Taimoor
TypeAir-launched cruise missile (ALCM)
Air to surface missile
Place of origin Pakistan
Service history
Used by
Production history
DesignerAir Weapons Complex
Designed2022
ManufacturerGIDS
Developed fromRa'ad
Ra'ad-II
Specifications
Mass<1,200 kg (2,600 lb)
Length4.38 m (172 in)
Wingspan3.2 m (130 in)
Maximum firing range600 km (370 mi)
WarheadHE
EngineTurbo-jet
Flight ceiling7,620 m (25,000 ft)
Flight altitude6,096 m (20,000 ft)
Maximum speedUpto Mach 0.8
Launch
platform
MRF Mirage-IIIR
Mirage V
JF-17
References[1]

The Taimoor (Urdu: تیمور, also known as Taimur)[2] is a low-observable high-precision air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) developed by the Pakistan Air Force's Air Weapons Complex. It was unveiled to the international market during the IDEAS-2022 defense exhibition in November 2022, and is a direct contender to MBDA's Storm Shadow and Roketsan's SOM.[3]

The Taimoor is capable of striking both stationary and moving targets at a standoff distance of 600 kilometers.[4] It has also been successfully tested as an anti-ship missile and has demonstrated the ability to follow a sea-skimming flight path.[5][6] Although it is manufactured by AWC, Global Industrial Defence Solutions (GIDS) oversees marketing of the missile for export.[1][7][8][9]

Development

The Taimoor is an conventional non-nuclear derivative of the Ra'ad-II ALCM with improved sub-systems. The export variant's range is reportedly capped by engineers to 290 km in order to comply with MTCR policies.[1][2] Meanwhile, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) confirmed that the Taimoor had a maximum range of 600 km after announcing a successful test flight of the missile.[10]

Design

The Taimoor features a box-shaped fuselage X-type tail control surfaces, mid-body foldable wings, and underside air-intake for a miniature turbojet engine. Furthermore, it also utilizes low-observability design characteristics in its airframe which are aimed at reducing its radar cross-section. Similar to its ancestors of the Ra'ad ALCM series, the Taimoor retains its terrain hugging capability which coupled with its stealthy design makes it an effective weapon for SEAD operations in warfare.[11][12]

According to the PAF, the missile has a range of 600 km (370 mi). The Taimoor weighs less than 1,200 kg, and is capable of cruise flight at an altitude of between 152 m (500 ft) and 6,096 m (20,000 ft) at a subsonic speed and possesses terrain-hugging and sea-skimming capabilities. It also has a launch altitude of between 610 m (2,000 ft) and 7,620 m (25,000 ft).[13]

Operational history

On 3 January 2026, the first successful test flight of the Taimoor was carried out by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), in which the missile was launched from a PAF Dassault Mirage III and struck a land target.[10][14] Later on 21 April 2026, the Pakistan Navy test fired one in anti-ship configuration during which it successfully hit its target.[15]

Operators

See also


References

  1. ^ a b c "GIDS Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM)". Quwa. 27 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "IDEF 2023: GIDS reveals details of prototype air-launched missiles". Janes. 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Pakistan-Developed 'Taimur' Air-Launched Cruise Missile Challenges Storm Shadow/SCALP". Defence Security Asia. 25 January 2025.
  4. ^ Khan, Bilal (5 January 2026). "600km & Low-Altitude Flight: Inside Pakistan's Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile". Quwa. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Pakistan Navy successfully test-fires Taimoor air-launched cruise missile". Geo News. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  6. ^ Rahmat, Ridzwan (22 April 2026). "Pakistan conducts first known anti-ship firing of Taimoor missile". Janes. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  7. ^ "Taimur Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM)". Global Defence Insight. 10 May 2024.
  8. ^ "NAVDEX 2023: GIDS Pakistan showcases Taimoor Air Launched Cruise Missile". Army Recognition. 1 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Pakistan showcases Taimoor AGM missile with anti-ship role". Bulgarian Military. 20 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b Desk, News (3 January 2026). "Pakistan Air Force successfully tests indigenously developed air-launched cruise missile". Dawn. Retrieved 3 January 2026. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ "Pakistan's "Taimur" ALCM Challenges Western Supremacy in Cruise Missile Warfare". Defence Security Asia. 1 April 2025.
  12. ^ "GIDS Exhibits Airborne Stand-Off Missile Taimur". TurDef. 6 August 2023.
  13. ^ Udoshi, Rahul (28 July 2023). "IDEF 2023: GIDS reveals details of prototype air-launched missiles". Janes. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  14. ^ Waldron, Greg. "Pakistan test launches Taimoor cruise missile from Mirage". Flight Global. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Pakistan Navy test-fires 'Taimoor' anti-ship cruise missile". Gulf News. 21 April 2026.
  16. ^ "Pakistan Navy successfully conducts test of Taimoor air-launched cruise missile". The Express Tribune. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.