PNS/PTI,
Pakistan Air Force has inducted H-4 Beyond Visual Range missile which could strike a target from a distance of 120 km without visually citing it, evading enemy radars.
“It is a step towards adding the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles to our arsenal for defensive purposes and to address the strategic imbalance in the region,” Pakistan daily Dawn quoted PAF officials as saying.
The officials claimed that that the missile was developed by the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), which works in close collaboration with Pakistan Missile Organisation and the Air Weapons Complex.
“Three successful tests of H-4, with the latest conducted this year, produced satisfactory results leading to addition of arsenal in the fighter jets,” they said, adding the missiles were modified version of the South African T-Darter BVR missiles.
The PAF claims to have H-2 BVR missiles which could hit targets up to 60 km.
Reports of Pakistan seeking the BVR technology appeared in the South African media. In the face of protests from India, the South African government blamed “rogue” elements to collaborate with Pakistan to develop BVRs.
PAF officials said the H-4 missiles which was an infra-red device and comparable to that of the AA11, AA12 and Python 4 missiles of the IAF would be fitted on to the PAF's Mirage aircraft until the induction of new plane JF-17 Thunder, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, in 2006.
They said European and the US suppliers were currently not willing to share the technology with Pakistan but PAF was managing with whatever technology at its disposal.
