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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.
The indigenously developed Hatf-8 cruise missile, also known as the Ra’ad, is seen midflight against a mountainous backdrop at an undisclosed location. PHOTO: INP
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.
Reader Comments (81)
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The picture in this story is wrong. it is Surface to Surface Cruise missile, while the original Hatf VIII was launched fro Air platform, and is said to be Air to Surface missile, first ever introduced in PakistanRecommend
Good. Now PAK is ready to shoot down the drones. From these extravaganza, it is clear that PAK does not need any Financial aid to sustain its economy. It will cruise it way through.Recommend
I feel so much safer now…Recommend
wow so many missilies and bombs we got.. but what is the use of all such modern weapons when even Afghanistan threatens us THINIKINGRecommend
Hatf means bodiless sound. It is like a Fart that everyone hears but no one knows who is responsible.Recommend
Missile tests, and an arms race feel good when you live in a country which is prospering, or becoming a super power.Recommend
What for ? Our Sophisticated Nuclear and Missile Technology is State of the Art, one of the best but for what purpose?
protect ….who?
fight ……. who?
win …….. who?Recommend
well done pakistan ..people of kp and baloochistan feels much safer nowRecommend
When without adding any new expense, ZAB’s review case goes to SC then so many people talk about poverty, waste, poor masses, etc. We have so many atom bombs and missiles and still nobody is safe even in our cities. These weapons of mass destruction are certainly going to provide electricity, food, healthcare and education.
Not a single person demands that if Pakistan has so much nuclear know-how then why are they not using it for masses to produce electricity? Why are we only making Pakistan army more and more loaded? Do common Pakistanis deserve some benefits of nuclear technology or not? While the education and healthcare budgets are pathetic, the defense gets the lion’s share. Why is it that nobody ever demands these things from the govt, which is and has been army?
Mirza, USARecommend
Instead of spending on these kind of missiles it would be good if government spends
the money in primary education and flood victims resettlement.Recommend
Boys with toys. When will they grow into men.Recommend
I am wondering that every other sector of our economy is in recession but not our defense sector. Almost on monthly basis Pakistan do test a Missile. We do not these missiles, Please.Recommend
congratulation to everyboday. Thts grt. I want to see my beloved country to be one of the strongest nations of the world in all spheres. I pray to Allah to guid us and provide us maximum strenght, amin.Recommend
We are not in favour of any aggression however competitive preparedness ensures Peace.
Allah o Akber,
Mabrook.
Pakistan Zindabaad.Recommend
everything for the national security state, nothing for the national welfare state?Recommend
Finally the poor people of pakistan have something to rejoice about. Whats better than a missile for a person dying of hungerRecommend
is it this missile will stop suicide bomb, Drone attack and will remove poverty of Pakistan?Recommend
Thanks God we can see some development. May God Help us in development of poor people of Pakistan.
some is using the money in right way.
Our politician should learn something and do something and spent what ever is available on peoples welfareRecommend
For Pakistan, it is enough if India stops thinking of invading it. We know that the Indians are fully capable of every treachery under the sun. As long as India knows that if it attacks Pakistan, it will get a swift response, every Pakistani feels safe. Of course, if India gives up making missiles and weapons of mass destruction, Pakistan will do the same. But knowing India, it will never agree to a nuclear-free subcontinent, first proposed by Musharraf ten years back.Recommend
Can I buy three missiles of these range with a seating arrangement for 400 plus persons per missile ????Recommend
i want to convey my heartedly congratulations to whole pakistani nation and especially pak army.Recommend
@Qadir:
No one complains about Usury payments to international banks.Recommend
what is the use of these Misile when our Army is soo Frighten Of America !
