Pakistan conducts successful flight test of Hatf-8 missile

Pakistan conducts a successful flight test of the indigenously developed air launched cruise missile, Hatf-8.


April 30, 2011



Pakistan conducted a successful flight test of the indigenously developed air launched cruise missile, Hatf-8 on Friday.


The test of the nuclear-capable missile was conducted as part of the continuous process of improving the technical parameters of the weapon system. The Ra’ad missile, with a range of over 350 kilometres, has been developed exclusively for launch from aerial platforms.

This missile system has enabled Pakistan to achieve a greater strategic stand-off capability on land and at sea. ‘Cruise technology’ is extremely complex and has been developed by only a few countries in the world.

The state of the art Ra’ad cruise missile with stealth capabilities is a low altitude, terrain-hugging missile with high maneuverability, and can deliver nuclear and conventional warheads with great pinpoint accuracy.

The successful launch has been appreciated by President Asil Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, and the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee who have congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.

Earlier this month, Pakistan successfully conducted the first flight test of the newly developed short range surface-to-surface multi-tube ballistic missile Hatf-9 (NASR).

WITH ADDITONAL INPUT FROM NEWS DESK

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2011.


COMMENTS (81)

Cautious | 12 years ago | Reply Suspect the cost of that test flight is about what it would cost to create another 4 or 5 PHD's at an MIT equivalent University --- think you would be better off re-prioritizing how you spend your money. Pakistan biggest threat is from extremist living in Pakistan - how is a nuclear capable cruise missile going to help that? Your politicians are publicly trying to reconcile difference with India yet your military seems to test another weapons system weekly which is specially designed to attack India --- that make sense to anyone?
Naveed | 12 years ago | Reply the consecutive short range missile testing by Pakistan beacons to an increased danger of US and NATO forces attack on the Western border in view of the deteriorated relations between the two countries. any movement by the Afghan forces to take control of the NWA backed by the NATO/US forces would be a stupid move and could possibly be the final blow to already retracting western forces in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is like a cesspool for the foreign forces......reminds me of the Hotel California of Eagles..." relax said the nightman, we are programed to receive. you can check out anytime you like....but you can never leave." @John: as far as the aid is concerned it is like a joint of cocaine that gets passed on. stopping the aid would be like unleashing the addict, making it independent and more powerful. a rebel. US would never want that to happen. westerners often come over to criticize the third world and especially Pakistan of all the money they have poured in and yet the people hate them so much. they seldom realize that the aid is just another tool used by the superpowers to extend their hegemony and imperialistic dominance in the world by enslaving the so called democratic governments.
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