H-4 SOW

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title: "H-4 SOW" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["post–cold-war-weapons-of-pakistan", "aerial-bombs-of-pakistan", "guided-bombs", "military-equipment-introduced-in-the-2000s"] topic_path: "geography/pakistan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-4_SOW" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox weapon"]

FieldValue
is_missileyes
nameH-4
originPakistan
typePrecision-guided glide bomb
used_byPakistan Air Force
manufacturerNESCOM
service2003–present
wars* 2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes
** Operation Swift Retort{{cite weburl
engineSolid propellant booster (rocketry)
vehicle_range120 km
fillingHigh explosives
guidanceElectro-optical (infrared homing)
launch_platform*Dassault Mirage-III: ROSE Variants
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| is_missile = yes | name = H-4 | image = | caption = | origin = Pakistan | type = Precision-guided glide bomb | used_by = Pakistan Air Force | manufacturer = NESCOM | unit_cost = | propellant = | production_date = | service = 2003–present | wars = * 2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes

The H-4 SOW (Stand-Off Weapon) is a precision-guided glide bomb manufactured by Pakistan's National Engineering & Scientific Commission (NESCOM) and deployed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). It is capable of striking targets at standoff 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.

Design & Development

According 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 elderly 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.

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 and is a longer range version of Raptor also known as H2.

Operational history

On 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 Jammu and Kashmir targeting Indian Army brigade headquarters and forward support depots. The Pakistan Air Force claimed that the planes were able to lock onto the targets, however at the last moment, Weapon systems officers took their cursor off them. This was shown by what were allegedly in-cockpit videos released by the PAF's operations directorate for the 6 September telecast which showed that the Air force did not target the Indian army sites.

Later in April 2019, Indian media reported that a local police 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.

Operators

  • Pakistan: Pakistan Air force

References

References

  1. Sharif, Arshad. (18 December 2003). "PAF adds new bombs to its arsenal". [[Dawn (newspaper).
  2. (19 March 2020). "Operation Swift Retort one year on".
  3. Fisher, Jr., Richard. (29 October 2004). "Report on the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS)". International Assessment and Strategy Center (IASC).
  4. Ansari, Usman. (7 February 2013). "Despite Missile Integration, Nuke Role Unlikely for Pakistan's JF-17". [[Defense News]].
  5. Ansari, Usman. "The JF-17 Thunder: A hefty punch at an affordable price.".
  6. (16 March 2017). "Profile: Denel Dynamics Raptor Stand-Off Weapon".
  7. "The South African Air Force".
  8. "The South African Air Force".
  9. "'India's February Miscalculation and Future of Indo-Pak Aerial Front".
  10. [[Kaiser Tufail]]. (18 February 2021). "Pulwama: Two years on".
  11. Kaiser Tufail. (10 July 2019). "Pulwama-From bluster to whimper".
  12. Alan Warnes. (19 March 2020). "Operation Swift Retort one year on".
  13. Philip, Snehesh Alex. (2 April 2019). "Three live bombs fired by Pakistani fighter aircraft are still lying at LoC".
  14. (28 February 2019). "Pakistani bombs fell in Indian army compounds, didn't cause damage, say armed forces".

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post–cold-war-weapons-of-pakistanaerial-bombs-of-pakistanguided-bombsmilitary-equipment-introduced-in-the-2000s