SadRecommend
Wikipedia says
“In 2011, it was estimated that a single cruise missile costs £500,000 (US$830,000)”
And we have no funds for HEC!!! wowRecommend
Wohoo! I feel so safe now! no more terrorist attacks, no more dacoits, no more extortionists, no more loans to repay! We are the greatest purest nation on earth! All Hail the Emperor with no clothes.Recommend
This all is due to spirit which our elders expressed after the separation of East Pakistan. Now In-Sha-Allah Pakistan will become a super power. Every decision will take place with the decision of Pakistan. Pakistan will say yes or no.Recommend
Congratulations to the Pakistani military. It is because of our nuclear and missile deterrent that Indians are prevented from invading the nation. Look at this web site and the number of Indians who post under open and assumed names. They are obsessed with Pakistan which means we need to maintain our guard. We should always remember that India started the nuclear arms race and missile race in South Asia when they took Western nuclear aid given to them for peaceful purposes and diverted it for use in nuclear weapons.Recommend
@IZ:
seriously?
Lolz..Recommend
@khalid:
isn’t it a relief to know, huh?Recommend
@ArifQ:
Man i love your comment!Recommend
@Aftab Kenneth Wilson:
Your positive attitude is adorable!Recommend
@Saad:
Oh dear, we need brains like yours!
I’d recommend your comment to all those who feel safer and who click “recommend” of the safer’s comment!Recommend
@True Indian:
No, It wont stop sucide attack or Poverty But it will certainly keep away miscreants and terrorist like you, This is the only reality if your Hindu terrorist leadership like it or not.Recommend
This poor nation of human and resource rich country has equipped its armed forces with the best tools that any modern army can imagine of. Yet the country does not have an uninfluenced indigenous foreign and military strategy. WHAT IS THE REASON AND WHO IS TO BE BLAMED?
The reason that comes to mind is the failure of past civil and military governments to have an independent economic policy. More than thousand unacceptable excuses are given to justify lack of serious focus on economic self-reliance. Not even a single serious attempt was ever made to put Pakistan on the road to economic independence since country’s national independence. Is it true that there is no solution?
Unfortunately the most disappointing role in this said state of affairs is played by national media. They did not create and or they do not have any platform to bring local and foreign economic experts together to come up strategic economic vision for Pakistan. They never guided the government in a well coherent way to follow a consistent path to economic self-reliance. ON TOP OF THAT IN ALL MAJOR ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS THE COLUMNISTS AND ANALYSTS HAVE STARTED ASKING THE PEOPLE TO FORGET ABOUT GHAIRAT WHEN THEY ARE DEPENDENT ON AND LOOK FOR FOREIGN AID.
None of these columnists and analysts ever came up with a strategic economic vision of his or her own to show the light at the end of the tunnel!
What we need is to take the serious matters seriously and prioritize them. ELSE THE TOYS LIKE HATF-8 Missile and even Nuclear Capability can not stop our economic patrons from asking us TO DO MORE of everything that is in their interest and against our national sovereignty.Recommend
One thing is clear that India possesses more Key Board Warriors than Pakistan and that is evident from above comments, Some Indians pose like Pakistanis by using Muslim Names, but streak of envy and jealousy uncover most of them.
It is a cruise missile, a rare technology available to not more than dozen countries. Indians are all out to upgrade their ‘near failed’ Brahmose Cruise Missile and produce under developed Shaurya Cruise Missiles. Something called Nirbhay Cruise Missile of also on the drawing boards of DRDO.
This missile, tested today, resembles more with the Tomahawk cruise missile which was extensively used during Gulf War-1991 and elsewhere in later conflicts by US Armed Forces.
The Ra’ad or Thunder is an air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) developed indigenously by Pakistan and is operational with the PAF. Though initially test launched from a PAF Dassault Mirage III aircraft on 8 May 2008, the missile was planned to be integrated with and launched from other PAF platforms such as the JF-17.
Though nothing is said about the platform but I am sure that it is now launched from JF-17 or newly acquired F-16. Pic shown in the caption is wrong.
