 2,500 km, More range with lighter payload. | 1000+ kg | Deployed, Under production | 200+ |
| Babur (Cruise Missile) | Hatf-VII | 700 km | 500 kg | Deployed | 400-1000 |
| Ra'ad (Air Launched Cruise Missile) | Hatf-VIII | 350 km | Tested | --- | |
| Ghauri-III (IRBM) | 3,500+ km | 1000+ kg | Under Development | ||
| Shaheen-III (IRBM) | 3,500+ km | 1000+ kg | Under Development | ||
| M-11 (SRBM) | 300 km | 500 kg | In service | Unknown |
Note: Not every missile has nuclear payload.
