Ra'ad-II

The Ra'ad-II(Urdu: رعد-۲‎,"thunder-2") missile is a Pakistani long-range ALCM which is derived from Ra'ad ALCM.[1][2][3][4] It was first publicly unveiled on the Pakistan Day military parade on 23 March 2017,[5] it was initially described as an extended range version of the Ra'ad ALCM with a range of 550 km[3] however once the missile would be tested three years later different results would be obtained.

Ra'ad-II
TypeALCM[1][2][3][4]
Place of originPakistan
Service history
In service2020-present[1][2][4]
Used byPakistan
Production history
DesignerNESCOM,AWC[3]
Specifications
Length4.85 m (15.9 ft)[1]
Engineturbofan
Payload capacityHE and NE capable[1]
Operational
range
600 km[1][2][4]
Maximum speed subsonic
Launch
platform
Combat aircraft
References

Testing and unveiling

On 18 February the missile was test-fired from a PAF Dassault Mirage III Fighter aircraft[1][2][4], the testing was seen by Strategic Plans Division director general lieutenant general Nadeem Zaki Manj, the chairman of NESCOM Nabeel Hayat Malik as well as senior officers from the Strategic Plans Division, Strategic Forces and Strategic Organizations of Pakistan[1].[6][7] According to the ISPR, it significantly enhanced Pakistan’s air delivered strategic standoff capability on land and at sea.[1][2][4]

Characteristics

As per the ISPR, the new missile has a range of 600 km.[1][2][4] The Ra'ad-II missile has a conventional tail fin configuration compared to the twin tail configuration of the previous version.[1][2][4] It has a new "X" type tail as opposed to previous versions large horizontal tails.[4] The missile is also seen to have a length of 4.85 m,[1] further information about the missile has been kept classified.[2] The Ra'ad series in general bears somewhat resemblance to South African MUPSOW cruise missile and Torgos ALCM, Pakistan and South Africa have collaborated on weapons in the past.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Pakistan test launches new Ra'ad II ALCM missile variant". AIR FORCE TECHNOLOGY. Archived from the original on 2020-05-08.
  2. "Pakistan test-launches longer-range variant of Ra'ad II ALCM". Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21.
  3. Khan, Bilal. "Pakistan officially unveils extended range Ra'ad 2 air-launched cruise missile". Quwa Defense News & Analysis Group. Archived from the original on 2020-04-20.
  4. Khan, Bilal. "Pakistan Tests Ra'ad-II Air-Launched Cruise Missile". Quwa Defense News & Analysis Group. Archived from the original on 2020-05-27.
  5. "Pakistan Unveils Ra'ad-II ALCM". Missile Threat. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019.
  6. "US clears possible sale of IADWS to India for $1.867bn". Army Technology. Archived from the original on 2020-04-25. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  7. Gady, Franz-Stefan. "Pakistan Test Launches Ra'ad II Nuclear-Capable Air-Launched Cruise Missile". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 2020-04-22.
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