Ra’ad is designed to attack fixed enemy installations (such as radar posts, armour concentrations, vital bridges, command nodes and stationary missile systems) from stand-off range, keeping the launching aircraft away from the effective range enemy air defence systems. The accuracy of the missile is reported to be comparable to Pakistan’s Babur cruise missile, which has “pinpoint accuracy” comparable with Tomahawk Missile of USA.Recommend
@True Indian: No but it is to remind you that ” Do Not Take PANGA”Recommend
we are going on testing these missiles by the other day, but what do we get from there? If we are doing this to intimidate India then sorry sir, we already had enough to counter India.If we are trying to get accepted as a powerful country and to become efficacious on the international level then we should first of all work on our economy and should, rather,use the money we are spending on manufacturing all these stuff for making our economical condition better….Recommend
Its great now we hope to develop a technology which can faught against dron…………Recommend
@Mirza:
It is all India’s fault. Pakistan has to protect itself from the big and bad India who cannot be trusted.Recommend
A ‘ballistic’ or ‘cruise’ missile against a tiny drone?? are you guys nutss?? This is thing can devastate fleets and big ships!! if this is for drone, its like hitting a small bird with a manjaneeq stone :DRecommend
In the middle of peace/trade talks with India – Pakistan test fires two nuclear capable missile systems. That sound reasonable to you?Recommend
@Nasir Nawaz Bhutta:
The Ra’ad or Thunder air-launched cruise missile cannot shoot down a drone.
This is an air to surface cruise missile.
As far as my knowledge goes, nothing substantial we have to shoot down drone. Drone fly at much slow speed and at very hight altitude.
An F-16 did shoot down an Indian drone some years back but that is just a beginner’s luck. F-16 is a fast moving aircraft and designed for many roles but not for shooting down a slow moving small drone.
As drone fly very high so it remains beyond the range of ground based air defence systems like Oerlikon or RBS-70/90 or even Crotale AD System.
Instead of shooting down a drone we need to use diplomacy and statecraft for avoiding such lethal attacks emanating from the Armed Forces and Int Agency of sole super power.Recommend
Why Pakistan Navy is not helping in release of Pakistani sailors? like the way other countries Navies did?like the way Indian Navy rescued their citizens after operation.
In missile ka kia faida!!!!!Recommend
These missiles are going to solve our electricity, education, health problems.Recommend
this sis good for the saftey of Pakistan from USA n INDIA, as USA take over those muslim countries who have no army power like Pakistan. if pakistan have no power like this usa make us their slaves like they did in afghanistan. BUT we need new faces in political area. dont give vote to the MEMBERS of your mohallahs or colonies who support ppp, Q party, Nawaz Sharif,Shahbaz Sharif, Imran khan (cause he have support frm talibans in his political compaigns) Altaf Hussain MQM( see whts is happening in Karachi).
its better for us we could chose AZAD MEMBERS…or any other new members…Recommend
Well done Pak Scientists !!!! Now, India and USA will think twice before contemplating any adventure against us.Recommend
we want Pak to test more and more missile,because more they test,better the situation for us.A pakistani told India can’t be trusted.but fact is that every time Pak initiated war and defeated also.India didn’t start any war from its side.We want our country to propser with more wealth,but we have enough to save our country also.Keep testing and inform us,so that we will cheer.Recommend
at least we have some area where we see the progress. Imagine if our defence sector works like other civil institutions, what happen !
Congragulation to those who see this development optimisticallyRecommend
its good for pakistan…..congratulations are in order
pls keep on developing such missiles…it will do u great in the long run…
and u guys can afford it
one country builds the roads for you, another the ports, yet another provides you money to build schools and some other nations are trying to kill the terrorists who are trying to kill pakistanis…
so you have all the time in the world to make more material for mass destruction
kudos and keep up the good workRecommend
@Khalid Masood:
Sirjee, we are not care of any missilie technology… I am not even knowing the names of missilies other than Prithvi.. Basicallt these are the showcase toys as none of these missilie get fired.. today’s era is the economical warfare era.. if you do not have your own money to sustain yourself you have lost this war… it does not matter whether you have missiles or nuclear weapons …. Countires like Singapore, Denmark etc do not have nuclear missiles but people there live happily.. but I feel Pakistan needs more.. India’s missile system is failing so you should opt for more.. so that you aim to capture India falunting these missiles hahahaRecommend
@Salman:
Salman dear those hostages belong to Merchant Navy and not Pakistan Navy.
Merchant Navy ships transport goods and oil from one port to the others. They are not armed like fighting Navy.
