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Profile: Denel Dynamics Raptor stand-off weapon
The Raptor is a series of stand-off range air-to-ground weapons. Developed by the South African munitions maker Denel Dynamics, the Raptor is a glide-bomb with modular guidance options – including satellite-aided inertial navigation system (GNSS/INS), electro-optical/TV, and imaging infrared (IIR) seeker with automatic target recognition (ATR) – and a 600-kg warhead.
The first iteration of the Raptor, i.e. the Raptor I, has a range of 60 km. It is a glide-munition akin to recent gliding precision-guided bomb (PGB) kits, such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range.
The Raptor I was later complemented by the rocket-boosted Raptor II, which extended the range to 120 km and imbued the platform with optional guidance capability, enabling the end-user to pair the Raptor with fire-and-forget options such as GNSS/INS and IIR. An IIR seeker could enable the Raptor II to engage moving targets. The Raptor II can also be controlled from a secondary aircraft from up to 200 km away.
It is believed that the Raptor I and Raptor II are being manufactured under license in Pakistan by the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) as the H-2 and H-4, respectively. The H-2 and H-4 are generally described as stand-off range weapons with ranges of 60 km and 120 km, respectively, matching the Raptor I and Raptor II. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) began deploying the H-2 and H-4 from its Dassault Mirage III/5 in the mid-2000s.
In 2014, Denel Dynamics unveiled the Raptor III, a vastly upgraded form incorporating what appeared to be an airbreathing turbofan or turbojet engine, providing the munition with a range of up to 300 km if launched from 12,000 metres. If the Raptor III retains the heavy payload capacity of the Raptor-I/II – i.e. 600 kg – it could basically serve as a long-range land-attack cruise missile (LACM). Denel Dynamics claims that the Raptor-III has a circular error of probability (CEP) of less than 3 metres. Denel Dynamics is waiting for a launch customer to bring the Raptor III into full-scale production.
5 Comments
by Syed Arbab Shah
Range and payload is adequate. However, the speed needs to be HYPER SONIC, to counter the Spyder and S 400 systems.
by Aamir
Per the article these are manufactured under license by NESCOM.
by Aamir
These are manufactured under license by NESCOM.
by Superior Shakeel
bilal???
by Bilal Khan
I’m not aware of specific numbers.