Pakistan conducts successful test of air-launched cruise missile

Pakistan on Tuesday conducted a successful flight test of an air-launched cruise missile, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The cruise missile, Ra’ad-II, has a reported range of 600 kilometres – significantly increasing the strategic standoff capability of Pakistan's strategic missile forces. The missile is also equipped with state of the art navigation systems for precision targetting.

The successful flight test was observed by Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Nadeem Zaki Manj, NESCOM chairperson Dr Nabeel Hayat Malik and senior officers from the Strategic Plans Division, Strategic forces and other strategic organisations.

The director-general of SPD also lauded its technical abilities and the dedication and commitment of scientists and engineers who contributed to its development.

Pakistan conducts successful training launch of Ghaznavi ballistic missile

He called it “a major step towards complementing Pakistan’s deterrence capability”.

Prime Minister Dr Arif Alvi – along with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Nadeem Raza - also congratulated all those involved in the successful missile test.

In January 2020, Pakistan Army's strategic forces conducted a successful training launch of the 290-kilometre range Ghaznavi ballistic missile.

The test came days after India test-launched the submarine-launched K-4 ballistic missile.

The missile is capable of delivering conventional or nuclear warheads and the training launch was part of a field training exercise of the Strategic Forces Command aimed at “rehearsing operational readiness procedures during day and night”.