If Govt ask Pak Navy to take action, I am sure commandos of Pak Navy can do the jobRecommend
@Zahid Hussain Khalid: Simple question. If pakistan’s mostly missiles are indegineous, then why you people are unable to launch your own sattellite from your own launch vehicle, because missile technology is same as use to launch the sattellite in the space. Here instead of fitting warheads you have to fit sattellite withsome changes, and if pakistani engineers are so much (as said) expert in testing missile without any failure then it is very much easy to your scientist to build sattellite and launch the same. pakistani missiles are never failing during test which is very very very doubtfull.Because if you are doing on your own then there are chances of failure, as this missile technology is critica andl it needs several test.. Even China, US, Russia etc have faced such a failure. India’s 50 % missiles are indeginious and we are able to launch our own sattellite with our own launch vehicle.These my above comments prove that all pakistani missiles are purchased readymade from world market. There is nothing like indeginious.Recommend
Simple question: how many billions of rupees did this cost?Recommend
@Anish:
Your comment shows the type of fool’s heaven you are living in :D…there is something we call ‘deterrence’. Ever heard of it?? :pRecommend
@Khalid Masood: near failed “Brahmos missile” ? Cant you even think for once that there are quite a few international articles publishing potency of Brahmos. We all can see who is jealous :)Recommend
@FactCheck:
Go beyond your lie filled history books and media propaganda then you will see who has been historically bad. Dont just use your internet to type your prejudices here. Google is quite a simple tool to use to find articles. If you dont know how to use it I can teach you for free :)Recommend
@maynotmatter:
Factcheck comment is a satire, in case you are still in doubt.Recommend
Nice to hear that my Pakistan is feeling safe now. Nuclear weapon is a nice way to protect your country but a worse way to win over your enemies.
God bless Pakistan. Ameen!!!Recommend
Maintaining the detarance and preparing for defence is every country’s right. For Pakistan, it is especially more than necessary when it has enemies on both sides. On Afghan side the situation is also very fragile and as Allied forces defeat is inevitable so a misadvanture from there side cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, balancing the economic stability and defence is as important for the Govt but unfortunately the current Govt neither has will nor capability to combat on both fronts at the same time.Recommend
PTV break this news with File footage initially and later Ptv showed current test after 2 Hour …But private channels and news paper are still showing same file picture and video …..Recommend
PTV break this news with File footage initially and later Ptv showed current test after 2 Hour …But private channels and news paper are still showing same file picture and video ….Recommend
Congratulations to Pakistan’s scientists for achieving yet another milestone in the development of the country’s indigenous missile technology! This sends a strong message to any who might harbour designs of military adventure against the country.
No economic development can take place without safe and secure borders and this goes a long way towards achieving that goal. Hopefully, with US forces withdrawing from Afghanistan and control passing to the Afghan people, we will move to conditions favourable to a return to strong economic growth in Pakistan and, ultimately greater prosperity and a more secure future for our people.
I am often amazed at the cynical and derogatory comments that are made apparently by Indian readers in these columns. What is even more surprising is that the Express Tribune actually publishes them. A serious, rationale debate is always welcome but to publish remarks that border on abuse, in my opinion, serves no purpose. If other readers agree, then I would urge them to write to the the Editor at editorial@tribune.com.pk and make their views known.Recommend
If Pakistan Army is Capable army than why he loose all three war against India.why cannot stop America.
Why loose Bangladesh?
Why loose Kargil war?
Why cannot stop Drone Attack?
Why cannot stop Taliban?
Why release Raymond davis?
why cannot stop Bomb Blast?
Can any body tell what pakistan army win……..
No use of this type of missile . This will not stop pakistan as failed country.
