Pakistan launches Rasoob 250 Cruise Missile at IDEAS 2024

ISLAMABAD: Global Industrial Defence Solutions (GIDS) unveiled the Rasoob 250 Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) at the 2024 International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2024).

The Rasoob 250 is the third ALCM developed by Pakistan, after Raad-I/II and Timur, both of which were built by the Air Weapons Complex (AWC), a subsidiary of NESCOM. It is likely that the Rasoob 250 was also developed by the AWC, based on the technology used in the previous missiles.

The missile is designed with an emphasis on low observability, featuring a more angular airframe and compact size. These features help reduce its radar cross section (RCS), making it stealthier than its predecessor.

Although exact dimensions are unknown, the Rasoob 250 weighs 285 kg (with booster) and has a range of 350 km. It is similar in size and weight to Turkey’s Roketsan Çakır, which weighs 275 kg.

The Rasul 250 can be launched from slow, light aircraft such as Shahpar-III UAVs, Sea King helicopters, and RAS-72 Sea Eagle maritime patrol aircraft, unlike the Ra’ad and Timur missiles, which are fired from high-speed jets. Aircraft

The missile carries a 75 kg semi-armor-piercing warhead and has an accuracy of less than 5 meters. It prioritizes accuracy over explosive yield, reducing reliance on large warheads. This shift toward accuracy is part of a broader trend in Pakistan’s missile development, which has focused on smaller, more accurate weapons.