Pakistan tests new cruise missile, a rival for Storm Shadow
Pakistan Army (Photo: Getty Images)
In Pakistan, officials reported the successful first flight test of a new air-launched cruise missile, which, according to stated specifications, approaches the capabilities of modern European models, according to Defense Express.
First missile test
The Pakistan Air Force announced the first test launch of the Taimoor cruise missile, also known as Taimur. Footage released shows the missile being launched from a Mirage III fighter jet.
After separating from the aircraft, the missile ignited its engine, flew a specified distance, and struck the designated target. Although a low-altitude flight profile was not demonstrated at this stage, the precision of the strike was highlighted as a key aspect of the test.
Declared specifications
The Taimoor missile is being developed by the Pakistani company Global Industrial & Defence Solutions. A prototype was first unveiled in 2022. According to the declared data, the missile has a launch weight of around 1,200 kg and a range of up to 600 km in its conventional version.
Its navigation suite includes inertial and satellite systems, as well as DSMAC and TERCOM. In the final phase of flight, a thermal imaging seeker is used, bringing the missile’s capabilities closer to those of the European Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles.
Role in Pakistan’s missile program
Taimoor is not Pakistan’s first domestically developed cruise missile. Since 2012, the Ra’ad has been in service, followed by Ra’ad II in 2020; however, neither used a thermal imaging seeker.
The new missile is seen as a logical evolution of previous projects, including modifications to the tail fins in an X-shaped configuration to reduce visibility.
Integration with aircraft
The timeline for completing tests has not been disclosed, but the project is in the early stages of flight trials. A significant challenge will be integrating the missile with different aircraft types.
Variants for the JF-17 and J-10CE would require China’s involvement, while adaptation for the F-16 is impossible without US approval. For this reason, the first launches are being conducted from Mirage III jets, which remain one of the most numerous platforms in the Pakistan Air Force.
Pakistan tests new cruise missile (Photo: Defense Express)
Pakistan tests new cruise missile (Photo: Defense Express)
Pakistan tests new cruise missile (Photo: Defense Express)
Pakistan tests new cruise missile (Photo: Defense Express)
Pakistan tests new cruise missile (Photo: Defense Express)
On December 25, the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully struck the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery in Russia’s Rostov region using Storm Shadow cruise missiles, demonstrating the high precision and effectiveness of these weapons.
On December 31, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held meetings with the heads of the diplomatic missions of India and Pakistan, summoning them for clarification after both countries supported false reports claiming an alleged attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence.
