Pakistan Test Fires Air-Launched Cruise Missile, Hatf VIII (Ra'ad)

Karachi: Pakistan has test fired its air-launched cruise missile (ALCM), the Hatf VIII (Ra’ad) which is capable of delivering both the nuclear and conventional high-explosive warheads. 

The maximum effective operational range is estimated at 220 miles. The Ra’ad can be used for precision strikes on enemy strategic facilities such as radars, SAM batteries, and warships, can carry a nuclear warhead of up to 300 kiloton.

The missile was first tested on 25 August, 2007. 

This is the third successful test of a nuclear capable missile by the Pakistani Armed Forces within the last 30 days followed by Battlefield Range Ballistic Missile (BRBM), Nasr (Hatf-IX) this week and the Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM), the Hatf-III (Ghaznavi) on May 10th.