ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Pakistan on Saturday successfully test-fired a new nuclear-capable air-launched cruise missile “Hatf-8” (Ra’ad).

The indigenously-developed Ra’ad, meaning thunder in Arabic, has a range of 350 kilometres and has been designed exclusively for launch from a variety of Pakistan’s air platforms, providing these with a strategic standoff capability on land and at sea.

A statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations said the missile had a low detection probability due to stealth design and materials. The Ra’ad can carry all types of warheads and has accuracy comparable to Pakistan’s longer-range cruise missile “Babur”.

The president and the prime minister congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the development of the new national strategic capability.