The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has published a study, based on images from a rehearsal for the cancelled 2023 Pakistan Day Parade, that suggests the Pakistan Air Force is working on equipping its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets with Raad cruise missiles. These missiles are presumed to replace the Mirage III/V aircraft in the nuclear strike role, with the Mirages already beginning to be phased out. Pakistan currently operates over 130 JF-17 aircraft across its fleet.
The FAS analysis provided a detailed comparison of new images of the Ra’ad I/II missiles released by Pakistan’s Integrated Services Public Relations (ISPR) with the aforementioned JF-17 used in the test. It also referenced a series of images from parades held in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024, where the missiles were displayed alongside other nuclear-capable systems such as the Nasr, Ghauri, Shaheen IA and Shaheen II.
The analysis revealed that, apart from a slight change in the shape of the tail (current models are “X” shaped), there are few visible differences between the missile models analyzed. Specifically, photos of the 2023 JF-17 show Ra’ad-I missiles measuring approximately five meters in length, which is consistent with those observed in photos from the launcher that took part in the 2019 parade.
The FAS concluded: “While it is clear that Pakistan has redesigned its Ra’ad II ALCM, little confirmed information is available about the purpose or associated capabilities of this new design. It is also unclear whether the Ra’ad system has been fielded, but this is a matter of when, not if. (…) Based on these observations, Pakistan has likely made significant progress in equipping its JF-17s with a capability to eventually complement, and potentially replace, the nuclear strike role of its aging Mirage III/V.”
While official details are limited, it is important to note several features of the Ra’ad-I cruise missile. Based on tests conducted in 2020, it has an estimated range of approximately 600 kilometers. Additionally, it can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads and can be air-deployed against land and sea targets in addition to common ground-launched platforms. It was only in 2020 that Pakistan began efforts to integrate it onto an airborne platform, now identified as the JF-17.
*Image courtesy of FAS
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