Spend more money on defense and your next generation will be more poor.Recommend
@True Indian: Has prithvi, agni removed all the poverty from India?Recommend
For sceptics, cynics, and all other useless ducks, this is one because… we can”Recommend
@John: Refrain writing here if you cant resist showing us how much you love Pakistan. We love it too, but people dont buy your sweet pies here.Recommend
Pakistan Military only takes 3% of GDP and with limited resources it makes missile test every month. Its not the fault of the pakistan Military that PPP-ANP-MQM-PMLN government does not tax more and increase spending on developmentRecommend
@Anish:
Countires like Singapore, Denmark do not have aggressive neighbours next door.Who post abusive comments on the internet. Singapore, Denmark do not have neighbours who are the worlds largest arms importer and put 80% of their army on our border. Economy is important but its just as important that we can blow your brains when you cross the borderRecommend
plz help i got no electricityRecommend
Can you fit B bowls to the missile heads, that way the aid will be faster.Recommend
@Indians….you have no reason to cry. Stop buying Rafales and Eurofighters. They wont solve the poverty, terrorism and illiteracy in ur country eitherRecommend
Heard from a source, Dr Samar: it was a dud! Didnt perform as per expectations. Maybe the North Koreans didnt provide the right specs!Recommend
Congratulations to all Pakistanis! If that is something you need most, very well done. Hope you make more missiles as a deterrent, or for whatever strategic goal you might have as a nation. But India is and has been in a defensive mode for long. Use your money wisely.Recommend
Pakistan conducts flight test of Hatf-8 missile
Khalid Masood
Please sent a thank you note to US congress for releasing $950 Million aid to conduct 95 more test.
You guys always talking about taking on US or India. Please read statment given by Gen Khayani that he can not go into wazirstan as pak army spread too thin & can not open too many front at same time.
If your army can not control its own land how it can take on other countries those who have more economic punch. USSR demise happen due to star war, which never seen a day of action. Stop reading comic book.Recommend
It was their blunder to invade Afghanistan. Afghanistan is much more worse for them even than Vietnam. They cannot win a war in any country that borders Pakistan even in 100 yrs. They failed to understand this strategical fact. Pakistan has 2 million Professional Army + more than 50 million by-birth fighters of northern area. These tribes are very revengeful & will continue to fight to the day of judgment with Americans. As a result of this useless war, USA is almost bankrupted.
Gen. Petraeus told Obama, he need more army in Afghanistan to finish his job up to July 2011. He was given, but he failed to deliver what he promised bcaz his promise was NOT REALISTIC. Situation in Afghanistan is same today as was when first American soldier entered there. Shud u invade Pakistan now? but take care, Pakistan has 350+ plutonium based MegaTons Hydrogens tipped Ra’ad+Babar Cruise missiles & their SUBS can unleash them any where in world easily. Dialogue is the best solution always
Pakistan’s Plutonium-Based Hydrogen tipped stealth Cruise missile “Ra’ad” can be lauched from ship, Submarines and from all kinds of fighter Jets that Pakistan possess. Cruise missiles Ra’ad & Babar can be launched from more than 700 KM distance to hit any Aircraft Carrier/target with extremely high precision. One or max two hits can vaporize whole aircraft carrier. As we know, Poor Pakistanis will never attack any country first but if attacked by others, They will realtiate with full forceRecommend
There are many responses here that discuss India invading Pakistan.
As an Indian citizen (and not speaking for our Govt), I feel that with Pakistan as a “life-member” of the “Failed State List” for the last few years, daily suicide attacks on mosques, Military installations & Police stations, frequent incidents of Shia-Sunni sectarian violence, a nation with an economy which must seek international help even for its own flood victims, why should India wish to add Pakistan to its territory?
I think if tomorrow Pakistan approaches India voluntarily to request reunification with India, India won’t jump at the request but ask for time to think about it.
So forget India ever invading Pakistan. I don’t know why Pakistan is spending its own or American money on war materiel instead of spending it on its National needs as many readers here have commented.Recommend
That a great achievement. Rang of missile + Range of air craft. Good achievementRecommend
@Saad:
Whatever you think about Pakistan and its Defence….. But “HATF” was the name of Our Holy Prophet Muhammad S.A.W’s Sword….. So Beware when commenting on something related to Muhammad S.A.W…… and that also using the meaning “Bodiless Sound” for “HATF”….. Feel Remorse brother…..Recommend
We need jobs… food… good education system, electricity ….. not these Missiles….. spending all our money on these missiles and other weapons of mass destruction isn’t doing any good to us… May Allah bring some good leadership upon us.. Amen!Recommend
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.Recommend
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?Recommend