Pakistan is reportedly enhancing its JF-17 fighter jets with the capability to carry the nuclear-capable Ra’ad-I missile as a response to India’s recent induction of Rafale jets capable of nuclear weapons delivery.
The Ra’ad missile, first tested in 2007, serves as Pakistan’s sole air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) capable of carrying nuclear payloads. According to the U.S. Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Centre (NASIC), the Ra’ad is classified as a ‘dual-capable system’, meaning it can be armed with both conventional and nuclear warheads.
Analysis of images from rehearsals for the 2023 Pakistan Day Parade suggests that the JF-17 Thunder Block-II has been outfitted with the Ra’ad-I nuclear missile. This configuration was publicly observed for the first time, as noted in a Federation of American Scientists (FAS) report.
To distinguish between the original Ra’ad-I and the extended-range Ra’ad-II, the FAS conducted comparisons based on versions of the missile displayed at Pakistan Day Parades from 2017 to 2024. The Ra’ad-II, presented as having nearly double the range capability, features an ‘x-shaped’ tail fin configuration, distinct from the ‘twin-tail’ configuration of the earlier Ra’ad-I.
The 2022 Pakistan Day Parade showcased the Ra’ad-II with its distinctive ‘x-shaped’ tail fin, while this year’s parade displayed both versions, each with their respective tail fin arrangements. The photographed missile on the JF-17 appears to align more closely with the ‘twin-tail’ configuration of the Ra’ad-I, indicating it may not be the newer Ra’ad-II model.
The report speculates that older versions of the Ra’ad-II, such as the 2017 variant with a ‘twin-tail’ configuration, are outdated and unlikely to be used in flight tests. Developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp, the JF-17s are slated to replace Pakistan’s ageing Mirage-III and V aircraft, with over 130 operational units already procured.
In parallel, India has recently shown signs of potentially adjusting its nuclear strategy. Traditionally, India stored its nuclear warheads separately from launchers during peacetime. However, recent developments, including storing missiles in canisters and deploying nuclear submarines, suggest a shift toward keeping warheads and launchers together even in peacetime operations.