| Hatf-VIII Ra'ad | |
|---|---|
 TheHatf-VIII Ra'ad on aPakistan Air Force'sF-16D platform, artist impression. | |
| Type | ALCM |
| Place of origin |  Pakistan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2012–Present |
| Used by |  Pakistan Air Force |
| Production history | |
| Designer | National Engineering & Scientific Commission (Guidance/controls) Air Weapons Complex (Warhead design/assembly) |
| Designed | 1998–2007 |
| Manufacturer | Air Weapons Complex |
| Variants | Ra'ad II |
| Specifications (Technical data) | |
| Mass | 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) |
| Length | 4.85 m (15.9 ft) |
| Diameter | 0.50 m (20 in) |
| Maximum firing range | 550 km (340 mi) |
| Warhead | ICM/HE/NE |
| Warhead weight | 450 kg (990 lb) |
| Blast yield | 5kilotons of TNT (21 TJ)—12kilotons of TNT (50 TJ)[1] |
| Engine | Turbojet |
| Payload capacity | 450 kg (990 lb) |
Operational range | 350 km (220 mi)–550 km (340 mi) |
| Flight altitude | Terrain-following |
| Maximum speed | ≤0.8Mach. (980 km/h (610 mph)) |
Guidance system | Inertial,Terminal |
| Accuracy | 3.0 m (9.8 ft)CEP[2] |
Launch platform | F-16AM/BM,Mirage-IIIR |
| Transport | Combat aircraft |
Ra'ad (Urdu:رعد,lit. 'Thunder'), military designationHatf-VIII Ra'ad ('Target-8'), is asubsonic,standoffair-launched cruise missile (ALCM) jointly designed and developed by theNational Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM) andAir Weapons Complex.
It is deployed in the military service of Pakistan Air Force asHatf-VIII, and has provided Pakistan with aerialnuclear deterrence.: 388–389 [3]
Design and development ofRa'ad begins in 1998 with the program being delegated toNational 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 theWestern sources leveled allegations on China on collaboration and later placing blame onApartheidSouth Africa, which was strongly refuted former program manager GeneralMirza Aslam Beg, crediting to scientists for achieving this feat.: 247–248 [3]
Codenamed asRa'ad (lit.Thunder), the design engineering and itscontrol system is developed by theNESCOM whileweapon guidance, warhead design, and engine design was undertaken by thePakistan Air Force'sAir Weapons Complex.[4]Ra'ad features usesprinciples of stealth to avoid enemy detection, and is verified to carry tacticalNE warheads at 350 km (220 mi).[5][4] According to Pakistani military,Ra'ad flies withsubsonic speed at low altitude and followsterrain with high maneuverability.[4]
In Pakistani military deployment,Ra'ad has a unique military identification asHatf-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 ofRa'ad is deployed asRa'ad-II, which has an extended range of 600 km (370 mi).[5]
TheRa'ad can carry 450 kg (990 lb) ammunition load with estimated blast yield of 5kilotons of TNT (21 TJ)—12kilotons of TNT (50 TJ).[1]
On 25 August 2007, theInter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the first test ofRa'ad.[5] On 8 May 2008, a second test for validation was conducted when a military footage showed that theRa'ad being launched from the Pakistan Air Force'sMirage-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 toF-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'sMirage IIIR, there is potential to integrate this missile with other platforms such as theJF-17.[4]
With the development and deployment ofHatf-VIII Ra'ad, it has provided Pakistan with aerialnuclear deterrence to penetrate Indian Air Force defenses and its air force disparity.: 388–389 [3]
A Mark II version of the missile was revealed on Pakistan parade day in 2017, with increased range of 600 km.[14]
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** = Includes all ship-to-ship, ship-to-sub, sub-to-ship and sub-to-sub torpedoes See also: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||