Ra'ad (air-launched cruise missile)

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Hatf-VIII Ra'ad
Pakistan air force 1.png
The Hatf-VIII Ra'ad on a Pakistan Air Force's F-16D platform, artist impression.
Type ALCM
Place of originFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Service history
In service 2012–Present
Used byAir Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Air Force
Production history
Designer National Engineering & Scientific Commission
(Guidance/controls)
Air Weapons Complex
(Warhead design/assembly)
Designed1998–2007
ManufacturerAir Weapons Complex
Variants Ra'ad II
Specifications (Technical data)
Mass1,100 kg (2,400 lb)
Length4.85 m (15.9 ft)
Diameter0.50 m (20 in)
Maximum firing range550 km (340 mi)
Warhead ICM/HE/NE
Warhead weight450 kg (990 lb)
Blast yield5 kilotons of TNT (21 TJ)—12 kilotons of TNT (50 TJ) [1]
Engine Turbojet
Payload capacity450 kg (990 lb)
Operational
range
350 km (220 mi)–550 km (340 mi)
Flight altitude Terrain-following
Maximum speed ≤0.8 Mach.
(980 km/h (610 mph))
Guidance
system
 Inertial, Terminal
Accuracy3.0 m (9.8 ft) CEP [2]
Launch
platform
 F-16A/B, Mirage-IIIR
Transport Combat aircraft

Ra'ad (Urdu : رعد, lit.  'Thunder'), military designation Hatf-VIII Ra'ad ('Target-8'), is a subsonic, standoff air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) jointly designed and developed by the National Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM) and Air Weapons Complex.

Contents

It is deployed in the military service of Pakistan Air Force as Hatf-VIII, and has provided Pakistan with aerial nuclear deterrence.: 388–389  [3]

Development

Design and development of Ra'ad begins in 1998 with the program being delegated to National Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM) that worked with Pakistan Air Force's engineering laboratory— Air Weapons Complex.: 246  [3]

Not much has been known about the development of the program since it was designed and engineered in secrecy with military leading the program. Pakistan's engineering feat on designing the cruise missiles attracted the Western sources leveled allegations on China on collaboration and later placing blame on Apartheid South Africa, which was strongly refuted former program manager General Mirza Aslam Beg, crediting to scientists for achieving this feat.: 247–248  [3]

Technical design

Codenamed as Ra'ad (lit. Thunder), the design engineering and its control system is developed by the NESCOM while weapon guidance, warhead design, and engine design was undertaken by the Pakistan Air Force's Air Weapons Complex. [4] Ra'ad features uses principles of stealth to avoid enemy detection, and is verified to carry tactical NE warheads at 350 km (220 mi). [5] [4] According to Pakistani military, Ra'ad flies with subsonic speed at low altitude and follows terrain with high maneuverability. [4]

In Pakistani military deployment, Ra'ad has a unique military identification as Hatf-VIII (lit. Target-8) with mission for precision attacks on high value targets including command centers, radars, surface-to-air missile launchers, ballistic missile launchers and stationary warships. [6] The second derivative of Ra'ad is deployed as Ra'ad-II, which has an extended range of 600 km (370 mi). [5]

The Ra'ad can carry 450 kg (990 lb) ammunition load with estimated blast yield of 5 kilotons of TNT (21 TJ)—12 kilotons of TNT (50 TJ). [1]

Operational history

Data acquisition and validation

On 25 August 2007, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the first test of Ra'ad. [5] On 8 May 2008, a second test for validation was conducted when a military footage showed that the Ra'ad being launched from the Pakistan Air Force's Mirage-IIIR. [7] [8] A third test was carried out on 29 April 2011, also from a Mirage-IIIR platform. [9] [10] [11] The fourth test was carried out on 30 May 2012; a fifth test of the missile was carried out on 2 February 2015. [12] A seventh test was carried out on 19 January 2016. [13]

The Pakistan Air Force chose the Mirage-IIIR as its platform as opposed to F-16A/B to avoid American objections despite it being widely understood that PAF's F-16A/B are also capable Ra'ad launch platforms.: 388–389  [3] Though initial tests have been conducted from a PAF's Mirage IIIR, there is potential to integrate this missile with other platforms such as the JF-17. [4]

With the development and deployment of Hatf-VIII Ra'ad, it has provided Pakistan with aerial nuclear deterrence to penetrate Indian Air Force defenses and its air force disparity.: 388–389  [3]

Mark II

A Mark II version of the missile was revealed on Pakistan parade day in 2017, with increased range of 600 km. [14]

See also

Related developments
Similar missiles
Related lists

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References

  1. 1 2 Kristensen, Hans; Korda, Matt. "Pakistan nuclear weapons, 2023". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Eshel, Tamir (30 April 2011). "Pakistan Tests Ra'ad (HATF VIII) Air-Launched Cruise Missile - Defense Update". defense update. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Khan, Feroz (7 November 2012). Eating Grass: The Making of the Pakistani Bomb. Stanford University Press. p. 500. ISBN   978-0-8047-8480-1 . Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Hatf 8 "Ra'ad"". csis.org. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "Pakistan tests new cruise missile". english.aljazeera.net.
  6. ↑ Khan, Iftikhar A. (9 May 2008). "Cruise missile fired from aerial platform".
  7. ↑ "Geo.tv: Latest News Breaking Pakistan, World, Live Videos". geo.tv. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News". The News International. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "Pakistan tests Hatf-8 cruise missile". The Asian Age. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "Pakistan tests nuclear-capable Hatf-8 cruise missile". The Indian Express. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  11. ↑ "Pakistan tests nuclear capable cruise missile". News.xinhuanet.com. 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2 May 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Web Desk (2 February 2015). "Pakistan test-fires new cruise missile Ra'ad – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Haider, Dawn.com | Mateen (19 January 2016). "Pakistan successfully tests Ra'ad cruise missile: ISPR". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  14. ↑ "Pakistan officially unveils extended range Ra'ad 2 air-launched cruise missile". quwa.org. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
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