Syed Samiullah
The Ra’ad missile, carries the designation Hatf-VIII, is a noteworthy advancement in the realm of Pakistan’s defense capabilities. It is classified as a subsonic, standoff, air-launched cruise missile (ALCM). The development of this sophisticated missile system was a collaborative endeavor, undertaken by the National Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM) in partnership with the Air Weapons Complex (AWC).
Origin and Development
The genesis of the Ra’ad missile’s design and development took place in the year 1998. This important project was assigned to the NESCOM, which then collaborated closely with the Pakistan Air Force engineering laboratory, known as the Air Weapons Complex. Details surrounding the development phase of the Ra’ad missile have remained largely undisclosed, owing to the project’s secretive nature, with the military taking a leading role in its design and engineering processes. The achievement of Pakistan in developing cruise missiles also garnered attention from Western entities, which misleadingly accused other countries of collaborating on the project. However, the former program’s manager, General Mirza Aslam Beg, empathetically denying those allegations, attributed the success of the missile’s development exclusively to the dedication and expertise of the Pakistani scientists involved, emphasizing their significant contribution to this engineering accomplishment.
Technical Specifications
The Ra’ad missile leverages sophisticated stealth technology to minimize its visibility through various detection methods, including radar and sonar. (Sonar is a system for the detection of objects underwater by emitting sound pulses and detecting or measuring their return after being reflected.) By employing a combination of passive and active electronic countermeasures similar to electromagnetic spectrum camouflage it is designed to evade enemy defenses. The original version of Ra’ad is capable of delivering both tactical conventional and nuclear warheads up to a distance of 350 km (220 miles).
As outlined by the Pakistani military, Ra’ad operates at subsonic speeds and maintains a low altitude, closely following the terrain. This tactic significantly enhances its maneuverability and complicates detection by enemy radar systems. The introduction of Ra’ad-II further extends its operational range to 600 km (370 miles), thus broadening its strategic utility.
The Ra’ad missile, powered by a turbojet engine, has a length of 4.85 meters and a diameter of 0.5 meters. It can carry a payload of up to 450 kg (approximately 990 lbs), capable of producing an explosive force ranging from 5 to 12 kilotons of TNT (Trinitrotoluene), demonstrating its considerable destructive power.
Operational journey:
The testing journey of the Ra’ad missile embarked on August 25, 2007, with its inaugural test launch officially announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). This momentous beginning was succeeded by a series of additional tests. The second test took place on May 8, 2008, highlighted through military footage captured from a Mirage-IIIR aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force. Subsequent tests occurred on April 29, 2011; May 30, 2012; and February 2, 2015. The sequence continued, with a particularly notable seventh test on January 19, 2016, underscoring Ra’ad’s preparedness for operational deployment.
Ra’ad-II
On March 23, 2017, during the Pakistan Day Parade, Pakistan showcased the upgraded iteration of the Ra’ad missile, Ra’ad-II, which boasted an extended range. This enhancement was further evidenced on February 19, 2020, when Pakistan successfully executed a flight test of the Ra’ad-II Air Launched Cruise Missile. With a 600 km range, the Ra’ad-II marks a substantial improvement in Pakistan’s strategic standoff capabilities, both on land and at sea. The missile is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance and navigation systems, ensuring the precise targeting of objectives. The air test-launch was witnessed by Strategic Plans Division director general lieutenant general Nadeem Zaki Manj, NESCOM chairman Dr. Nabeel Hayat Malik, and senior officers from Strategic Plans Division, Strategic Forces and Strategic Organizations. Gen. Manj said the missile launch is ‘a major step towards complementing Pakistan’s deterrence capability’.
The choice of the Mirage-IIIR aircraft for the Ra’ad’s test launches reflects a strategic decision by the Pakistan Air Force to navigate potential objections from the United States that might have arisen if F-16A/B jets had been used, despite their compatibility with the Ra’ad. However, integrating the Ra’ad with other aircraft types, including the JF-17, illustrates the missile’s versatility and potential for wider application.
Significance
Within the arsenal of the Pakistani military, the Ra’ad is tasked with executing precision strikes against high-priority assets such as command centers, radar installations, missile launchers, and stationary naval vessels.
Author, analyst, and former Pakistan Air Force pilot Kaiser Tufail believes the “treetop-hugging [air-launched cruise missile] with its minuscule radar cross-section should be a good antidote to the S-400.”
Mansoor Ahmed, a senior fellow at the Center for International Strategic Studies in Islamabad who specializes in Pakistan’s nuclear program and its delivery platforms, believes the Ra’ad-II is “Pakistan’s answer to India’s development of the Nirbhay cruise missile.”
He believes Ra’ad-II “will significantly enhance the operational and targeting flexibility of the air leg of Pakistan’s strategic forces.” “It gives enhanced capability for precision strikes against critical military targets on land and at sea from safer standoff ranges. With its extended range, hitherto invulnerable sites, forces and assets can now be taken out with greater precision that were previously only covered by Pakistan’s ballistic missiles,” he said.
Conclusion
The development, testing, and enhancement of the Ra’ad missile highlights Pakistan’s committed efforts to sustain its defense and deterrence capabilities. This advanced air-launched cruise missile, with its stealth features, and precision strike ability, significantly enhances Pakistan’s strategic posture, particularly in the domain of aerial nuclear deterrence.
With the successful integration of these missiles into its military arsenal, Pakistan not only assures a robust defensive stance but also marks a fundamental advancement in homegrown military technology, reflecting a strategic depth in its defense strategy against evolving threats.
The author is the Associate Editor of Monthly Interaction and a Research Officer at Rabita Forum International (RFI).
