Potential Nuclear Role for Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder with Ra’ad ALCM?

Pakistan is likely preparing its JF-17 Thunder to launch the nuclear-capable Ra’ad Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), according to research by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). This move aims to transition the nuclear strike role from the older Mirage III/V aircraft.

FAS based its findings on a comparative analysis of official images released by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and footage from the 2023 Pakistan Day Parade rehearsals, which showed the JF-17 carrying the Ra’ad missile. The length of the missiles on parade trucks matched those seen on the aircraft, leading FAS to conclude that Pakistan intends to equip its JF-17s with the dual-capable Ra’ad ALCM.

Pakistan has over 130 operational JF-17s, developed in collaboration with China. The latest Block III variant features technologies from the J-20 stealth fighter and competes with India’s LCA Tejas in international air shows.

In February 2020, following a test of the Ra’ad II with a range of 600 km, ISPR stated that the missile “significantly enhances air-delivered strategic standoff capability on land and at sea,” ensuring precise engagement of targets. These reports indicated progress towards integrating the missile with the JF-17.

A 2023 image by Rana Suhaib during parade rehearsals confirmed a Ra’ad missile under the right wing of a JF-17. The missile’s design matched the Ra’ad, with no other similar configuration in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) inventory.

FAS compared the Ra’ad variants displayed in Pakistan Day Parades between 2017 and 2024, noting minimal differences between Ra’ad-I and II until 2022 when an ‘X-shaped’ tail Ra’ad-II appeared. The photographed missile during the 2023 rehearsals featured the ‘twin-tail’ design of Ra’ad-I.

Using photo analysis tools, FAS verified that the missile’s length on the JF-17 matched the Ra’ad-I seen on truck launchers, suggesting that Pakistan is progressing towards equipping its JF-17s to potentially replace the Mirage III/Vs in the nuclear strike role.

FAS concluded that it is likely a matter of time before Pakistan deploys the redesigned Ra’ad-II ALCM, marking a significant step in modernizing its strategic capabilities.

June 2024

Source: Federation of American Scientists

By Editor

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