The H-4 SOW (Stand-Off Weapon) is a precision-guided glide bomb manufactured by NESCOM and deployed by the Pakistan Air Force, capable of striking _targets at stand-off range. It has a terminal guidance system based on an infrared homing seeker, which identifies the _target during the final stage of flight. Designed to hit _targets out to 120 km, the bomb may have the capability to evade radar.[2]
| H-4 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Precision-guided glide bomb |
| Place of origin | Pakistan / South Africa |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2003–present[1][2] |
| Used by | Pakistan Air Force |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | NESCOM |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | High explosives |
| Engine | Solid propellant booster (rocketry) |
Operational range | 120 km |
Guidance system | Electro-optical (infrared homing) |
Launch platform |
|
Design & Development
editAccording to Pakistani press reports, the H-4 glide bomb was created by Pakistan's National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), working in collaboration with the Pakistan Missile Organisation and Air Weapons Complex in Pakistan. A lighter version of the H-4 has also been produced, the H-2 SOW, which has a stated range of 60 km.
Three successful tests were conducted, the last one in 2003, which led to field deployment on the Dassault Mirage III and Mirage V strike fighters of the Pakistan Air Force. It has also been stated that the H-4 will be integrated with the PAF's new multi-role combat aircraft, the JF-17, which is replacing the ageing fleet of Mirage III and Dassault Mirage 5 aircraft. All Pakistani JF-17 fighters, from the initial JF-17 Block 1 model to the final Block 3 version, will be capable of launching the H-4.[4]
The H-4's stated range of 120 km and its glide bomb design has led to speculation that it may be a Pakistani variant of the Denel Raptor II glide bomb, which is also guided by an infrared homing seeker and has a range of 120 km.[2][5][6]
Operational history
editOn 27 February 2019, 2 Pakistani Dassault Mirage-VPAs armed with H-4 SOW bombs and 2 Dassault Mirage-IIIDAs for guidance via data link carried out airstrikes in Indian Administered Kashmir _targeting Indian Army brigade headquarters and forward support depots. The planes were able to lock onto the _targets, however at the last moment, Pakistani Weapon system Officers took their cursor off them. This was confirmed by in-cockpit videos released by the PAF's operations directorate for the 6 September telecast which showed that the Airforce deliberately did not _target the Indian Military sites despite having them in clear sight.[7][8][9][10]
Later in April 2019, Indian media reported that a Bomb disposal unit carried out a bomb defusal operation in Mendhar and Rajouri, where they had successfully defused 3-4 unexploded H-4 SOW bombs.[11][12]
Operators
edit
Pakistan: Pakistan Air force
See also
edit- H-2 SOW – (Pakistan): Lighter Variant of the H-4.
- GBU-53/B – (United States)
- AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon – (United States)
References
edit- ^ Sharif, Arshad (18 December 2003). "PAF adds new bombs to its arsenal". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ a b c Fisher, Jr., Richard (29 October 2004). "Report on the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS)". International Assessment and Strategy Center (IASC). Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
- ^ "Operation Swift Retort one year on". 19 March 2020.
- ^ Ansari, Usman (7 February 2013). "Despite Missile Integration, Nuke Role Unlikely for Pakistan's JF-17". Defense News. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ Ansari, Usman. "The JF-17 Thunder: A hefty punch at an affordable price". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
- ^ "Profile: Denel Dynamics Raptor Stand-Off Weapon". 16 March 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
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.
- ^ "'India's February Miscalculation and Future of Indo-Pak Aerial Front". Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies.
- ^ Kaiser Tufail (18 February 2021). "Pulwama: Two years on". PakistanPolitico.com.
- ^ Kaiser Tufail (10 July 2019). "Pulwama-From bluster to whimper". DefenceJournal.com.
- ^ Alan Warnes (19 March 2020). "Operation Swift Retort one year on". KeyMilitary.com.
- ^ Philip, Snehesh Alex (2 April 2019). "Three live bombs fired by Pakistani fighter aircraft are still lying at LoC".
- ^ "Pakistani bombs fell in Indian army compounds, didn't cause damage, say armed forces". Scroll.in. 28 February 2019.