Pakistan Test Fires 600 km range Ra’ad II missile successfully

On February 19, 2020, Pakistan test fired 600 km range Ra’ad II missile successfully on land and at sea. The missile range has been upgraded from 550km in 2017 to 600km. It is important for India to closely monitor such advances as New Delhi is roughly 430km from Lahore.

Highlights

The first Ra’ad II missile was unveiled in an annual parade in Pakistan in 2017. Ra’ad I had a range of 35km. The changes have been made significantly in the tail part of the missile. Ra’ad I had twin tail and was bigger in size. The recently test fired Ra’ad II had “X” configuration.

So far, the Ra’ad missiles of Pakistan are being carried by Mirage II fighter jets. Indian experts believe that Ra’ad II is Pakistan’s answer to Nirbhay cruise missile.

Nirbhay Cruise Missile

It is an all-weather missile that was designed and developed in India by DRDO (Defence Research Development Organization). So far, India has completed six developmental trials of the missile. The next test is to happen in April 2020.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2020