Pakistan test fires Raad cruise missile; launched from Mirage aircraft

Hatf VIII Raad Cruise Missile
Written by WebMaster
Sunday, 26 August 2007
On August 25, 2007, today Pakistan fired a Hatf-VIII Raad Cruise Missile via Mirage aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force. It is an air launched cruise missile (ALCM) which can be fired from all the aircrafts in the Pakistan Air Force. The cruise missile can be used in an anti-shipping role via aircrafts against the ground/static targets.

The air launched cruise missile Hatf-VIII Raad has a range of 350KM (220 Miles). Raad in arabic means "Thunder" which will provide Pakistan a great strategic stand off capability of land and sea. The missile has low detection probability due to stealth design and materials used in creating the missile. Raad can carry all times of warheads and has an accuracy comparable to the surface launched Babur cruise missile.

The biggest benefit of having this air launched cruise missile is stand off capability it has given to Pakistan. Pakistan Air Force can target ground radars, and other specific military targets well beyond the visual range of the enemy. Pakistan has H-2 (60KM), H-3 (120KM) stand off weapons in its inventory and Raad cruise missile will only add more range to its inventory giving it a three tier stand off capability at all times, day and night.

President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the development of the new national strategic capability. Pakistan’s defense will continue to be strengthened as an imperative of national security, they said, and assured all support to Pakistan’s strategic programme.


This is pretty interesting news, it gives the Pakistani ROSE upgraded Mirages an enhanced strike capability, not to mention the possibility of it being fired from JF-17's.

Here's a video of the launch:

seems like Pakistan is doing just fine vis-a-vis its indigenous arms industry.
This new Hatf-8 air lauched cruise missile will help broaden the scope of missions the air force can undertake in times of war. I wouldnt be surprised if a Naval(Subs/Ships) version is also being developed which would seem like the natural next step, these cruise missiles greatly improve the strategic value of once obsolete surface naval ships and being able to fire from longer distances with extreme accuracy, thus minimizing collateral damage and loss to innocent lives. Im curious, any word on extending the range of the land based Babar missile? I think it would be prudent to extend its range (>1500km) which would be in Pakistan's interest beyond its current 500-800 km range