Pak successfully flight-tests air launched cruise missile

Pakistan has conducted a successful flight test of the indigenously-developed Air Launched Cruise Missile 'Ra'ad' with a range of 350 km, enabling it to achieve air-delivered strategic stand-off capability both on land and at sea, the military said.
The state-of-the-art Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) 'Ra'ad' (Thunder) is equipped with highly advanced guidance and navigation system that ensures engagement of targets with pin-point accuracy, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a press release.
"The Ra'ad ALCM enables Pakistan to achieve air-delivered strategic stand-off capability on land and at sea," it said.
The terrain-hugging low level flight maneuvers enable it to avoid detection and engagement by contemporary air defence systems, it said on the flight test held yesterday.

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain and the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have congratulated the scientists and engineers for their achievement on the conduct of a successful flight test of the missile, the statement said.
Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General MazharJamil, termed the flight test as a major step towards complementing Pakistan's deterrence capability.

"Achievement of this milestone will surely enhance strategic stability and contribute to peace in the region," he said.
He also expressed full confidence over the training standards and operational preparedness of Pakistan's strategic forces.
According to reports, yesterday's test flight was the fifth of Ra'ad ALCM since the fourth one on February 2, 2015.